Before attending her concert, I knew next to nothing about Lindsey Stirling.  I only knew that my sister, a violin player herself, absolutely loved her. So I tagged along with her to the concert, feeling neutral about the whole experience. When we arrived at the Lied Center in Lawrence, a long line greeted us, full of people waiting to get inside the building. After waiting for nearly an hour, we were finally let in, and everyone was more than ready for the concert to begin. However, as soon as Stirling began to play the upbeat, “All I want for Christmas is You” with her sparkly electric violin, I forgot all about the long, cold line.

Stirling’s violin sung out perfectly throughout the hall and practically warmed up the whole room. Her clear tone and ability to dance and play the violin at the same time made the whole concert so uplifting and fun. Her bubbly personality also made it that much better. Stirling’s ability to combine classical music with her own dubstep like style made songs like “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” unique and interesting, instead of being the same old Christmas song. There was energy in every performance, and I never got tired of hearing Stirling’s take on classic Christmas songs. In addition to her own talent, Stirling also shined the spotlight on her band members, who were also very talented. The band members and Stirling really showed off when they played mini instruments, with the trumpet player playing kazoo, the drummer playing a mini drumset and Stirling playing a baby violin. They still sounded great! Stirling even played “Devil Went Down to Georgia,” on the tiny violin, which was very impressive.

In addition to all of the fun parts of the concert, Stirling also shared personal stories to the audience, such as her battle with anorexia and the grief she still experiences due to the death of her father. After sharing the story of her father, Stirling played “Silent Night,” a beautiful, hopeful tribute to her late father. Her personal stories made the concert very memorable, and created an instant connection with Stirling and the audience.

Stirling played violin, danced, and even sang some of her original songs on the album. And while the songs, such as “Warmer in the Winter,” were still fun and upbeat, Stirling’s singing lacked the same confidence found in her violin playing. Singing was not Stirling’s strongest suit, but her amazing musicianship with the violin made up for it.

If you’ve never heard of Lindsey Stirling or think violins just belong in a classical orchestra, I highly recommend listening to Lindsey Stirling’s “Warmer in the Winter” album. She breaks down the stereotypical violin player and adds her own unique twist to the instrument, with her jazzy, dub-step type music. Stirling’s amazing playing combined with her bubbly personality made the “Warmer in the Winter” concert a unique, fun experience, and made me want to explore more of her upbeat music.