Charm Music Entertainment Agency hire live music,gospel choirs,string quartets and covers bands wedding receptions and corporate events

Hiring a String quartet is a great addition to any event.

String Quartets are ideal for the wedding ceremony, the drinks reception and the wedding breakfast and are a great addition for corporate events for drinks receptions and product launches etc.

1. Start Searching As Early As You Can
Don't leave it too late, as popular quartets get booked up well in advance especially for popular dates (e.g. Christmas party bookings; Saturday weddings in the Summer etc.)

2. Know What You're Looking For
Try and have an idea of what effect you want the music to have. If you're organizing a corporate reception for instance, know whether you want the guests to be in a really relaxed, informal mood, or if you want to keep things relatively formal.

If you're planning your wedding, decide if you want a soft, moving accompaniment to the bridal entrance, or if you would like something more regal and majestic.

These may seem like unnecessary things to think about at the planning stage, but if you want your event to be really special, it helps to have ideas that you can pass on to the musicians you are hiring. It's their job to turn those ideas into reality, and the choice and style of music can have a massive effect on how that happens.

4. Choice Of Music
A good quartet or music ensemble should be able to provide a full selection of background music on the day of the performance without you having to spend precious time thinking about programming. Particularly if your event is a reception, there's little need to worry about specific pieces. However, you should make it clear to the group what genre of music you desire.

Most classical groups will present a mixture of classical, pop classical, folk, broadway, romantic, and popular music arrangments. However, it is good to check.

Also remember to say if there's a particular piece that you don't want to hear! One particular piece that comes to mind is Greensleeves! This traditional tune is loved by millions, but there is always a small minority who find it as irritating as a bad mobile phone ringtone! If this is the case for you, remember to point it out!

Another time when a repertoire list is useful is if you want to have a specific piece of music to round off part of an event. Often, we find ourselves playing for a reception just before a sit-down dinner. A great way of moving everyone into the next room is for the quartet to play a really virtuosic showpiece that gets everyone's attention, and makes them applaud at the end.

This gives a natural break in proceedings, which you or your compere/toastmaster/event organiser can use to announce dinner. Little tricks like this can be enormously effective, and should be second nature to an experienced event musician.

5. Little Details
Dress: Make sure you're specific about what the musicians should wear. Usually this is either Lounge Suit, Dinner Jacket, or All Black, depending on the time of day and the tone of your event.

Final Confirmation: Contact the musicians a few days before the event to confirm the date / time, and any last minute changes .
It's always a good idea to give the group leader the mobile phone number of whoever will be running the event, such as the venue organizer or, if it's a wedding, the best man.

Open-Air Music: If you want musicians to play outside, ensure this is made clear, and agreed with them before the event. As their instruments are extremely fragile to temperaturs and moisture changes it is unrealistic to ask a string quartet to play outside unless there is adequate cover, such as a mini-marquee or Gazebo. If the weather is very inclement e.g. there are thunderstorms, it might be difficult for musicians to play outside in a marquee if there is severe risk of damp.


Schedule: If the quartet or group that you book is playing in more than one location, or for more than one session (e.g. a quartet plays either side of a set of speeches), it's always worth providing a schedule of events, even if it's just a scribbled bit of paper outlining the timetable of the event.


Breaks: Musicians will generally need a short break of up to 10 minutes in every hour.

Please call us for more advice and information on 0870 0136 660

String Quartets for hire
| 1 - 12 | 13 - 24 |

The Marten Quartet are a London-based string quartet and one of the top quartets working extensively throughout the UK and Europe.

Their clients include Madonna, Robbie Williams, Elizabeth Taylor, Claridge's, Kensington Palace and Top of the Pops.

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The Bristol based Cabot Quartet are available for a wide range of engagements including weddings, receptions, charity events, balls and private functions.

We have a comprehensive classical repertoire, from well known arrangements by Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven to involving works by Brahms and Shostakovich. This programme is augmented with a variety of jazz and lighter music.

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The Wragg Dolls are a fresh, exciting and glamorous violin and 'cello duo that specialises in original arrangements of famous classics, light jazz, latin american, fiddle and pop music.

Formed whilst studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the duo, which is supported by the 'Concordia Foundation', have performed recitals at many venues in the U.K including the Wigmore Hall, St. James Piccadilly, Southwark Cathedral, The Lyceum and various music clubs throughout the country.

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The Bristol String Quartet is a well-established string quartet with years of experience playing at weddings and corporate functions in Bristol, Bath, Cardiff, Somerset, and across the South West.

We can help create the perfect atmosphere for any event, from a small intimate wedding to a large corporate function.

Having performed at numerous weddings in venues across the South-West, the Bristol String Quartet can provide the perfect accompaniment to your special day, whether it be a church service or a civil ceremony.

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Europe's leading cello duo, based in London, perform the World's most beautiful music, in our own unique arrangements, all over the globe. Beatles, Blues or Bach, our masters of melody find new life in the wonderfully versatile voice of the cello.

The Classical Entertainers continue to enjoy considerable success both on land and at sea.

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Classico Latino is a project that demonstrates the universal and cross-cultural nature of music. Although the three members of the group are classically trained, in Classico Latino they perform the popular Latin-American repertoire, drawing on the familiar Samba, Bolero and Tango as well as less-well-known rhythms such as Pasillo, Joropo and Currulao, in a unique combination of instruments and styles. Whilst maintaining the format of the classical piano trio.

The ground-breaking arrangements, which are all original and unique to the group, combine the passion of Latin America with the virtuosity and traditions of classical music.

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Velvet Strings comprises four extremely talented professional string players, all graduates from some of the top music conservatories in the UK.

They have been together for a number of years performing gigs all over the UK.

The Quartet are the perfect complement to any occasion providing anything from subtle background music for a relaxed atmosphere to a polished concert recital.

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Dirty Pretty Strings are by far the most elegant, sophisticated, and admired string quartet in the country.

Classically trained at the Royal Academy Of Music, their talent and ability has taken them all over the globe performing in some of the most prestigious venues and amongst some of the world’s most renowned artists including Westlife and Michael Buble.

They have worked on TV shows such as Parkinson, Top Of The Pops and Strictly Come Dancing.

As well as specialising in session work and TV performances the quartet regularly perform at a wide variety of private and corporate events.

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The Flute Salad Trio formed in Edinburgh and provide many weddings and functions with an extra sparkle and a unique instrumental combination. By incorporating the flute with strings, the timbre is distinctive and will add another dimension to your event, whatever the occasion.

All the instrumentalists within the group have had intensive musical training at the top music colleges around the nation and have received awards and bursaries for their studies. Since leaving formal education they have had a great deal of experience performing in a range of contexts.

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The Allerton String Quartet are four highly trained young musicians whose specialism is in the performance of classical and light music.

They are available for events of all kinds, whether you are planning a wedding, corporate function, party or any formal reception.

The quartet have a vast repertoire which can be tailored to suit any needs. They also have a prolific reputation for their classical music recitals for which they have additional repertoire.

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String Quartets for hire
| 1 - 12 | 13 - 24 |