Contemporary string duo The Moxie Strings will tour area schools and then perform at the Performing Arts Center at Kent State University at Tuscarawas on February 29 at 7:30 p.m.
Hailed as “top-notch, instrumental wizardry,” The Moxie Strings offer listeners the unique opportunity to experience some of the world’s best-known instruments through a young, progressive lens. Diana Ladio and Alison Lynn hold Bachelor of Music degrees in music performance and music education, which have given each the technical foundation to explore the limits of her instrument and helped the group build a reputation for musical excellence. Alison performs on a newly-invented, electric cello, and Diana on a contemporary 5-string violin. Both use a variety of audio effects pedals. The Moxie Strings compose the majority of their pieces and arrange melodies from many countries, resulting in a genre-blurring blend of ear-catching, mainstream melodies, and foot-stomping, rock-influenced rhythms. The band’s polished, high-energy show continues to redefine strings’ role in contemporary music and offers audience members a diverse, fun, musical experience.
In addition to the Saturday evening concert at the Performing Arts Center, The Moxie Strings will spend several days in the area visiting students in four local schools for in-school assemblies. “Being a witness to the impact these musicians can have on the students in our area is a true blessing,” explains David Mitchell, general manager of the Performing Arts Center. “Access to the arts is vital to a child’s education and we’re thrilled to be able to bring the musicians out into the schools.” The Moxie Strings will also conduct a workshop for Dover High School orchestra students as well as other local string players. These workshop participants will then perform with The Moxie Strings on the Saturday evening show. Mitchell adds, “When we can get students to join professional musicians on our stage, it’s transformative not only for those students, but for the audience members as well.”
Support for the educational workshop and outreach was received from the Tuscarawas County Community Foundation, Dover Exchange Club and the Performing Arts Center’s Education Fund.
Tickets for The Moxie Strings concert on February 29 start at $25 and are on sale now at the Performing Arts Center box office, 330-308-6400 or online at www.kent.edu/tusc/pac. The box office is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Performing Arts Center’s 2019-2020 Season is sponsored by Michael Taylor Insurance and Financial Incorporated, an Allstate Agency.
Free parking is available for all shows. Kent State Tuscarawas is located at 330 University Dr. N.E. in New Philadelphia.