In 2010, harpists Kathryn Andrews and Kristi Shade began searching for music for their newly formed ensemble and found this area of harp repertoire yet to be fully explored in a contemporary setting. They hope to help create a new body of work composed for the modern harp that highlights the versatility and uniqueness of the instrument. 

Duo Scorpio was awarded the American Harp Society Grant in 2011, which they used for their first commission from composer Robert Paterson. His work, Scorpion Tales, was premiered by Duo Scorpio at the American Harp Society National Conference in New York City on July 2, 2012.
The duo was awarded a Classical Commissioning Grant in 2013 from Chamber Music America, which they used for their commission from composer Nico Muhly. Duo Scorpio was again awarded the American Harp Society Grant in 2013, which they used to commission composer Andy Akiho. The resulting works, Fast Dances (Muhly) and Two Bridges (Akiho), were premiered by Duo Scorpio at the World Harp Congress in Sydney, Australia on July 24, 2014.

Duo Scorpio recorded their first album, Scorpion Tales, in the spring of 2012. It was released on the American Modern Recordings Label on September 4, 2012 and was on the ballot nomination for the 2013 Grammy® awards. 

In 2015, Duo Scorpio received another grant from the American Harp Society, which they used to commission composer Paul Patterson.  His piece, Scorpions, was premiered at the World Harp Congress in Hong Kong in 2017.

In 2017, the duo received an award from the Classical Recording Foundation.  This award included a grant for a future recording, which they used to partially fund their newest album, Two Bridges, released in 2017 on the American Modern Recordings Label, distributed by Naxos.

The duo has performed with Florence + the Machine at the Met Gala, for the New York City Chapter of the American Harp Society, at the American Harp Society National Conference in Atlanta in 2016, for the Mile High Chapter of the American Harp Society in Denver, Colorado, for the San Diego Chapter of the American Harp Society, as part of the chamber music series for the Miami Symphony in Miami, Florida, and has been presented by the Virginia Harp Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.   They maintain a busy performing schedule in New York City and around the world.

Coincidentally, Katie and Kristi were both born on November 5, 1982, making them both Scorpios. They met in New York City where they received their Master’s degrees studying with Susan Jolles at the Manhattan School of Music. They have embraced their Zodiac alignment by using their talent and passion to team up and form this unique duo.