<p>NAMPA &mdash; Comprised of a violinist from England, a classical guitarist from Russia and an upright bassist from Japan, the acclaimed International String Trio (IST) comes to the Nampa Civic Center Monday to perform its gorgeously unique renditions of classic film scores, including music from &ldquo;Forrest Gump,&rdquo; &ldquo;Schindler&rsquo;s List,&rdquo; &ldquo;Eyes Wide Shut&rdquo; and more.</p>

<p>The three top-caliber players that make up IST weave together vivid scenes from great soundtracks, as well as diverse cultural influences.</p>

<p>While the trio hails from different corners of the globe, they shared a rigorous training experience at Berklee College of Music. Their music spans jazz, world and classical sounds with an easygoing finesse that gives even simple pop melodies depth and lyricism.</p>

<p>Founded by Russian-born guitarist and arranger Slava Tolstoy, with Japanese upright bassist Ippei Ichimaru and English violinist Ben Powell, the trio has quickly won over audiences with its tight, energetic interpretations of everything from favorite folk melodies to Django Reinhardt numbers to classical string pieces by revered composers.</p>

<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a rarity for three musicians from three such contrasting countries to meet and form an ensemble in such an organic way,&rdquo; Powell said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s our varied cultural backgrounds that serve as the catalyst for our creativity as a trio.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Powell said the trio prides itself on its ability to move fluidly from one musical style to another.</p>

<p>&ldquo;Going from a beautifully notated classical piece, to a tango, to a jazz standard, to an Irish jig and back is extremely challenging, but it is this very challenge that excites us,&rdquo; Powell said.</p>

<p>Though achieving great delicacy and beauty in their sound, the IST was shaped not only by rarefied instruction and elite performances but also by humbler, more down-to-earth beginnings. It was not uncommon for the group to give several performances in a single day, ranging from a small public library to a concert hall.</p>

<p>Powell said the experiences have given the trio a keen sense of awareness as to how to bring their audiences into a musical work that can often feel inaccessible.</p>

<p>&ldquo;Performing for a wide variety of people is a great way to shape really engaging sets,&rdquo; Powell said. &ldquo;It helps you to get a sense for what the general public enjoys and what they connect with. In a way, we allow our audiences to influence our choice of repertoire.&rdquo;</p>

<p>The IST&rsquo;s real spark comes from its feel for melody, from its members&rsquo; careful listening to tried-and-true pieces and unexpected finds.</p>

<p>&ldquo;We are always on the lookout for beautifully composed melodies, for pieces with very strong foundations,&rdquo; Tolstoy said. &ldquo;Then we try to re-discover the beauty of a tune with our own acoustic arrangements.&rdquo;</p>