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Midnight on the Water
- Philadelphia, PA
- String Trio
- Travels up to 120 miles
- $125 and up
Overview
Philly's most innovative string ensemble, playing classical, jazz, trad, pop, and the uncategorizable! There's lots of great groups out there, but what makes us unique is (1) the range of styles we not only perform but actually feel at home in; (2) the fact that we do all our own organizing, arrangements, and performances, resulting in a product that's at once more professional and personal; and (3) our blend of deep expertise and youthful excitement to play with one another and for you.
24 Reviews
Midnight on the Water were punctual, excellent musicians that made our wedding ceremony feel magical and nailed the songs we requested!
String Trio, Wedding Band
We hired midnight on the water to play a square dance and the following dinner the night before our wedding, and they made the whole night. Each of the musicians is so warm and talented. They clearly LOVE what they do, and that joy made the music all the more lively and playful. They were open to our requests and were great people to work with. Getting to dance and listen to their music was the highlight of our wedding - if you have a chance to book them or see them play, do it!
String Trio
Midnight on the Water was amazing during the cocktail hour on our wedding day. We had a very specific/difficult request for one of our songs and they were phenomenal!! Exceptional sound and professionalism, we couldn’t be happier, thank you!!
Mandolin Player
Absolutely everything I could have asked for and more! Got so many compliments during my cocktail hour about them. Would book them again. 100/100!
Classical Duo
I hired Tom to play violin for an evening, outdoors, for 30 minutes. He was amazing! Outstanding communicator , expert musician, very accommodating. Would 100% use his services again.
Violinist
We were honored to have Dani play cello for our wedding service. Their performance was dynamic and mesmerizing. The blend of technical skill and emotional expression created an enchanting atmosphere and made our day unforgettable. I was very unsure of what music I wanted to have played and Dani graciously worked with me to find the right tone, tempo, and feeling that we wanted to evoke. We received many compliments from our guests who found the performance to be a true highlight of the ceremony. We wholeheartedly agree.
Besides their remarkable talent, Dani was a pleasure to work with - professional, accommodating, and dedicated to making our wedding special. We highly recommend them to any seeking to add live music to their event.
Thank you for making our wedding truly unforgettable!
Cellist
A beautiful addition to our venue, thank you!
String Trio
Midnight on the Water did an amazing job for our cocktail hour! They played everything that we wanted. Everyone at our wedding also said they loved the music.
Classical Duo, Violinist, Wedding Band, String Trio
Midnight on the Water provided wonderful music to our event of over 100 people.
It elevated the mood, made attenders happy and more relaxed.
We had wanted to have a special event with that extra dimension.
Thanks to the trio for being part of a very successful gathering.
Midnight on the Water played during the cocktail hour of my wedding this weekend. They were amazing - professional and skilled! Several guests including my dad and brother said they were their favorite part of the whole wedding! I will recommend them to all my family and friends. Thank you for making our day so special and memorable!!
Classical Duo, Mandolin Player, Violinist, Wedding Band
Midnight on the Water played at my wedding ceremony this past March and created a beautiful and serene atmosphere.
String Quartet, Wedding Band
We had Dani play solo cello at out retirement community happy hour. The residents really enjoyed the performance and talent. We would definitely consider hiring from this group again.
Cellist
I was privileged to attend a private performance by this group! they brought both joy and high levels of musicianship to all of us. I am primarily a classical music lover, so I was thrilled, and a bit surprised, to find myself so totally engaged and with, entertained by, the trio. They were engaging both musically and personally. My retirement community has just engaged them for its 2024-25 music series, and I am sure that our listeners will be as excited about them as I am. Bravi tutti!
String Trio
Dani not only brought his outstanding talent as a cellist to our Victorian themed Christmas party, but also his energy of holiday happiness. He played every moment that we agreed to and was flexible enough to play Christmas songs we requested on the spot. He was on time, kind and accomodating - a true talented professional. I would hire him again in a heartbeat!
Wonderful performance! Varied music, all played expertly. Musicians introduced the pieces they played and were very personable as well as informative.
Cellist, Fiddler, Mandolin Player, Multi-Instrumentalist, Viola Player, Violinist, World Music, String Trio
Great communication, performance, and went the extra mile to make sure my proposal went off without a hitch!
String Trio
Midnight on the Water was everything we wanted and more for our wedding!! They played at our wedding ceremony and cocktail hour and sounded so amazing!
They have plenty of arrangements ready for you, and they also made arrangements for us on request, so we were able to request specific songs to walk down the aisle to which was amazing!!
