Crossover violinist Laurel Morgan Parks has been following her musical path since the young age of 4 when her dad brought home a banged up fiddle with a bow that lacked most of its hairs – it was love at first listen!

As a professional musician Parks has performed with acts such as the Eagles, Sarah McLachlan, Amy Grant, Evanescence, Josh Grobin and Disturbed, but also with her own projects – The Wires String Duo, Of Tree, and In the Pines.  She’s traveled throughout Asia, Europe and the United States, playing with her bands, the Mantovani Orchestra and the Des Moines Symphony.

Parks is currently the founder/instructor of Drunken Fiddles – a fiddle workshop for adults who want to learn to play a stringed instrument from the absolute beginning while incorporating fiddle styles and non-classical techniques along the way.  When not performing or teaching Parks can be heard on the NPR affiliated radio station 91.9 Classical KC as the co-host of Sound Currents – a show dedicated to championing New Music.

Sascha Groschang, cellist, has performed extensively across the United States and Asia.  She has appeared at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall numerous times, and gave her solo debut recital at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall in 2009. She has been a soloist and lecturer at the Thailand International Composition Festival, performed for the King of Malaysia with the Kuala Lumpur International Festival Orchestra, and traveled all across China on two tours with the Mantovani Pops Orchestra. She has shared the stage with artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, The Eagles, Vince Gill, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Michael Bublé, Peter Gabriel, Josh Groban, Sarah Mclachlan, Idina Menzel, Amy Grant and her recording credits include NBC, Atlantic, and Rhino Records. Sascha is the cellist and co-composer of the alternative string duo, “The Wires“, which explores a variety of non-traditional string techniques and styles through original compositions.  The Wires have released three full length albums and their arrangements and original compositions are published with Mel Bay Publishing Co.  They are also co-hosts and curators of “Sound Currents” on 91.9 ClassicalKC – a weekly radio program that explores and discovers a broad range of new music. In addition, Sascha is principal cellist of NewEar Contemporary Chamber Ensemble, dedicated to playing the works of living composers. In 2022, she joined the St. Petersburg String Quartet – one of the world’s most esteemed chamber ensembles. Their accolades include a Grammy nomination, “Best Record” honors in both Stereo Review and Gramophone, an opening night performance at Mostly Mozart at Lincoln Center, a five-year residency at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and hundreds of concerts on many of North America, Europe and Asia’s most prestigious series and festivals.   Sascha lives in midtown Kansas City with her husband, four Persian cats and two daughters. www.cellolady.com