Mike Combs launched his career as a lead guitarist at the age of 14 with Cincinnati pop-rock band Aquillus and continues to carry the torch some 30+ years later.  Honing his skills as lead guitarist and lead singer with local cover bands like Footloose and as the bass guitarist with the Southbound Bluegrass Band, Mike has found a permanent home as the front man for the Encore band.  Beginning with his own high school musicals and choral competitions, he has sung and played guitar with local theater companies as well as the Clermont College Music Department. He has lent his talent to productions of Jesus Christ Superstar, Godspell, Fiddler on the Roof and Hello Dolly, both as a singer and an orchestra member.  TV and radio appearances include performances on WNKU’s Bluegrass Hour and a solo on WCET’s Christmas special.  While Mike continues to serve up lead guitar with the Encore band, his Encore Duo shows with Bob provide the welcome opportunity for both to meet again as friends with each other and with their audiences, and to more personally connect in smaller venues and more intimate setting.

Versatile singer-songwriter Bob Bridges listened to the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson while growing up in a suburb of Cincinnati. Bob’s father instilled a love for music in Bob and his siblings, teaching them, at a young age, to sing harmony together during long family car trips. In his teen years, Bob studied organ with Add Lovejoy, and occasionally tagged along with his teacher to his night job, playing the stadium organ at Reds’ home games. Bob also started writing songs while in high school.

Bob met Mike Combs while they were classmates at the University of Cincinnati. They soon formed the Encore band, with Bob singing lead and backup, and playing keyboard and harmonica. He and Mike formed an enduring musical kinship that continues today with the Encore Duo and Encore Trio. Bob continued growing as a songwriter through the years, and. wrote most of the original songs for his recent collaboration with Mike, The Encore Duo.

Today, Bob sings and plays guitar, piano and harmonica in the Encore Duo and Encore Trio. He also works as a contract analyst in the health-care industry during the week. On Sundays, Bob leads the music at his church, and directing both the choir and the praise band.

Even as a little girl, Lauren Bridges Loyer knew she wanted to sing for a living. She grew up near Cincinnati, listening to recordings of legendary classic rock, pop and R&B divas such as Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Joni Mitchell and Linda Ronstadt. Lauren debuted with her dad’s band at age nine, and continued singing with the group through high school. During this time, she also studied classical music and opera, and performed in school musicals. At 18, Lauren placed second in the Cincinnati “Opera Idol” competition, besting experienced professional musicians many years her senior.
(Video: Lauren’s “Opera Idol” performance at Aronoff Center)

Lauren excelled as a voice major at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where she graduated with a degree in music education. While completing her master’s degree at Capital University, Lauren also studied for a time at the Liszt Academy Kodaly Institute in Kecskemet, Hungary.

In addition to fronting the Encore Trio, Lauren shares her love of music as Ursuline Academy’s high-school music teacher, choir director, and as pianist and music leader at her church.