Silver Strings

2012-01-02T11:46:00.000-08:00

New Year's resolution: Post more often on the blog. So I spent New Year's Eve playing with Craig Duncan's band on the General Jackson. Toni Ferguson (she's on the left) and I add sparkle and good looks in the front. We also spent part of the time strolling and playing violin among the tables annoying the waiters but bringing smiles to the guests. Craig's band sounded fabulous with Craig wowing the audience with his rendition of "Devil Went Down to Georgia".

2011-11-16T14:17:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Nina and Kurt who tied the knot at CJ's Off the Square in Franklin on 11/11/11. Just let Kurt try to forget the date of their wedding anniversary. The fun part was sending them off with a Silver Strings version of Alabama's "Dixieland Delight" led by the inimitable Craig Duncan on fiddle. We wish them a long and happy life together.

2011-10-24T09:51:00.000-07:00

In the late afternoon of October 22, 2011 Silver Strings reconvened at the Village Chapel near Hillsboro Village to participate in the wedding of Brooke and Michael. They chose an eclectic mix of music that included the 3 Bs...Bach, Beatles and Beach Boys (or is that 4 Bs). Brooke met her groom coming down the aisle to Sigur Ros' "Hoppipolla" ("Jumping in Puddles" for the uninitiated in Icelandic), making a grand entrance. Their service was lovely and truly joyful as Brooke flung her arms around Michael's neck for the kiss. They swept back down the aisle to the Beach Boys' "Wouldn't It Be Nice". Congratulations to them and their families.

2011-10-24T09:45:00.000-07:00

The weekend of October 22, 2011 was a busy one. Katie and Cody started us off in the early afternoon with a lovely service. Katie's brother-in-law, David, sang "Butterfly Kisses" right after Katie and her dad stopped at the end of the aisle. One of my musicians nearly lost it herself on that one. They wrote their own vows after which they sealed their union with the lighting of the unity candle and another song, "When God Made You", sung by David. After the kiss and presentation we sent them off to "Signed, Sealed, Delivered"....yes, the Stevie Wonder song. Smiles all around.

Congratulations to Solange and Chris

2011-09-26T10:25:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Solange and Chris who recently married at Scarritt's Wightman Chapel, the best chapel in town for music. The acoustics there are fabulous. The bride chose a string trio for the prelude playing a selections of traditional classics. Solange entered on her Dad's arm to the grand sound of the organ with trumpet. During the ceremony the trio accompanied a soloist who did a fantastic job singing "I Will Be Here", especially after finding out at the last minute her accompanist couldn't make it and had to adjust to singing with the trio's arrangement.

While the organ played the recessional the trio dashed to the reception area to be ready to play as the guests arrived. The reception was on the top floor of the Hilton Garden Inn on Broadway that has probably one of the best views in town of the Nashville skyline.

I'd also like to acknowledge the wonderful job done by Meredith Zeller of Bridal Blueprints her expert planning and coordination.

Bridal Fairs

2011-09-26T10:16:00.000-07:00

Whew! My face is finally recovering from the bridal shows that happened a few weeks ago. The muscles in my face were really tired from smiling and talking for several hours straight...not mention my feet from standing the whole time. I participated in the Perfect Wedding Guide show at the Vanderbilt Plaza hotel as well as the Enchanted Bride fair at Cheekwood. I met so many lovely brides-to-be and loved hearing about their plans so far. How many jobs are there where the clients are happy and excited and every event is totally different from the last? I feel extremely privileged to be doing what I'm doing.

Congratulations to Shara and Dave

2011-09-26T10:03:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Shara and Dave who married earlier this month at CJs Off the Square. In spite of the bumps in the road getting there, their wedding went off without a hitch...except of course for them getting hitched. I have a wonderful sound system to which we tethered the musicians and as the harpist played the prelude which was heard throughout the garden and pavilion, I said to one of my violinists "I think I must be in heaven".

Later at the reception we played a request of "A Case of You" by Joni Mitchell in the style of Diana Krall. Dave introduced the song by reciting some of the lyrics that so described his relationship with Shara. I had gotten to know them a little before the wedding and was really touched by that moment. They are truly a special couple and hope to see more of them in the future.

2011-07-13T12:31:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Patrick and Brianne who married recently at Cheekwood overlooking the reflecting pool. It was hot as blazes that day but they were cool as cucumbers. Their music selections were all over the map with standards, classic rock and contemporary numbers. As a tribute to their attachment to Tennessee they chose "Tennessee Waltz" as the recessional. We played it upbeat as a jazz waltz and then followed with "Highland Cathedral" to send the guests to the punchbowl to quench their thirsts.

