Catriona McKay is from Dundee, Scotland. She is an award winning, fearless explorer of the Scottish harp who is widely recognised for her dynamic musicianship and innovative rhythm harp style. She embodies the strength and delicacy of her artistic imagination with the apparent simplicity of her wooden Starfish acoustic harp with its clear gut strings.
Catriona has a hugely rewarding music partnership of more than 20 years with Shetland fiddler and composer Chris Stout. They have several recordings and have performed worldwide communicating their bold and adventurous dialogue of their native Scottish music. They have composed and scored their music for the Scottish Ensemble, Quatour Ébène, several international orchestras, bands and more!
In 2012 they premiered ‘Seavaigers’ the first ever concerto for Scottish harp and fiddle, written specially for them by composer Sally Beamish.
Catriona’s solo music highlights her signature harmonic and rhythm harp style. She has 5 solo harp albums. Her recent recording ‘Love in Secret’ received 5 stars from the Scotsman and was hailed ‘one of best of 2020’ by folk radio.uk
Catriona created 3 albums of improvised music with composer and sound artist Alistair MacDonald. They released a new album ‘When Feathers Appear’ in summer 2021.
Further albums include 2 with Swedish nyckelharper Olov Johansson, 3 albums with Shetland band Fiddlers' Bid and many guest appearances in many genres.
Catriona’s composition Swan LK243, written for a Shetland herring fishing boat that was built in 1900 has gone on to be played and recorded by musicians worldwide.
She has many awards including Scots Trad Music Awards Instrumentalist of the Year 2007 & 2014 and BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, Best Duo 2018 with Chris Stout.
