WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (APRIL 23, 2018) – Maestro Robert Moody’s farewell Plugged-In Pops concert with the Winston-Salem Symphony features YouTube sensation Simply Three. This dynamic string trio comprised of Glen McDaniel (violin), Nick Villalobos (bass), and Zack Clark (cello) presents high-octane performances spanning from classical music and Cole Porter to their own compositions and more. Simply Three will take place on Saturday, May 12, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. at Reynolds Auditorium, 301 N. Hawthorne Road in Winston-Salem.
Under the baton of Maestro Moody, the Symphony and Simply Three will present a concert featuring music by John Williams, Cole Porter, Tchaikovsky, Simply Three’s own compositions, and more.
Tickets for Simply Three range from $20– $67 and are available in advance by calling the Symphony Box Office at 336-464-0145 or online at WSsymphony.org.
“Nick Villalobos and Zack Clark were star students of mine in the Phoenix Symphony Youth Orchestra,” said Maestro Moody. “Their incredible talent was clearly evident then, so I was not surprised when they went on to form this extraordinarily successful string pop group. Simply Three now gets more YouTube hits on their videos than just about any classical/pop crossover group in the world. I’ve worked with Simply Three several times, now, and I can’t wait to introduce them to Winston-Salem!
“There are many things I am proud of about my 13 years leading the Winston-Salem Symphony,” Moody continued. “But one thing near the top of the list is creating the highly successful Plugged-in Pops series. My final Pops concert with the Symphony on May 12 is going to be unforgettable, complete with powerful orchestral music and great hits from Simply Three.”
The electrifying trio known as Simply Three has been captivating audiences worldwide with energizing performances since 2010. Acclaimed as “having what it takes” (Boston
Philharmonic) and “highly imaginative and well played” (Maine Today), Simply Three continues to receive praise for their ability to impress listeners with a multitude of genres that span from Puccini and Gershwin to artists such as Adele, Coldplay, and Michael Jackson. By reshaping convention through this style of genre hopping, the trio continues to seek the true essence of classical crossover with original works as well as innovative arrangements that showcase their technical virtuosity and heartfelt musicality.
Simply Three is creating a renewed excitement for instrumental music through inventive music videos that have captured the hearts of millions of YouTube viewers across the globe. Furthermore, their works have gained great critical recognition by publications such as The Huffington Post and Rolling Stone, as well as mainstream artists themselves. Chart-topping rockers OneRepublic praised Simply Three’s version of their hit single “Counting Stars,” exclaiming they “LOVE this ‘Counting Stars’ cover!” Additionally, GRAMMY®-nominated R&B sensation Janelle Monae proclaimed the trio’s project of her hit singles “Cold War” and “Tightrope” to be “an honor” while making it a highlighted feature of her personal website.
Simply Three has old school training but a new school sound. Their quest to look beyond the scope of possibility has led them to collaborate with some of the world’s most creative musicians, including Kellindo Parker (Janelle Monae), Alyson Stoner, and Jeff Smith (M-Pact), in hopes of creating a new, fresh genesis for string playing. With this, the trio is able to merge shows into a unique synergy of thrilling performances and tone-rich sounds not soon to be forgotten.
The Simply Three concert is sponsored by Season Presenting Sponsors BB&T and Bell, Davis & Pitt, P.A.; Plugged-in Pops Series Presenting Sponsor BlueCross and BlueShield of North Carolina; and the Arts Council of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County and the North Carolina Arts Council. Media Sponsors include Fairway Outdoor Advertising and WXII 12.
About the Winston-Salem Symphony
The Winston-Salem Symphony, one of the Southeast’s most highly regarded regional orchestras, began its 71st season, which is Music Director Robert Moody’s Farewell Season, in September 2017. Under the baton of Maestro Moody, the season includes the Classics and Kicked-Back Classics series, Plugged-In Pops series, Discovery Concerts for Kids, annual performances of Handel’s Messiah, a concert featuring Winston-Salem Symphony and Youth Symphony musicians, holiday concerts, three youth orchestra ensembles, and a multitude of educational and community engagement programs. The Symphony is supported by Season Presenting Sponsors BB&T and Bell, Davis & Pitt, P.A., as well as generous funding from the Arts Council of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County, the North Carolina Arts Council, and other dedicated sponsors. For more information, visit WSsymphony.org.
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