Our PASSION
Music is not our hobby.
Music is our profession and our passion.
IMAGINE
It’s the milestone of your father’s 90th birthday. This would be a special milestone for anyone but is especially so for a man who has survived the horrors of the Holocaust. As his daughter, you’re filled with love and admiration for your father, so you’re meticulously planning a celebration worthy of his remarkable life. Family members are flying to Arizona from all over the country, eager to honor him. Music, a cornerstone of your family’s bond, holds a special place in your hearts, evoking memories of resilience and hope. Determined to find musicians who will infuse the party with stirring melodies, you’re looking for artists who will not only play beautifully but also understand the profound significance of their performance. You hire SoSco Duo.
These are the types of families who trust us with entertainment for their gatherings.
SoSco’s Story
Laura and Alex met in the summer of 2014 while teaching music lessons at the same place in South Scottsdale (or “So Sco”). Alex was just home after college and working on cruise ships and was looking for anything to do. Laura had just been through a breakup with her flute duo. They were both willing to try anything at that point.
Having no clue how a flute and guitar acoustic duo would work, they each dug into their own favorite musical genres and picked some pieces to try together. It wasn’t perfect, but they knew that they had something worth sticking with. They are grateful that they did!
Now, more than 12 years later, playing together feels more natural than playing apart.
About Our Musicians
Laura Strickland
Hometown
Seattle, WA
Education
Northwestern University, Bachelor of Music, Flute Performance; Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Master of Music, Flute Performance
Northwestern University, Master of Music, Music Theory
University of Maryland & University of Illinois, Doctoral studies
Other Ensembles/Work
Women’s Orchestra of Arizona
FrameShift Group – public health/quality improvement consultants
Private flute lessons
Fun Fact
My elementary school band director tried to switch me from flute to oboe. That lasted only about 6 months, because my obsession with the flute had already taken hold.
Alex Mack
Hometown
Scottsdale, AZ
Education
Berklee College of Music, Bachelor of Music, Guitar and Songwriting
Other Ensembles/Work
Owner and Performer for Alex Mack Music – a Nostalgia Based Production Company
Guitarist and Vocalist at Paradise Valley United Methodist Church
Fun Fact
I started on violin in 4th grade and played through high school. I started playing guitar freshman year of high school after being inspired by Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin and quickly knew that I wanted to do this the rest of my life. Then I picked up singing after hearing Hank Williams Sr. I do a lot of that in my other performances, but I’m happy to let Laura’s flute playing sing for SoSco. She certainly can hit the notes I can’t and for longer too!
Our Acoustic Duo’s Clients
Our clients’ appreciation of fine music fuels our passion, creating a bond that enriches both our artistry and our clients’ experiences.
Awards
SoSco Duo won “Best Local Band/Musician” 2017, 2019 and most recently 2026 in Arizona Foothills Magazine “Best of Our Valley” competitions.
We were also nominated for the Governor’s Arts Award presented by the Arizona Citizens for the Arts in partnership with the Office of the Governor.
SoSco Duo was selected to perform in the “Contemporary Voices Section 2″ an exhibition at FOUND:RE Contemporary Gallery at FOUND:RE Phoenix Hotel. This exhibition featured artworks curated from submissions to the 21st Annual Artlink Juried Exhibition, including original compositions by SoSco Duo.
In the Media
Check out various SoSco Duo interviews.
Bold Journeys – Meet SoSco Duo
August 5, 2025
Shout Out Arizona – Meet SoSco Duo
November 20, 2020
December 11, 2024
Voyage Phoenix – Life & Work with SoSco Duo
July 2, 2026
Paula H.
Audience Member
Your music takes my breath away.
