Octavia Romano + Stephanie Chou Duo CD Release Show

Born to an artistic family, music was part of her life since early on. At only three years old she was already a member a local children’s choir and performing in concert halls and TV appearances.

Romano studied classical guitar and voice privately until her teen years, when she became more interested in instrumental and improvised music. She attended the National Conservatory of Music in Córdoba, Argentina and the Collegium School of Music for Jazz guitar and was also admitted to the selective Music Composition program at the National University of Córdoba, Argentina. While studying, Romano kept on performing in the city club circle and local festivals.

Recipient of several scholarships and grants she relocated to New York City on 2011 and attended The City College of the City University of New York (CUNY) where studied with Pulitzer Prize winner composer David Del Tredici and GRAMMY® Award winner arranger and producer Gil Goldstein, among others.

Since her arrival in NYC, Romano has performed in many musical acts at some of the best stages and concert halls in New York such as Joe’s Pub, Rockwood Music Hall, Carnegie Hall, Blue Note, Symphony Space, Webster Hall, El Museo del Barrio and more. She was a member of the “Lucky Cheng Orchestra”, the last ensemble led by composer, conductor and jazz cornetist Lawrence D. “Butch” Morris who invited her to perform on a four-month residency along some of the best improvisers in New York.

As a composer, Romano has written electro-acustic and experimental pieces, chamber music and film scores (highlights include “After Dark” by cinematographer Violetta D’Agata, selected as part of the Anthology Film Archives Fest 2011 - NYC)
Her work has been awarded by the ASCAP Foundation (Louis Dreyfus Warner/Chappell in honor of George and Ira Gershwin 2013).

Romano keeps a regular performance schedule and is currently working on recording new original material.


Stephanie Chou is a saxophonist, singer, and composer based in New York City. Her music combines classical and Chinese influences with jazz and pop harmonies and rhythms. Raised in Irvington, NY, Chou studied mathematics and music at Columbia University. In 2011, she released her first album, Prime Knot, a jazz quintet CD featuring trumpeter Marcus Printup (Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra). She has written for ballet and theater as well as for the concert stage. Her work “C for G” was commissioned and choreographed by American Ballet Theater principle ballerina

Susan Jaffe, and features Kenny Wollesen on percussion and vibraphone. It was premiered in 2012 at Goucher College, Maryland.

Steph is currently working on a new album, which features jazz musicians Kenny Wollesen, David Binney, John Escreet, and Zack Lober, as well as viola and erhu virtuoso Andy Lin. She has performed her music in Taipei, Taiwan and Beijing, China. She has also performed throughout New York City at venues including Carnegie Hall, B.B. King's, Miller Theater, Drom, and The Cutting Room, as well as in music festivals in Italy, New Orleans, and Chicago.

In 2014 she formed a duo with guitarist Octavia Romano. The duo appears frequently around New York City and is scheduled to record a CD in late 2015.

She is currently pursuing a master's degree in composition from the City College of New York, and also performs as a guest artist for workshops on leadership and jazz with the Columbia University Business School. She works for composer Patrick Zimmerli, and has worked at ArtistShare, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Second Floor Music, and Bob Dylan Music Management.