Cellist, Fiddler, Pop Music, Viola Player, Wedding Band, String Trio
Dani was a true professional from the start. He was so easy to work with and he played multiple song requests for a wedding ceremony and played them all beautifully. He's a very talented cellist and he arrived on time and well-dressed. Dani made the ceremony a huge success and several guests complimented his playing. I would recommend him for anyone's wedding ceremony or cocktail hour.
Here's a short video of him playing during the ceremony. He sounded incredible!
https://youtu.be/3FZGLeHc2nI
Cellist, Classical Duo
I can't say enough great things about Midnight On The Water! Their catalogue of everything from classical to contemporary music suited our needs for the ceremony (classical) and cocktail hour (classic rock, 90s grunge, etc) perfectly. My husband, myself and our guests thoroughly enjoyed the playlist they compiled. Dani, Nathan, & Tom are amazing talents and are so accommodating with special song requests. Hire them, you won't be sorry!
String Trio
Tom came prepared for my proposal and did an amazing job. I gave him a couple songs I liked and he practiced them perfectly to be ready for my event. He even bought a brand new tux for my event ! I recommend Tom 1000x over!
Violinist
Tom, Dani, and Nathan were very responsive to my messages and helpful from the start, making it easy to plan a benefit event at my Quaker meeting house. Their professionalism continued on the day of the event: they showed up early, set up swiftly, and were ready to go without any direction.
Then they provided an hour of sheer sonic magic. I work with a lot of musicians, and this was some of the most transportive music I've heard from a live ensemble - it's crazy that all that emotion and texture and richness can come from three people playing acoustic instruments. When the benefit wrapped up a little earlier than expected, I asked them to improvise some "outro" music on the spot. After conferring for about 10 seconds, they launched into one of the most extraordinary numbers of the whole afternoon.
Afterwards, they stayed to chat with some of the attendees. They were charming to everyone and also handled a tricky situation extremely smoothly when a problematic guest tried to monopolize their attention.
I couldn't have asked more from Midnight on the Water. Thank you, Tom, Dani, and Nathan!
Acoustic Band
Dani, Nathan, and Tom are excellent musicians. I got to work with them in the studio in the production of some of their recent work, and you can tell just from their musicality, and their attentiveness to detail, that they are the cream of the crop. Crisp, elegant, provocative, and challenging arrangements of classic and current repertory - warming up for the recording, I overheard them practicing through a Bach chorale, but transposing up one half-step with each change in phrase... it certainly takes not only serious musical skill, but also a ton of innate talent to master an instrument like that.
I highly, highly recommend them - and as a recording engineer and a videographer whose worked alongside many talented musicians, this trio is among the best!
Classical Ensemble, Guitarist, Multi-Instrumentalist, String Trio
I booked Tom, Nathan, and Dani for a house concert at my home. I was looking for something fun and different to do, and while I’ve always loved live music, I’d never tried hosting it myself, so I thought why not? I wasn’t sure how it worked, but Tom, Nathan, and Dani were very communicative and made everything easy. They took all my requests and were able to fit themselves right in front of the kitchen and play without even moving any furniture!
And the music… all I have to say is WOW. I’d asked for a lot of different sorts of music, and they did not disappoint, playing everything from my favorite Stevie Wonder song to some very beautiful folk music unlike anything I’d ever heard and everything in between. It was crazy how they were able to play all these different styles, and each one sounded different, but so good, and somehow they all fit together. Best of all, they were all not only very professional and talented, but also down-to-earth and friendly! It was easy to work with them, but also just easy to talk to them.
Also, it’s very very different experiencing professional music so up-close. If you’ve never had a chance hear musicians of this caliber play from only a few feet away and see how they interact and create their music, you really owe it to yourself at least once. My guests were thrilled, and I feel like my home is still ringing with the artistry and warmth they brought into it. So glad I took the plunge on this new experience. Thank you, Tom, Nathan, and Dani!
I was invited to a small house show that they were playing in my neighborhood. It was really sweet to see how a number of neighbors on the block were out on their porch just to listen. The range of music of music they played was astounding, and it all sounded so good. They are all very sweet humans and I hope I get to hear them again soon! I would happily book them for my future events.
String Trio
Booking Info
Price Range: $125 and up
What to Expect
Our years of experience performing music *and also* working with people and organizations mean that you can expect the highest standards of professionalism and musicianship from us. What's most unique about us, however, is our personal touch. Unlike other ensembles that feature a rotating cast of musicians under a single brand name, we're just us - Tom, Nathan, and Dani - and we do all our own correspondence, arranging, and performing. This results in a more distinctive, spontaneous, and mature sound, and also means that from the initial booking through through correspondence & preparation to your event itself, you'll be working with the same people who will actually perform for you.
