Heather Holden, flute
Bradley Colten, guitar
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 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 Canada. Upcoming seasons have Arc Duo slated to perform in Georgia, Maryland, and New York City, as well as in Canada and throughout Europe. 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”.
NEW MUSIC: 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 Judah Adashi, Duncan Neilson, Shafer Mahoney and Roland Dyens. In upcoming seasons, the Duo will premiere new pieces by David Schober, Reena Esmail, Edie Hill and David Leisner. The ‘Commissioning Project is marked by collaborative work with the composer and with audiences; Arc Duo commits to multiple performances of the new piece and takes care to highlight the work’s structure, concept and origins to audiences at each performance. 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, Joan Tower, Paula Robison, David Starobin, Linda Chesis, and David Leisner. 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.
HEATHER: Heather Holden, first prize winner of the 2006 Haynes International Flute Competition, performed her Carnegie Hall solo debut in 1998 as a winner of the 'Artist International Debut Recital Series'. She was featured in recital on Italian National Television, and has been heard on NPR’s ‘Performance Today’ on several occasions. Heather received the 'Woodwind Department Award' upon completion of her Bachelor of Music Degree from Boston University and won the ‘MSM Concerto Competition’ while pursuing her Master’s Degree at Manhattan School of Music. Heather was a fellow at the National Repertory Orchestra, Norfolk Chamber Music Festival and The Hampden-Sydney Chamber Music Festival. She has also performed at the Kingston Chamber Music Festival and at the Cooperstown Chamber Music Festival. New York Concert Review recently heralded Heather as “… a flutist who would be an asset to any orchestra or woodwind quintet.” Heather is a Haynes Flute Faculty Artist.
BRADLEY: Bradley Colten is a recipient of the 'Andrés Segovia Award' from the Manhattan School of Music and was noted with ‘Performance Distinction’ after his studies at the New England Conservatory of Music. The Boston Globe hailed Bradley for his “sensitive” Boston premiere of Mario Davidovsky’s Synchronisms #10 in Jordan Hall. He has been acclaimed as “Superb!” by renowned guitarist David Starobin, and as having “… a rich blend of musical refinement, soulful communication and that rarity, emotional intelligence.” by celebrated guitarist/composer David Leisner. Bradley performed in the New World Symphony Orchestra’s chamber music series in Miami. He was featured on NPR’s ‘Open Mic’ and performed on New York City’s ‘Soundcheck’ on WNYC radio. In addition, Bradley appeared at the Bowdoin Summer Music and New England Conservatory Music Festivals, and at the Boston and Rhode Island Classical Guitar Societies. Bradley is currently pursuing a Doctorate Degree at the Manhattan School of Music where he has been awarded a full scholarship, a fellowship in music history, and teaching responsibilities as a chamber music coach.
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