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www.SoScoDuo.com Alex-Laura@SoScoDuo.com (480) 788-2331 (call/text)

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Exquisite sound, outstanding musicianship and inspiring performances are the hallmarks of the award-winning SoSco Duo.

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Known for their sensitive interpretations and polished presentation, SoSco duo has rapidly distinguished itself as one of the preeminent small ensembles in Arizona.

SoSco Duo (Laura Strickland, flute and Alex Mack, guitar) is a popular professional ensemble who has played over 250 performances at more than 50 venues since the inception of the group in 2014. Â

Having both earned music degrees from top music schools, Laura and Alex are equally skilled at performing a wide range of styles including classical, contemporary, standard songs, Disney, Broadway favorites, jazz, folk, Spanish, Celtic and other world music.

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Laura Strickland is a freelance flutist who spent many year studying music before becoming a professional. She has an undergraduate degree in flute performance from Northwestern University in Chicago and a master’s degree in flute performance from Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. She later returned to Northwestern to get a master’s degree in music theory. She did doctoral studies in flute performance and literature at the University of Maryland and University of Illinois.

In addition to playing with SoSco Duo, Laura is principal flutist with Arizona Pro Arte Ensemble where she is also the Executive Director. Laura teaches private flute lessons in Phoenix. Additionally, she works part-time as the Business Manager for Woodwinds by Germann, a high-end woodwind repair shop in Phoenix.

Before relocating to Phoenix, Laura performed on flute and piccolo in a wide range of ensembles throughout Chicago, Cincinnati, Seattle and Washington D.C.

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Alex is a freelance musician who attended Berklee College of Music in Boston where he graduated cum laude with a degree in Songwriting as well as studying guitar and voice.

During college he performed over 1,000 shows for Cedar Point Amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio and upon graduation, he was hired by Princess Cruises as principal orchestra guitarist where he traveled throughout Europe, the Pacific and Caribbean. Â

In addition to being a founding member of the SoSco Duo, Alex is the Creative Director with Lonely Street Productions, a nostalgia-based nationally touring production company. Alex was born and raised in Arizona.

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2017 and 2018; Best Local Band/Musician Winner Each year Arizona Foothills asks readers what their favorites are, offering

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thousands of options chosen by nominations, editors and focus groups. The contest is answered with hundreds of thousands of votes that determine the Valley’s favorites.

SoSco Duo is the back-to-back winner for 2017 and 2018 in the category of Best Local Band/Musician.

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2017 Nominee in the Small Business Category Presented annually by the Arizona Citizens for the Arts in partnership with the Office of the Governor, Artists, Arts Organizations, Businesses, Educators and individual from more than 20 Arizona communities are nominated for Governor’s Arts Awards each December.

r e v i e w s With over 77 years of experience in fine music (and popular music of the 1940s) I know talent when I hear it. Soscoduo (Alex and Laura) are superb musicians… the kind you want to perform for your affair. – James W.

We hired Laura & Alex for our wedding day! They were WONDERFUL to work with, prompt with responses and easy to reach. We had no idea what

Looking for ceremony musicians for your

kinds of music would work for our ceremony, but

wedding or elegant dinnertime music? It

Laura helped us pick everything out, and it all turned out exceptional. They have a few samples of songs on their webpage and that was what really put us at

sounded even through our video recorder (it was a windy day)!! Thank you guys!! – Anonymous

Duo! They were such a special part of our ceremony and literally just what we needed

ease! We had a family friend tape the wedding, and we were surprised to hear how good the music

doesn’t get much better than the SoSco

for that extra special, intimate touch. They play everything from the classics to modern day hits and you can customize your list accordingly. They are also SO easy to work with and reliable. I would 100% recommend them for any wedding or special occasion. Thank you for making our ceremony so

Laura and Alex play beautifully together! They created the perfect ambiance for our

fabulous, SoSco Duo!! -Hailey B.

event. Very elegant and tasteful. We received several compliments from our guests. You will be delighted – I promise!! – Leigh S. We hired SoSco Duo to play at an outdoor fundraiser for us. They were extremely They provided elegant background music

professional and easy to work with. After the

for an all ladies luncheon. I loved their

event, we received lots of compliments about how

sound from the demos on the internet. Their

beautiful the music was. Both Laura (flute) and

sound was perfect. It was lovely and a

Alex (guitar) are wonderful musicians, and the

wonderful way to kick off the holidays. Very

music complemented the event without

professional, attractive, and talented.

overwhelming it. Would definitely recommend

– Janice G.

them! – Louis M.

There is no second chance to redo a live performance, You get one chance, and one take to get it right… SoSco Duo always does that in fantastic fashion…Classic elegance and a touch of class awaits you and your guests when you hire SoSco Duo for your next occasion…Call them today! -Visual Vibes Entertainment

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Air on the G String, J. S. Bach

Clair de Lune, Claude Debussy

Amazing Grace, John Newton

Der Lindenbaum, Franz Schubert

Ave Maria, Charles Gounod/J.S. Bach

Gymnopedie I, Eric Satie

Ave Maria, Franz Schubert

Largo from the New World Symphony, Dvorak

Bridal Chorus, Richard Wagner

Largo (Winter) from Four Seasons, Antonio Vivaldi

Canon in D, Johann Pachelbel

Minuet in G Major, J.S. Bach

Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, J.S. Bach

Prelude in E Minor, Chopin

La Rejouissance (Royal Fireworks), G.F. Handel

Serenade #18, Franz Schubert

Rondeau, Jean-Joseph Mouret

Songs My Mother Taught Me, Antonin Dvorak

Sheep May Safely Graze, J.S. Bach

Spring from Four Seasons, Antonio Vivaldi

Trumpet Voluntary, Jeremiah Clarke

Una Furtiva Largrima (Elixir of Love), Donizetti

Wedding March, Felix Mendelssohn

Vieni, Vieni, Antonio Vivaldi Wachet auf, ruft die Stimme, J.S. Bach Waltz in A Major Op. 39, No. 15, Johannes Brahms

