About

The Okapi Duo consists of Katie Kim, flute, and Brian King, guitar. The Duo's four-year collaboration, which began at the Oberlin Conservatory, has led them to tour in a number of cities across the U.S, including San Diego, Los Angeles, New Orleans, and Oberlin. Their concert touring has showcased their versatility as an ensemble; from Mauro Giuliani's Grand Duo Concertante to Grammy-winning composer Joan Tower's Snow Dreams, together Ms. Kim and Mr. King display their creative artistry as musicians. Stephen Aron, professor of classical guitar at the Oberlin Conservatory and formerly the University of Akron, writes of the Duo's premiere performance, "Every piece on the program was played with virtuosic control and expressive élan. The duo communication and symbiosis was spot-on and the interpretations were fresh."

In 2016, the Okapi Duo won its first award: First prize in the Great Composers Competition Series in the category "Music of the Americas" for their innovative rendition of Astor Piazzolla's Histoire du Tango. Most recently, the Duo was invited to perform at the Carmel Guitar Society in Carmel, CA.

The Duo is passionate about community engagement in the arts; past venues have included public libraries, schools, churches, and senior centers. In the fall of 2017, they partnered with Family Promise of Lorain County to provide an artistic outlet for homeless families in the Lorain County, OH area.

The Okapi Duo is excited about the surge of new music being written for this genre and has even contributed some of its own. Constantly seeking out new opportunities to perform, the Okapi Duo is committed to providing excellent chamber music to audiences everywhere.

Music

Histoire du Tango by Astor Piazzolla
Grand Duo Concertante, op. 85 by Mauro Giuliani
Sonata for flute in e minor, J.S. Bach
Sonatina for Flute and Guitar, op. 205 by Castelnuovo-Tedesco
Mountain Songs by Robert Beaser
Selections from the Balkan Songbook, Alan Thomas
Sonatine for Flute and Guitar by Atanas Ourkouzounov
Snow Dreams by Joan Tower
Chick Corea suite, arr. Brian King

Videos

Audio