Family Concerts | classical-m-mp

ToscanaStringsJune2023(Web)24-4068_edite

Hear the story, see the dance, listen to the music.
Toscana Strings reinvent family favourites through story telling, dance and music.

Featuring mesmerising music, enchanting dance and audience participation to captivate young imaginations.

STORIES SET TO MUSIC

Stories Set To Music are interactive stories told through music, dance and narration with audience participation encouraged, perfect for all the family!

String quintet Toscana Strings was founded in 2002 with all members having studied at Birmingham Conservatoire. Their Stories Set To Music concerts were launched in 2018 with the aim of delivering premium quality live music in primary schools in a fun and interactive way. In 2009 Toscana Strings was awarded Best Workshop Provider by Primary Music Magazine and two years later joined forces with Laura Tye, former soloist with Birmingham Royal Ballet. This collaboration has gone from strength to strength and concerts are now performed in schools and public venues.

With an ever increasing demand to play at festivals, for arts organsations and in school, Toscana Strings were thrilled to welcome a new dancer to the team, Elize Layton, in 2024. Now sharing the workload between two dancers means that Toscana Strings are able to perform even more Stories Set To Music concerts!

To date Stories Set To Music have performed to over 45,000 children.

There are six different stories available, all are with narration and are performed by string quintet and dance. Each story lasts approximately 40 minutes.

Read an interview that took place at Symphony Hall about Stories Set To Music concerts

Laura Tye

Laura started dancing at the age of eight at a local dance school in the United Kingdom. Taking part in various productions and youth dance performances her love of performing became undeniable. At the age of 16, she was awarded a full scholarship to The Royal Ballet School in London. During her time at RBS, she was frequently chosen to perform with The Royal Ballet at The Royal Opera House in Covent Garden and also with Birmingham Royal Ballet for their UK tours. She was offered a contract to join Birmingham Royal Ballet at age 18.

During her 20-year professional career with Birmingham Royal Ballet, she performed in a variety of ballets, dance festivals, and galas in prestigious international venues around the world. Regularly performing in Tokyo, Beijing, New York, and London. She also had two daughters while continuing to progress and reach the rank of Soloist.

Heading 6

Stories Set To Music promo video

Live footage of the Snowman

Live footage of Monkey Puzzle
this story is currently not available for public performances

Elize Layton

Elize is a performer, facilitator and choreographer/movement director. She holds a BA(Hons) First in Musical Theatre from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and is currently studying for an MFA in Movement: Directing and Teaching at Central School of Speech and Drama. Elize has worked on and off the West End in London, alongside touring internationally and in many family-friendly productions. Highlights include Bridgerton (Secret Cinema Immersive), Singing in the Rain (Showtime Challenge Adelphi Theatre), Romeo and Juliet (Palchetto Stage Italian Tour), We’re Going on a Bear Hunt (Kenny Wax Lyric Theatre). She fuses her training in contemporary dance, opera, musical theatre and more with a passion for creating work that is accessible, inclusive and empowering for audiences and participants alike.

Hear the story, see the dance, listen to the music. Toscana Strings reinvent family favourites through story telling, dance and music. Featuring mesmerising music, enchanting dance and audience participation to captivate young imaginations. STORIES SET TO MUSIC