c e l t i c Annie Laurie Amazing Grace The Ash Grove The Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond Danny Boy Down by the Salley Gardens I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls Molly Malone Morning Has Broken The Parting Glass She Moved Through the Fair Star of the Country Down (My Love Nell)

t r a d i t i o n a l Amazing Grace Be Thou My Vision Come Thou Fount For the Beauty of the Earth Give My Your Hnad Greensleeves I Am a Poor Wayfaring Stranger The Lord's Prayer May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You Scarborough Faire Simple Gifts

s p a n i s h Adios Muchachos, Julio Cesar Sanders Amapola, Joseph LaCalle

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Flee As a Bird, traditional Cielito Lindo, traditional La Paloma, Sebastian Yradier Come Back to Sorrento, Ernesto, De Curtis La Spagnola, Vincenzo DiChiara El Choclo, Angel Villoldo Maria, Mari! Eduardo Di Capua Espagnoletas, Gaspar Sans Oracion por Todos, Agustin Pio Barrios Recuerdos de la Alhambra, Francisco Tarrega Santa Lucia, Gaetano Braga Spanish Romance, traditional

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A Thousand Years, Christina Perri

A Day in the Life of a Fool, Luiz Bonfa

And I Love Her, John Lennon & Paul McCartney

Angel Eyes, Matt Dennis

Annie’s Song, John Denver

Besame Mucho, Carlos Vazaquez

Can’t Help Falling in Love, Weiss, Peretti & Creatore

Beyond the Sea, Charles Trenet

Crazy, Willie Nelson

Blue Skies, Irving Berlin

Happy Together, Garry Bonner & Alan Gordon

Bluesette, Toots Thielemans

Here, There and Everywhere, Paul McCartney

Don’t Get Around Much Anymore, Ellington

I Fall to Pieces, Cochran & Howard

Emily, Johnny Mandel

King of the Road, Roger Miller

In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning, Mann

Love Me Tender (Aura Lee), Elvis Presley

Misty, Erroll Garner

San Antonio Rose, Bob Wills

The Nearness of You, Carmichael & Washington

She’s Got You, Hank Cochran

Tenderly, Walter Gross

Thinking Out Loud, Ed Sheeran

Unforgettable, Irving Gordon

What a Wonderful World, Bob Thiele

Waltz for Debby, Bill Evans Wave, Antônio Carlos Jobim

b r o a d w a y / m o v i e s All I Ask of You – Phantom of the Opera, Andrew Lloyd Webber Ain't Misbehavin' – Connie’s Hot Chocolates, "Fats" Waller and Harry Brooks Beauty and the Beast – Beauty and the Beast, Alan Menken Blue Moon - Breakfast at Tiffany's, Richard Rodgers Dear Heart - Dear Heart, Mancini, Evans & Livingston Edelweiss – Sound of Music, Richard Rodgers Hedwig’s Theme – Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, John Williams I Don’t Know How to Love Him – Jesus Christ Superstar, Andrew Lloyd Webber I’ve Got You Under My Skin - Born to Dance, Cole Porter John Dunbar Theme – Dances with Wolves, John Barry Lara’s Theme – Doctor Zhivago, Maurice Jarre Love Story – Love Story, Francis Lai Memory – Cats, Andrew Lloyd Webber Moon River – Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Henry Mancini Music of the Night - Phantom of the Opera, Andrew Lloyd Webber My Favorite Things – Sound of Music, Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II My Funny Valentine – Babes in Arms, Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart My Heart Will Go On – Titanic, James Horner/Will Jenning My Favorite Things - Sound of Music, Rodgers & Hammerstein Romeo & Juliet – Love Theme - Romeo & Juliet, Nino Rota Somewhere, Over the Rainbow - The Wizard of Oz, Harold Arlen Summertime - Porgy & Bess, George Gershwin Speak Softly Love – Love Theme from The Godfather, Nino Rota

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Article written by Senior Journalist Angela Gonzales in the Healthcare section published in print and online on April 15, 2015. https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2017/04/15/musicianscreate-healing-environment-for-family.amp.html

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S t e r l i n g K B A Q

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https://kbaq.org/content/cesura-musical-pauses-family-caregivers

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Stories, talent, and dreams drive the NextAZ initiative. SoSco's Creative Spark feature helps people to better understand the perspectives and aspirations of Arizona artists.  https://azarts.gov/next50_submission/moved-fair-laura-strickland-alexmack/

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https://www.arizonafoothillsmagazine.com/bestof/places/best-of-our-

S p o t l i g h t :

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valley-spotlight-sosco-duo-best-local-band-musician

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After playing soothing flute and guitar music for Phoenix audiences,

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professional musicians Laura Strickland and Alex Mack began to notice a

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pattern - caregivers routinely expressed that they were overly stressed and need more opportunities for relaxation. To begin addressing this need, the musicians created “Cesura”, a music-centered, multi-

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respite

experience featuring live flute and guitar music and a relaxing ambiance to promote caregiver well-being, supported by generous donors.

Cesura uses the power the music and other sensory experiences to help C e s u r a

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promote caregivers’ well-being with monthly respite events complete with

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live music, aromatherapy, candles, dim lighting, soft seating and refreshments.

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Cesura is offered at various locations throughout the Phoenix area and partners with organizations serving the aging population and people with disabilities who are interested in providing innovative respite services to their members.

For more information, see www.Cesura.org.