Congratulations to Threefifty Duo for being selected to perform at the Classical Crossover Showcase (complete schedule here) at the famed South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Festival in Austin, Texas. For the second year, the Drapkin Institute for Music Entrepreneurship presents the Classical Crossover Showcase at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Festival in Austin, Texas. Following on their sold-out debut showcase in 2010, this showcase presents six of the finest bands from around the country, featuring classically trained musicians that have crossed over to the mainstream, and brought their amazing virtuosity with them. These musicians have been leaders in their fields, with professional experiences ranging from the Chicago Symphony and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, educations at top schools like Eastman and Juilliard, from New York to Tehran, and even the best rockin’ solo bass clarinetist in the United States! The showcase will be held Friday, March 18, 2011, from 8pm until 3am at St. David’s Bethel Hall, 301 E 8th St. Austin, Texas.

Threefifty Duo has been described as a “classical guitar duo with a rock edge,” as musicians Brett Parnell and Geremy Schulick seamlessly weave their contemporary rock sensibilities into the rich fabric of classical guitar. After years of writing and performing together and with a second album under Threefifty’s belt, the duo’s stylistic tendencies have further expanded, with genre blurred by an intensely personal sound that is rhythmic, infectious, engaging, and at once both new and accessible.. Young guitarists Schulick and Parnell write instrumental music for two guitars that encompasses a wide variety of influences from Bach to Steve Reich to Leo Kottke to Radiohead. They’ve performed across the US and overseas at a broad array of venues, universities and festivals, and most recently they played as part of CMEAS’ Autumn UK Tour from September 23-October 1st and the Lancaster Music Festival on October 9th and 10th.