Local Students to Join the Piano Guys

Students from the Worcester Youth Orchestra will joinThe Piano Guys on stage when they perform at The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts on Tuesday, May 1 at 8 p.m.Tickets are on sale now.

Performing from the Worcester Youth Orchestra will include Sullivan Barthel, Elisabeth Brehany, Michael Crummett, Liam Gates, Angelina Howard, Olivia Mathot, Jolina McConville and Liam Neal Reilly.

The Piano Guys became an Internet sensation by way of their immensely successful series of strikingly original, self-made music videos. They've made over 65 videos since joining forces in early 2011, including an innovative 10-handed version of One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful." Their spectacular videos have netted over 1.2 billion YouTubeviews and over 5.4 million subscribers.

The Piano Guys consist of piano player, Jon Schmidt, and Steven Sharp Nelson on cello. The duo is joined by Paul Anderson and Al van der Beek.

"Jon had built up a fan base for 20 years, and we used that as a springboard for getting exposure," Anderson said. "But it's all about the merits of the videos, and share-ability. People see them and then share them with their friends on Facebook, and before you know it, they can take off."

Currently, The Piano Guys have over 1.6 million Facebook fanswho have shared videos like "Michael Meets Mozart," which features over 100 tracks of cello textures, including a deep bass drum sound created by tapping on the cello body; a shaker sound made by Nelson rubbing rosin on his bow; and a record-scratch noise caused by his scraping a quarter on the strings. "Michael Meets Mozart" is on The Piano Guys debut CD, as is "Cello Wars," the ambitious video which resulted from a six-month production required to realize its Star Wars-inspired light saber/cello bow concept, since rewarded by over 37 million YouTube views.

Van der Beek's studio prowess and the inventive cinematography of Anderson, Schmidt and Nelson have forged a fresh approach to the growing classical crossover fusion of classical and pop music that in their case has connected quietly but emotionally with a massive audience. The group has performed everywhere from "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" to "The Today Show," as well have been featured in The New York Times, Fast Company, Buzzfeed, People Magazine, Mashable and more.

Tickets to The Piano Guys start at $45. Discounts are available to members of The Hanover Theatre and groups of 10 or more. Tickets are available online at TheHanoverTheatre.org, by phone at877.571.SHOW (7469) or at The Hanover Theatre box office located at 2 Southbridge Street in downtown Worcester.

About The Hanover Theatre

The Hanover Theatre continues to draw over 197,000 patrons annually with world-class performances and headlining acts including Broadway hits ("Les Misérables," "Kinky Boots"), comedians (Dave Chappelle, Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld), musical acts (Neil Young, Aretha Franklin, John Legend, Tony Bennett) and everything in between ("A Christmas Carol," Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Alton Brown, Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson). POLLSTAR consistently ranks The Hanover Theatre as one of the Top Theatres in the World. After nine seasons, the award-winning, historic theatre continues to establish its place as a world-class performing arts venue, acting as a catalyst for the economic development of downtown Worcester. The Hanover Theatre's recently acquired 551 Main Street houses new function space, offices, rental space for a restaurant on the ground floor and The Hanover Theatre Conservatory for the Performing Arts on the lower level.

Worcester Center for Performing Arts, a registered not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, owns and operates The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

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