Jefferson High School String Quartet to join the pros on Denver stage

DENVER - Dec. 22, 2018 - PRLog -- When the touring show Beatles vs. Stones – A Musical Showdown comes to The Oriental Theater on Sunday, January 13, the Thomas Jefferson High School (Denver) String Quartet will join the professional musicians on stage to lend some local talent to this homage to the British Invasion.
The show pits Rolling Stones tribute band Satisfaction against rival Brit boys Abbey Road in an all-out musical showdown for rock dominance. The string quartet will perform seven songs with the bands.
Here's the rundown:
The show:  The two greatest rock 'n' roll bands of all time face off in Beatles vs. Stones - A Musical Showdown. Taking the side of the Fab Four is Abbey Road, one of the nation's top Beatles tribute bands. With brilliant musicianship and authentic costumes and gear, Abbey Road plays beloved songs spanning the Beatles' career. They engage in a "showdown" of the hits with Stones tribute band Satisfaction - The International Rolling Stones Show, who offer a faithful rendition of the music and style of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and the bad boys of the British Invasion. The production includes multimedia, period costumes and vintage instruments. It has toured for years, with a critic for the Los Angeles Times at one point declaring: "this is the most unique tribute show in decades." The Denver show is part of a 125 city tour of the U.S., Canada and Australia.
The string quartet:  Thomas Jefferson High School senior Aidan Schlue, juniors Maya Lee and Filiz Baltaci and freshman Jessica Nesbit will join the bands for the songs "Eleanor Rigby," "Yesterday," "A Day in the Life," "Hello Goodbye," "Hey Jude," "As Tears Go By," and "Ruby Tuesday."
Quartet members belong to prestigious area ensembles, including the Denver Citywide Orchestra and the Metropolitan Denver Honors Orchestra.
How the "Beatles" and "Stones" connection was started: The producers of Beatles vs. Stones approached Thomas Jefferson High Orchestra Director Robin Johnson looking for a quartet who could hold its own with a rock band in front of an audience. The show commonly hires a local quartet to augment the production while on tour.
The quartet's Beatles or Stones fans: Jessica Nesbit, Maya Lee, and Aidan Schlue are the quartet's Beatles fans.
"I listen to a lot of Beatles songs. My favorite is 'Strawberry Fields Forever', but 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds' is a close second," Jessica said.
"'Eleanor Rigby' is one of the songs we've been practicing that I really like," said Maya.
"As a whole album, I really enjoy Abbey Road. My favorite Stones song is probably 'Satisfaction'," Aidan said.
The details: Two of the greatest bands of all time face off in a high-energy, adrenaline-pumping musical showdown. The Fab Four, represented by tribute band Abbey Road, will engage in a barrage of hits against premier Rolling Stones tribute band Satisfaction. Beatles vs. Stones – A Musical Showdown comes to the Oriental Theater on January 13 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $20 - $45 and may be purchased online at www.theorientaltheater.com, by phone at 720-420-0030 or at the Theatre Box Office. The Oriental Theater is located at 4335 West 44th Avenue, Denver, CO 80212. The show is appropriate for all ages.
And here is some additional information about the Thomas Jefferson High School String Quartet:
Aidan Schlue, 17, decided to learn to play the violin eight years ago.
"My mother had been playing the violin at home for my entire life," he said.
"I really like bringing life to a piece of music and being able to imagine what it's going to be and then creating it," Aidan said.
He runs track and cross country at Thomas Jefferson High.
The senior plans on pursuing a science major in college and minor in Music.
Maya Lee, 16, has been playing violin for six years. She has competed in various solo and ensemble festivals, receiving noteworthy honors.
"I really love playing violin because it's an instrument where your whole body is engaged so you really have the chance to feel the music."
Maya is a member of Thomas Jefferson High Robotics team and National Honors Society.
The junior plans to study Engineering in college.
Filiz Baltaci, 16, began playing viola at age nine. She is a member of the Denver Citywide Orchestra and the Metropolitan Denver Honors Orchestra.
"Orchestra is great because it gives you a connection to someone you might not have talked to otherwise."
She is a member of Thomas Jefferson High volleyball team and volunteers for art-related events, ranging from theater programs to art shows.
The junior plans to study Forensic Psychology in college while continuing to participate in a music program.
Jessica Nesbit, 15, has been playing cello since age eleven after watching the instrument being played in a movie. Jessica has been a member of the Denver Citywide Orchestra for four years.
"I love the range of notes that can be played. It can go really high pitched and really low; it's very expressive," Jessica said.
Jessica has performed at the Metropolitan State Solo and Ensemble Festival.
The freshman plans to study Linguistics in college