Duo Harpverk was formed in 2007 by harpist Katie Buckley and percussionist Frank Aarnink. The duo’s intention is to commission and perform music for harp and percussion. Since beginning they have commissioned over 80 pieces from composers in Iceland and all over the world. (see works list for a complete list of commissioned pieces performed by Duo Harpverk.)
Although they have many works from more experienced composers, the main focus of Harpverk is to commission and perform the music of both young Icelandic composers and young composers worldwide. Harpverk has performed at the Listahátið in 2012/2014, Tectonics Festival in 2013, Dark Music Days Festival 2007- 2012, the 2009 Iceland Airwaves festival with Ísafold ensemble, Kírkjulistahátið 2010, Ung Nordic Music Days 2007, 100 year birthday festival of Hafnarfjörð 2008, Sólheimar summer concert series 2008, and several concerts on the 15:15 music series at the Nordic House. They have toured Denmark, the Netherlands and the Faroe Islands and taken part in the Danish OpenDays festival, the Icelandic Music Days in Amsterdam, and the Summartónar Festival in the Faroe Islands (2012, 2014). They performed in Washington D.C.‘s Kennedy Center in March 2013 as a part of the Nordic Cool Festival. In June of 2015 they will premiere Stewart Copeland’s Poltroons in Paradise with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra.