When you book us, one of us (Tom, Nathan, or Dani) will be in touch with you to learn more about your event and how we can best enhance it. We'll provide a detailed contract so that all the logistical details (like arrival times, repertoire, sick policies, etc) are crystal clear. We'll stay in touch with you after signing to answer any further questions that arise as you prepare your event, and also, if you want, to custom-tailor a set list with you.
We rehearse a lot so that at your event our focus can be on you. Our specific goals differ widely for different types of events. At wedding ceremonies, parties, and receptions, our aim is to enhance the ambiance, not to be the center of attention. At events like concerts and contradances, our aim is to fully enthrall your ears - maybe with sounds so irresistible you and your guests can't NOT get up and dance. Again, we're happy to dialogue with you to learn what your goals our for your specific event!
In performance, we're unique in the range of musical styles we can feel at home in - again, that was the whole idea of our ensemble to begin with. We're happy to play complete programs of classical music, jazz, pop, or North Atlantic fiddle styles as well or better than any ensemble that specializes in these styles - or we can mix them together in whatever combination suits your taste!
About
Midnight on the Water started as an idea. The three of us have collectively played well over one thousand performances with classical, jazz, trad, and pop ensembles, but rarely have we met other string players who are equally at home across all those musical contexts - until we met one another! What would happen, we thought, if the three of us got together to play ALL the music in a single ensemble? Two years of music later, we're more excited about playing together than when we began, and we can't wait to play for you.
Collectively, we've played several hundred weddings over more than a decade and won repeated best-of awards from event coordinators like Gigmasters, Wedding Wire, and the Knot; founded and directed several music & dance programs and festivals; performed at venues like New York's Carnegie Hall, Boston's Institute of Contemporary Art, Prague's Rudolfinum, and on every continent except for South America and Antarctica; received degrees in music performance, musicology, and ethnomusicology from schools like the New England Conservatory, Berklee, and Princeton; and taught music at schools including Cornell University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Swarthmore College.
Additional Booking Notes
We require three armless chairs and, if playing outside, complete coverage. (Violins really don't like water!) We generally play acoustically, but depending on the repertoire you want for your event and the size of the space, we can also provide amplification.
Upcoming Booked Events
November 23, 2024 • 5:00pm - 7:00pm | Dinner Party |
March 09, 2025 • 4:00pm - 5:00pm | Concert |
May 17, 2025 • 2:00pm - 3:00pm | Wedding Ceremony |
July 26, 2025 • 6:00pm - 7:30pm | Wedding Ceremony |
September 06, 2025 • 3:30pm - 4:30pm | Wedding Ceremony |
Past Booked Events
October 26, 2024 • 3:30pm - 4:30pm | Wedding Ceremony |
October 23, 2024 • 6:00pm - 6:15pm | Surprise |
October 19, 2024 • 3:30pm - 5:30pm | Wedding Ceremony |
October 12, 2024 • 4:30pm - 5:30pm | Wedding Ceremony |
September 14, 2024 • 5:00pm - 6:00pm | Wedding Reception |
August 31, 2024 • 5:00pm - 6:00pm | Wedding Cocktail Hour |
August 31, 2024 • 11:30am - 2:30pm | Personal Occasion |
August 23, 2024 • 6:30pm - 7:00pm | Personal Occasion |
August 03, 2024 • 4:00pm - 5:30pm | Wedding Ceremony |
August 02, 2024 • 7:00pm - 10:00pm | Contradance (Glen Echo DC) |
June 28, 2024 • 5:00pm - 6:00pm | Wedding Ceremony |
June 08, 2024 • 4:00pm - 5:00pm | Cocktail Party |
May 18, 2024 • 6:00pm - 8:00pm | Funeral/Memorial Service |
