Catriona is one of Scotland's most versatile and creative harpists. She writes and arranges music for solo performance and for the ensembles she works with. She is a recital and recording artist, concerto soloist, chamber musician and is a performer of x-genre, contemporary and improvised music as well as following her roots performing traditional Scottish music worldwide.
She plays harp and piano in the Shetland-based band Fiddlers' Bid and the Chris Stout Quintet, has a harp and fiddle duo with Chris Stout and plays World/Jazz music with Phil Alexander(piano/box). Catriona continues to be at the cutting edge of harp music as she develops her interest in experimental music and improvisation, working and performing with a combination of clarsach and live electronics with leading electroacoustic composer Alistair MacDonald.
Catriona has recently designed a harp with a new tuning pattern, designed for use in contemporary folk music. Made by Scottish company "Starfish Designs", the "Starfish McKay" harp is unique and is an experimental and exciting step in a new direction for the Celtic harp. “Totally in charge of her instrument and mistress of her craft” Irish Music Magazine
As A duo, Chris and Catriona have toured across Europe. Trips to Brasil and more recently Japan to name a few of the exciting opportunities they have had. Catriona and Chris face no musical barriers. Having performed together now for ten years, their performances promise to be an exciting, captivating and moving. Their first recording exclusively as a duo, ‘Laebrack’ was released to acclaim in 2005 on Greentrax Records.
For more information on Catriona Mckay, and their work as a duo, please visit her website www.catrionamckay.co.uk