KIMU DUO Biography

Kimu Duo is a cello–guitar ensemble formed at the Royal Academy of Music in London, bringing together Catalan-Basque cellist Ibai Pijoan and British guitarist Gus McQuade. United by a shared interest in cross- genre music making and a creative approach to programming, they have built a distinct project that has taken them across the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the Basque Country and Catalonia.

Their programmes move freely between classical repertoire, Bach, jazz, and folk traditions from the Basque Country, Catalonia and England, alongside references to film music and other influences. All of the repertoire is arranged by the duo themselves, often incorporating elements of composition and improvisation, and carefully shaped to create a dynamic and engaging concert experience. Through imaginative transitions between pieces and styles, their performances weave together contrasting sound worlds, from intimate, pared-back moments of stillness to lyrical climaxes driving rhythms and grooves.

Gus McQuade…