The Bradford Creative and Performing Arts Center will present
the stars of TV’s “America’s Got Talent” Nuttin’ But Stringz at
7:30 p.m. Nov. 23 at the Bromeley Family Theater in the University
of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s Blaisdell Hall, BCPAC president Shane
Oschman announced on Sunday.

American Refining Group is a BCPAC benefactor for this event,
and the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford is a presenting
sponsor.

“We were fortunate to book the uniquely talented Escobar
brothers — Tourie and Damien who make up Nuttin’ But Stringz — just
as they’ve taken off nationally,” Oschman said.

Runners-up in 2008’s “America’s Got Talent” competition, Nuttin’
But Stringz combines classical violin with pop, R&B and
hip-hop.

The Brothers Escobar have forged a powerful and new kind of
entertainment merging Vivaldi and 50 Cent, DMX and Bach, Oschman
said.

Younger brother Damien said, “We play our violins so hard and
with such force that we destroy a bow a show!”

They both attended the legendary Juilliard School of Music in
New York City.

NBS has been playing the violin for more than 15 years, and at
the ages of seven and eight they knew what had inspired them. They
grew up in a rough area of Jamaica, Queens, where it wasn’t safe to
walk the streets — especially if you have a violin in your
hands.

As a result, their musical aspirations came crashing to a stop
three years ago when they both dropped out of school and lost
focus. Eventually, they realized they were in with a bad crowd and
went back to school.

“The passion for music and the violin saved my life,” Tourie
said.

After that, they were relentless and played the New York City
subways for pocket change.

“We would play the trains, and we had a captive audience. We
broke down the trains on a marketing level,” Tourie said. “Damien
chose the C train for its demographic, and I tackled the A train.
We raked in over $300 each in two hours, and we did it three times
a week.”

Damien continued: “The subway is the equivalent of playing
several performance hours each week and we were able to refine our
technique before a live audience. The subway was the gateway that
landed (us) a manager and a record deal.”

In 2005, with the help of their manager, James Washington, they
entered a local talent contest at the legendary Apollo Theatre and
won.

As a result of the media attention surrounding the event, they
have appeared on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “The Ellen
DeGeneres Show,” “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” and “The
Today Show.”

Their CD, “Struggle From the Subway to the Charts” was released
in 2006 and featured the single, “Thunder.”

They have performed on show bills with artists such as Al
Jarreau, Patti Labelle, Chaka Khan, The Isley Brothers, Gladys
Knight and Yolonda Adams.

In 2008, they came in third in one of TV’s top shows, “America’s
Got Talent.”

They have also been invited to perform for the President of the
United States at the White House.

“But before they play the White House, the brothers are playing
the Bromeley,” said Oschman.

Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling or visiting the
BCPAC office at 10 Marilyn Horne Way between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, as well as through the Web site at www.bcpac.com.

If seats remain on the day of the show, student rush tickets are
available for half price one hour before the show at the venue’s
box office on the day of the performance.