IN BRIEF Arc Duo was born from an unwavering dedication to the music and composers of our time, a shared approach to music-making, and a passion for performance. As the smallest of ensembles-types, the Duo fuses the richness of chamber music with the intimacy of a solo performance. Virtuosic and engaging, Heather and Bradley consistently create an atmosphere on stage which draws audiences into performances and enriches the concert experience with a dynamic exchange of ideas and stories.
PERFORMANCE In their home base of New York City, Arc Duo’s performance highlights include recitals at renowned venues such as Caramoor Music Festival, Lincoln Center, Merkin Concert Hall, and Carnegie Hall, where their debut was noted by Guitar Review magazine as “electrifying, reflective, and always engaging”. In addition, Arc Duo has appeared in performance throughout the United States and in Canada, France and Switzerland. Past seasons have been filled with accolades and acclaim; presenters universally herald the Duo, calling their performances “musically artistic experience[s] from beginning to end”, and referring to the Duo as “an exceptional ensemble”, and the artists as performing with “poetic sensibility to all-out bravura”. The Duo has received high praise in print as well; interviews and articles about Arc Duo have appeared in Soundboard Magazine, Flute Talk, Classical Guitar, NYlon Review, Stylus, American Flute Guild, and Guitar Review.
NEW MUSIC Fiercely committed to the music of our time, in 2004 Arc Duo launched their 'Commissioning Project'. Since then, the Duo has consistently introduced virtuosic, new repertoire for the ensemble-type to audiences. To date, Arc Duo has debuted works by David Leisner, Judah Adashi, Duncan Neilson, Shafer Mahoney and Roland Dyens. In upcoming seasons, the Duo will premiere new pieces by David Schober, and Edie Hill. The ‘Commissioning Project’ is marked by dedication and commitment to new works and composers; Arc Duo offers multiple performances of each commission and takes care to highlight the new work’s structure, concept and origins to audiences. These endeavors are being noted by luminaries in the field; Arc Duo has received high praise from some of the leading artists of today such as Ned Rorem, Robert Beaser, and Joan Tower. Arc Duo’s debut recital at Carnegie Hall inspired American artist, LeRoy Neiman to sketch them on stage.
RESIDENCY Arc Duo has been an ensemble-in-residence at The Diller-Quaile School of Music in New York City since 2003. Each year as part of their residency, the School presents Arc Duo in recital, commissions a major new work for the Duo, and engages Heather and Bradley as educators in the classroom and beyond. In 2003, the Duo initiated a residency partnership program between Diller-Quaile and Mt. Sinai Medical Center, where they perform regular concerts for patients, families and staff at the Cardiac Care Center. Additionally, Arc Duo was awarded a 2006 Chamber Music America Residency Partnership Grant to fund the Duo’s outreach program with Lenox Hill Neighborhood House in New York City. This grant funded a year of workshops and concerts for those who would not normally have access to classical music.
With Markus Williams of 'Music for a Sunday Afternoon' Series in Silver Spring, MD
After performing an 'Informance' at Carnegie Hall's 'Notables' Event
With David Leisner (composer) and Kirsten Morgan (Executive Director of Diller-Quaile) after Arc Duo's premiere of 'Away' by Leisner