May 12, 2024 • 1:00pm - 2:00pm | Wedding Ceremony |
May 11, 2024 • 7:00pm - 10:00pm | Contradance (New York NY) |
May 10, 2024 • 9:30am - 10:30am | Funeral/Memorial Service |
May 05, 2024 • 1:30pm - 5:00pm | Contradance (Arden DE) |
May 03, 2024 • 5:30pm - 6:30pm | Dinner Party |
April 27, 2024 • 6:00pm - 7:00pm | Wedding Reception |
April 21, 2024 • 7:00pm - 10:00pm | Contradance (Brooklyn NY) |
April 10, 2024 • 7:00pm - 10:00pm | Contradance (Princeton NJ) |
April 05, 2024 • 7:00pm - 9:30pm | Contradance (Ottsville PA) |
March 30, 2024 • 2:00pm - 3:00pm | Funeral/Memorial Service |
March 27, 2024 • 3:30pm - 4:30pm | Cocktail Party |
March 22, 2024 • 2:30pm - 3:30pm | Wedding Ceremony |
March 16, 2024 • 6:00pm - 7:30pm | Christmas Party |
March 16, 2024 • 3:00pm - 4:00pm | House Party |
March 16, 2024 • 12:00pm - 2:00pm | Personal Occasion |
February 24, 2024 • 7:00pm - 10:00pm | Benefit Concert |
February 24, 2024 • 1:15am - 2:30am | Wedding Ceremony |
February 23, 2024 • 1:00pm - 2:00pm | Funeral/Memorial Service |
December 09, 2023 • 5:00pm - 6:00pm | Wedding Engagement |
December 02, 2023 • 7:30pm - 9:00pm | Christmas Party |
November 26, 2023 • 3:00pm - 4:30pm | Concert |
November 18, 2023 • 2:00pm - 2:30pm | Surprise |
October 22, 2023 • 6:30pm - 8:00pm | Wedding Ceremony |
October 14, 2023 • 5:00pm - 7:00pm | Wedding Ceremony |
October 07, 2023 • 4:00pm - 5:00pm | Wedding Ceremony |
September 23, 2023 • 5:30pm - 7:00pm | Wedding Ceremony |
September 16, 2023 • 7:00pm - 7:30pm | Surprise |
September 16, 2023 • 2:00pm - 4:00pm | Funeral/Memorial Service |
September 03, 2023 • 3:00pm - 5:00pm | Fundraiser |
February 15, 2023 • 3:00pm - 4:30pm | House Concert |
Set List
Our set lists vary widely depending on the type of event we're playing, and we're always happy to create custom set lists for clients. In general, we can play any repertoire advertised by any string ensemble.
Here's a few sample set lists:
CLASSICAL WEDDING CEREMONY & COCKTAIL HOUR
Processional: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (JS Bach)
Bridal processional: Canon in D (Johann Pachelbel)
Sand ceremony / ring warming / unity candle, etc: Ave Maria (Franz Schubert)
Recessional: La Rejouissance from the Royal Fireworks Music (George Frideric Handel)
Cocktail hour:
Entrance of the Queen of Sheba (George Frideric Handel)
Air in G (JS Bach)
Bourree in F (George Frideric Handel)
Trumpet Tune (Henry Purcell)
Largo from the Four Seasons (Antonio Vivaldi)
Trumpet Voluntary (Jeremiah Clarke)
Rondeau (Jean-Joseph Mouret)
Air from Water Music in F (George Frideric Handel)
Bourree from Water Music in F (George Frideric Handel)
Hornpipe from Water Music in D (George Frideric Handel)
1-HR MULTI-GENRE CONCERT ON THE THEME OF LOVE
Isn't She Lovely (Stevie Wonder)
Canon & Gigue in D Major (Johann Pachelbel)
Waking Up (Myriam Alter)
Por una cabeza (Carlos Gardel)
Da Slockit Light (Tom Anderson) / Inisheer (Thomas Walsh) / Ashokan Farewell (Jay Ungar)
All Of Me (jazz standard)
Meditation from Thaïs (Jules Massenet)
Fractions of Mast (Dani Hawkins) / Reign of Love (Keith Murphy) / Whiskey Business (Tom Krumm)
All of My Love (Led Zeppelin)
Georgia On My Mind (Ray Charles)
An Bradán Feasa (Nathan Bishop) / Slängpolska efter Juringius (Trad. Swedish)
CONTRADANCE
Reels:
Old Joe / Kitchen Girl
Maxime LeBlanc / Fleur de Mandragore
Curvy Road to Corinth / Torn Jacket
Galway Rambler / Bees Wax Sheep Skin
Banshee / Coalminer
Brenda Stubbert’s / The High Drive
Mountain Road / Mineral Bluff
La Belle Gaspesie / Brumley Brae
Father Kelly’s / Frank’s Reel
Jigs:
Apples in Winter (Em) /The Wild One (Dm)
Rolling Wave (D) / Indian Point (Em)
Out on the Ocean (G) (P1) / Out on the Road (P2) (D)
Road to Lisdoonvarna / Dark Girl in Blue / Star above the Garter
Maison de Glace / Gold Ring
Waltzes:
Le Voyage de la Diabline (Trip to Provence)
Call of the West
Haapavesi
Westphalia Waltz
Midnight on the Water