Duo Riso is an ensemble founded by pianist Zaira Castillo and clarinetist Evan Kopca. The duo creates immersive, boundary-blurring performances that reimagine the traditional concert experience through sound, space, and collaboration. Rooted in a shared spirit of curiosity and play—riso, from the Latin word for "laughter"—their work embraces humor, spontaneity, and deep listening as essential elements of artistic practice.

Dedicated to expanding the sonic possibilities of the piano and clarinet, Duo Riso moves fluidly between composed and improvised performance, drawing from contemporary classical music, experimental sound, and intermedia practices. Through close collaboration with composers, artists, and emerging technologies, the duo develops performances that dissolve conventional boundaries between performer, audience, and environment, inviting listeners into dynamic and unexpected sonic experiences.