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 Laura Power in 2024.
To date Stories Set To Music have performed to over 60,000 children.
As an ensemble Toscana Strings have a busy and varied schedule accompanying choral societies, performing at weddings and corporate functions. In 2018 Toscana Strings launched a series of schools concerts - Stories Set To Music - which has grown from strength to strength. Individually members of Toscana Strings perform with orchestras around the UK including City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, The English Symphony Orchestra, Southbank Symphonia, Orchestra de Camera and Urban Soul Orchestra.
Laura started dance lessons at the age of three and at sixteen was granted a scholarship to study ballet at The Hammond in Chester.
While continuing to dance professionally, in 2014 Laura set up her own dance school in the West Midlands and teaches a number of different dance styles. She is also a specialist early years music teacher.
Laura has been performing Stories Set To Music with Toscana Strings since September 2024 and is a valued member of the team.
Past performances
15.12.24 The Hub at St Mary's, Lichfield
07.12.24 St Mary's and St Margaret's Church, Combrook
01.12.24 Symphony Hall, Birmingham
22.09.24 Cowbridge Music Festival, Vale of Glamorgan
15.09.24 Chipping Norton Theatre, Chipping Norton
01.09.24 Symphony Hall, Birmingham
30.06.24 Proms at St Jude's Festival, Hampstead
18.05.24 Newbury Festival, Corn Exchange Newbury
11.05.24 Cookham Festival, Sir Bernard Millar Centre
17.03.24 The Hub at St Mary's, Lichfield
04.02.24 The Firs, Worcester
17.12.23 Symphony Hall, Birmingham
01.10.23 Chipping Norton Theatre, Chipping Norton
24.09.23 Symphony Hall, Birmingham
18.06.23 Symphony Hall, Birmingham
17.06.23 The Mill, Banbury
20.05.23 Newbury Festival, Corn Exchange Newbury
21.12.22 Compton Verney, Warwickshire
18.12.22 Symphony Hall, Birmingham
25.09.22 Symphony Hall, Birmingham
24.04.22 Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton
18.12.21 Compton Verney, Warwickshire
11.12.21 Compton Verney, Warwickshire