Eden Ehm - Violin & Hardingfele

~~~ Services & Rates ~~~
I am excited to offer a wide variety of services! All services below are available in person and remotely via videoconference. Have another idea in mind? I love performing at unique events. Please contact me with your event details and ideas to get a price quote based on your needs.

~~~ Wedding Ceremony -or- Cocktail Hour $500
I will work with you to pick meaningful music for each part of your ceremony. This includes 15 minutes of prelude music, family seating and bridal party processional music, the bride's entrance, music during the ceremony, recessional music, and 15 minutes of postlude music.

Attendance at the wedding rehearsal is an additional fee but is absolutely not necessary; I have played at hundreds of weddings and will gather information about the size of your bridal party and other details of the service to perfect timing.

Wedding ceremonies are available on solo violin, and I perform anything from traditional classical to modern pop songs. Have Norwegian heritage? Hardingfele folk tunes and bridal marches from your ancestors' region of Norway make a beautiful addition to a wedding!

If you are looking for a string quartet, please visit The Rhapsody String Quartet website.

~~~ Performance - violin, hardingfele, or both $300/hr
You let me know what you would like for the musical mood (classical, pop music, folk music, Hardanger fiddle) and I will play for an hour from my repertoire. If I am playing for multiple hours, I will take a short break at the top of each hour.

Think creatively! I have performed everywhere from formal concert settings to backyard parties.

Depending on the structure of your event, if my "total playing time" adds up to 1 hour, this is the rate that applies. A discount applies if a performance is booked in conjunction with a wedding, for example, for a cocktail or dinner hour.

~~~ Hardanger Fiddle Presentation $300/hr
The Hardanger fiddle is a unique instrument and an integral part of Norwegian culture. I will present information about the music and dance of the Hardanger fiddle, demonstrate the instrument, perform many tunes, answer questions, and give an up-close look at the instrument. If requested, I will wear my traditional Norwegian bunad or other festive dress. Presentations can be tailored to fit anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours.

Potential presentation foci:
- Hardanger Fiddle basics
- Harding What? Everything you've wanted to know about the Hardanger fiddle but were afraid to ask
- Stories on Strings: The Hardanger Fiddle's Folklore
- Dance Traditions: Bygdedans and Gammeldans
- Contemporary Hardanger Fiddle Music
- Music of a specific region
- Edvard Grieg's folk music influences

~~~ Travel $ variable
I regularly travel within the tri-state area of Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. A mileage charge will be added for travel to venues outside of a 15-mile/15-minute radius of my hometown. I use the current federal mileage rate multiplied by the round-trip miles and number of trips. I will let you know if a mileage charge applies well in advance of booking.

Note: All services are available in-person and remotely via teleconference software like Zoom, Skype, Teams, and FaceTime.

~~~ Special Requests $ variable
I love to expand my repertoire! Sometimes, a special request necessitates that I purchase sheet music, make a custom arrangement, or need extra rehearsal time. I can also coordinate with other musicians, such as pianists or vocalists, to rehearse and perform. Please let me know about any special requests or collaborations and I will let you know if an additional fee applies.

*** IMPORTANT NOTES ***
- Services are available in-person and remotely via teleconference software like Zoom, Skype, Teams, and FaceTime.
- I offer performances at a greatly discounted price for 501c3 non-profit groups and charity events.
- I regularly offer discounts in exchange for in-trade marketing and publicity.
- Please contact me and I will provide press materials including a biography, photo, and more. DO NOT TAKE BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION OR PHOTOS DIRECTLY FROM THIS WEBSITE.
- I am a founding member of the Rhapsody String Quartet. If you are looking for a string quartet for your wedding, cocktail hour, party, or another special event, please see The Rhapsody String Quartet website for more information.

~~~ Violin ~~~

A classically trained violinist since the age of five, Eden spent her childhood accumulating numerous honors and awards throughout her school years. She continued her violin studies at St. Olaf College where she was a member of the world-renowned St. Olaf Orchestra. More recently, Eden was concertmaster of the Oneota Valley Community Orchestra for the ensemble's first three formative years.

Eden loves performing with others and maintains an active career as a professional orchestral and chamber musician. She is currently a member of the LaCrosse Symphony Orchestra violin section and is a frequent substitute for other regional ensembles. Her string quartet, The Rhapsody String Quartet, can be found performing everything from Beethoven to The Beatles throughout the tri-state region of Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Eden is passionate about making classical music fun, funky, and accessible to all, for example by providing live music for yoga classes and performing in other unique settings.

~~~ Hardanger Fiddle ~~~

The national folk instrument of Norway, the Hardanger fiddle or "hardingfele" may resemble a violin, but it is very different in design, sound, and traditions.

A native of Decorah, Iowa, Eden Ehm grew up seeing beautiful Hardanger fiddles in Vesterheim Museum displays but never dreamed she would play one. Her interest in folk music and fiddling began during her seven years as the principal violinist of the Decorah Nordic Dancer's Orchestra - an opportunity that allowed her to travel, perform, and share her love of folk music nationally. The Nordic Dancers sell a CD that features Eden's Norwegian fiddling on violin.

Eden began studying the Hardanger fiddle with renowned fiddler Andrea Een while at St. Olaf College, the only school in the United States to offer instruction and credit in this unique instrument. During her time at Olaf, Eden had the opportunity to travel regionally and perform; fiddling for King Harold and Queen Sonja of Norway in 2011 was a highlight.

A member of the Hardanger Fiddle Association of America (HFAA), Eden received the Balchen-Hegge Scholarship in 2015 to pursue her fiddle studies. She has been a frequent teacher and mentor at the HFAA's annual workshop and has served on the HFAA Board of Directors. One of the most prominent young fiddlers in North America, Eden enjoys attending workshops, camps, and learning new tunes. She is most often seen performing at Scandinavian festivals or fiddling with friends. Eden is passionate about preserving and sharing this unique instrument and its music with all generations, especially young children and the elderly. She hopes to one day travel to Norway to study fiddle.

Contract - received back and signed at least 1 month prior to the event date to book
Deposit - 50% non-refundable deposit required with contract to save the date and book
Microphone - not required, but nice to have for larger venues
Music Stand - I will bring my own
Chair - not required, but nice to have
Setup - at least 15 minutes of setup time in the venue prior to the performance start time
Venue - outdoor venues must guarantee an indoor location or tent with sides in case of inclement weather