The Wedding of Rebecca and Perry

2011-05-18T10:42:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Rebecca and Perry who were married May 13, 2011 at Lockeland Baptist Church. Nothing traditional about their wedding music as they wanted music that meant something to them. Because of this we put together this little video clip ourselves especially for them which you can view here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uxhVhLLs-4

To Rebecca and Perry --Here's a wish for a long and happy life together.

2011-04-18T08:56:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Lindsey and Andrew who married April 16 in a beautiful, well planned ceremony. Grandmothers came in to "Simple Gifts, mothers to "As the Deer", then Lindsey got creative having maids enter to Patty Griffin's "Heavenly Day". Lindsey entered to a TransSiberian Orchestra version of Canon in D arriving at the altar with a flourish. Other nice touches included both mother and father giving her away.

Silver Strings wishes Lindsey and Andrew a long and happy life together.

2011-03-12T21:29:00.001-08:00

Congratulations to Ashley and Adam who got married today. They chose such fun music including "Starlight", "Sweet Home Alabama", "Tonight, Tonight". We brought moms in to "Forever and Ever Amen", maids to "Love Story" and the bride to a TransSiberian Orchestra version of the Canon in D. We sent them off to "Wagon Wheel". It ranks as the most fun wedding of our career. We wish them a long and happy life together.

Here's what Ashley's mom wrote:

Linda,

Thanks so much! It was an exhausting weekend, but so wonderfully rewarding! You guys did a marvelous job! I just had an opportunity to see the video last night, and the music was awesome! I have received so many compliments on your performance, and I have to agree with what everyone has been saying; it was GREAT! Adam LOVED Wagon Wheel, and was very surprised! Please pass my thanks on to the violinist for adding the vocals, it was WONDERFUL! The music added so much to the whole ceremony! The minister is actually Adam’s father, so I will be sure and pass along your compliment on the microphone usage.

I have also passed your compliment on to Miranda. She is married to my nephew who I mentioned coaches baseball at JPII, and she did do a great job! She is great at that type of thing, and worked for a while with Blue Grass Country Club as an event planner. She has a great passion for planning and is very organized. She had a baby recently so we didn’t want to ask her to help, but she jumped right in at the last minute and did a great job! I don’t think that I could have made it through the day without her!

Please feel free to pass my name along to anyone who would like a reference of your work. You have been a delight to talk to, great to work with, and always very easy to contact…and that means a lot in regards to peace of mind! I never doubted that you would do a great job!

Thanks again!

Tammy

At the Webb School, May 2010

2011-02-08T06:31:00.000-08:00

I just learned about a bit of video on the Webb School website of Silver Strings, aka BlackWire, doing a program for the kids last May. Susan Mullen, one of the musicians who works with me, teaches there. She had her students learn one of our rock and roll tunes so they could join us on our grand finale. And we all had "Fun, Fun, Fun".

Symphony Ball

2011-01-14T07:58:00.000-08:00

On December 11, 2010 we got to doll up to be a part of the Craig Duncan orchestra entertaining at the Symphony Ball at Vanderbilt Plaza Hotel.

Happy New Year

2011-01-05T08:05:00.000-08:00

Toni Ferguson and I added our gorgeous good looks to the Craig Duncan Orchestra on the General Jackson Riverboat at their New Years Eve celebration. A good time was had by all.

2010-12-08T08:13:00.000-08:00

Here we are at a holiday party with the theme of the tv show, Mad Men. Thus the black suits and long black ties and Toni sporting a '60's updo. Tunes heard at that party, besides the upbeat Christmas songs done with more flair than taste, included Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now" and Lady Gaga's "Poker Face". And yes, that was "Billie Jean" heard above the exuberance of the party.

November 14, 2010 wedding

2010-12-07T14:37:00.000-08:00

On November 14, 2010 Kelly and Keith were married at Scarritt Bennett's Wightman Chapel. They had a feast of music with congregational singing, a small choir and, of course, Silver Strings. Kelly and Keith wanted to process to a Dave Barnes song "To Build A Home" and then recess to a tune by Muse called "Starlight", which we were happy to arrange for them. I'll let Kelly speak for us with an excerpt from an email after their honeymoon:

"I wanted to thank you for all that you did for us. The music was simply beautiful. The only time I cried the entire ceremony was the moment I heard the strings start our processional music. It was so beautiful and it represented the culmination of all my dreams. Thank you for making that possible."

2010-07-16T11:37:00.000-07:00

On June 26, 2010 Silver Strings had the honor of playing another wedding at CJs Off the Square. The weather cooperated by not raining on the beautiful ceremony in the gazebo. Here are pictures of the trio from that day.

Open House at CJs Off the Square

2010-01-14T15:50:00.000-08:00

CJ's Off the Square is hosting an open house February 27, 2010. I really love working with these guys and you will too. There will be cake to taste, invitations to see and the nearly finished new pavilion to visit. Go to cjsoffthesquare.com/registration.html for details and to register.