Iktus Duo (Hristina Blagoeva - flute, Chris Graham - percussion) is an ensemble based in New York City that specializes in commissioning, promotion, and educational outreach of new music. The Duo has performed at the Con Vivo New Music Series (New Jersey), Bulgarian Consulate in NYC, Spectrum (NYC), Open Sound Series (Boston), Trans Pecos (Queens) and Noon Concert Series (Williamstown, MA). In January of 2015, the Duo completed a two-week tour performing at Hardin Simmons University, University of UT at Tyler, Stephen F. Austin State University, Louisiana State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, and the Versipel New Music Festival in New Orleans. While on tour, the Duo presented workshops, master classes and concerts, and collaborated with student and faculty composers on new commissions written for the Duo. In the Fall of 2015, the duo gave masterclasses, recitals, and performed student compositions at New Jersey City University, University of Maryland, and Harvard University. Additionally, educational outreach included performances for the Neighborhood Classics Series, Players Theater in New York City, Suffolk Community College, and the Long Island Conservatory in Long Island, NY. The 2016/2017 concert season brought many seasonal highlights that included commissions and premieres by composers Seth Boustead, Erin Rogers and Hiroya Miura with performances at JACK, NYC, Suffolk Community College, Bates College, Maine, NYC Flute Fair, Queens New Music Festival, and the National Flute Association Convention in San Diego California. Additionally, the Duo performed works of the New York Women’s Composers Association at the Multicultural Sonic Evolution Festival in Queens, New York and presented a recital at the Embassy of Bulgaria in Washington D.C dedicated to Bulgarian and USA contemporary classical music. The recital was part of the European Month of Culture in Washington D.C. Lastly, the Duo was featured on the nationally syndicated radio program “Relevant Tones”, 98.7 WFMT, Chicago, IL. The Duo’s 2017/2018 season was the most ambitious yet with returning to perform for the Multicultural Sonic Evolution Festival in Queens, New York, presenting works by APNM composers and a performance and masterclass at SUNY Purchase College. In January of 2018 a two-week tour of masterclasses and performances took place at Western Illinois University, Illinois State University, Wayword New Music Series (in Seattle Washington and Portland Oregon), Western Washington University, and the University of Northern Colorado. The 2019 season highlights include performances for the Queens New Music Festival, featuring the piece Skeiron, by Ryan Howard, New Jersey Flute Fair, and William Paterson’s, Midday Artist Series. In 2014, the Duo won the Ackerman Chamber Music Competition and performed at the Spring 2014 Stony Brook University Chamber Music Festival. In 2015, the Duo were semi-finalists for the Concert Artist Guild Competition in New York City. The Duo has been recipient of several grants such as the New York Women’s Composers seed money grant, The Friends of Flutes Foundation grant, and the Distinguished Travel Award, at the Graduate Student Organization at SBU.