Classical wedding and event music

Our Profile

As classically trained musicians working and living in the Vail Valley, we were thrilled to meet each other in 2005. Since this time, we have played together extensively throughout the Vail Valley. Following are some of our frequent venues:

The Beaver Creek Chapel
The Vilar Center at Beaver Creek
The Vail Interfaith Chapel
The Betty Ford Alpine Gardens
Donovan Pavilion
Larkspur (Golden Peak)
Lazy J. Ranch
The Lodge & Spa at Cordillera

Red Sky Ranch
The Sonnenalp

Splendidos

Spruce Saddle at Beaver Creek

Terra Bistro
Vail Golf Course (Clubhouse/wedding island)
Vail's Memorial Park
Vail's Wedding Deck
The Ritz Carlton in Bachelor Gulch

The Westin Riverfront

Saddleridge Restaurant

Allie's Cabin

The Lodge at Vail

Private residences

While we specialize in wedding ceremonies, we also play for corporate events, private parties, and engagements.

We have extensive musical training, teach music privately, and love to live and play in the mountains!

Outdoor Wedding Tips

While outdoor weddings can be breathtakingly gorgeous, mountain weddings can also be extremely difficult due to the erratic summer weather. Following are a few tips and considerations for an outdoor wedding in the Vail area:

1. July is the rainiest month of the year. Plan on beautiful sunny mornings and afternoon showers. If you survive after 1:00 pm without getting wet - the heavens have smiled upon you. June and August are also iffy regarding afternoon showers, but not to the extent of July.
2. Cover your musicians! Unless you can predict the weather and guarantee no sweltering sun, no music whipping wind, afternoon rain, or hail storms, you should provide covering your musicians. Generally an over-sized umbrella or a pop up tent is sufficient. While thousands of dollars are spent in the creation of a perfect wedding, consider that one of the most focal parts of your wedding involves setting the mood with prelude, marching down the aisle, and the celebration of the union as a couple is presented for the first time. These moments beg for perfection. While the musical costs may be insignificant in comparison with the costs of the reception, dinners etc, consider that for such important life events, you want your musicians to be playing at their best, not worrying about a raindrop ruining their expensive instrument.
3. Make back up plans. While summer outdoor weddings are spectacular in the Vail Valley, make sure that you have a back up plan. If the weather threatens, consider that neither you nor your guests will really want to sit outside in freezing wind or rain for 30-60 minutes.
4. Call it early. If the weather does look threatening, make the call early. If moving the ceremony indoors is an option, make the decision early in the day so that your florist and other wedding service providers aren't scrambling at the last minute to make your venue spectacular. With so many other things to think about, a last minute change of venue can throw off timing, and add undue stress to such a momentous occasion.
5. Mountain top. Many of our clients choose to ride the gondola to the top of Vail Mountain to photograph the wedding party prior to the actual ceremony. While in theory a fantastic idea, be aware that summer storms move in quickly. As such, Vail is very pro-active in keeping their guests safe. If there is any chance of lightning, all access to and from the mountaintop will cease until the storm dissipates. In other words, you may get caught on top of the mountain for several hours.

Best wishes as you plan your upcoming wedding, and may all of your skies be blue!

Monday, December 20, 2010

December 11, 2010 - The Westin

On December 11, 2010 we had the opportunity to play as a trio for a wedding ceremony at The Westin at the base of Beaver Creek.

We began the prelude music with Handel's 'La Rejouissance', Bach's 'My Heart Ever Faithful', the traditional 'Simple Gifts', Handel's 'Allegro' from the Water Music, Clarke's 'Trumpet Voluntary', the Beatles' 'Here Comes the Sun', Delibes' 'Flower Song', Schubert's 'Andante', 'Andante' from Handel's Water Music, Puccini's 'O Mio Babbino Caro', Vivaldi's 'Winter', Handel's 'Hornpipe', and Mozart's 'Romanza'.

As the wedding ceremony began, we played Bach's 'Air' as the family members and maid of honor entered.

The bride entered to Bach's 'Arioso', and during the candle lighting portion of the ceremony we played Cohen/Buckley's 'Hallelujah'.

As the couple was pronounced man and wife and exited down the aisle, we played Handel's 'Entrance of the Queen of Sheba', and Mouret's 'Rondeau'.

It was a lovely wedding and our pleasure to play for such a momentous occasion.

Friday, July 16, 2010

July 16, 2010 The Westin Riverfront

This afternoon we played for a wedding at The Westin Riverfront in Avon, Colorado.
My favorite thing about this venue is the gorgeous backdrop of Beaver Creek mountain and the river. The Westin's staff is also always phenomenal to work with.

I have to say, lately, I've been seeing a lot of bridesmaids with "balls" of flowers. They can be worn almost like a bracelet and are so very cool looking. A couple of weeks ago we saw them with hot pink peonies, and today, they used red roses and were incredible.

Enough with the flowers and on to the music.
Today's wedding was a mix of classical and contemporary music and we pulled out several pieces that we really enjoy, but haven't played for a while.
We started out with a beautiful piece we've been using quite a bit lately. Bygone Day's by Ivers and Keane. It's got a Irish or Celtic lilt that really helps set the mood. We then played Vivaldi's "Winter", Webber's "All I Ask of You" from Phantom of the Opera, John Denver's "Annie's Song", Delibe's "Flower Duet", Handel's "Entrance of the Queen of Sheba," Puccini's "O Mio Babbino Caro", Ungar's "Ashokan Farewell", and finally Handel's "Largo".

The bridal party entered to Bach's "Arioso", a piece which blends very nicely into wedding favorite Pachebel's "Canon".

As the ceremony ended, the bridal party exited to The Beatle's "Here Comes The Sun", followed by Coldplay's "Viva La Vida", Cohen/Buckley's "Hallelujah", and Elvis' "Can't Help Falling In Love".

Testimonials

*'I'm not sure I ever got to tell you how beautiful your music was. It was incredible for me to hear you play as I waited downstairs, and then coming down the aisle. So many of our friends and family gushed about how perfect your songs and performance were. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!' - Bride

*'You all were amazing! Countless people could not say enough about the music. Thank you for making our special day perfect...' - Bride

*'Everything was great - couldn't be happier!' - Planner Lisa Vorce of 'Oh, How Charming'.

*'I for one, loved the music... Another daughter is getting married...hope we can have you again!' - Pam (Mother of Bride)

*As mother and father of the bride, we were only able to thank one of your quartet for the excellent contribution you made to our daughter's wedding...the pieces were lovely as the guests waited and the river rushed by below...the evening provided a perfect setting for our happy event. You helped make our dream come true of having a beautiful, solemn ceremony...Bob (Hansen), our vocalist, had nothing but glowing comments on your accompaniment...it was a gorgeous memory for all of us. Thank you so much." Pam & Dick (Mother and Father of Bride)

*'The music at the ceremony was beautiful and exactly as I wanted it. VVSQ is very professional. Very easy to plan with you before the wedding and perfectly executed on my wedding day without any worry from me!' - Bride

*'Thank you so much for the beautiful music...everyone loved it...Again, thank you for making the day so special' - Linda (Mother of Bride)

The Vail Valley String Quartet & Trio