Providing great music for parties, weddings, receptions, and other special events!
Solo cello creates an intimate atmosphere. Music selections are more reflective for solemn gatherings, energetic and upbeat for joyous ones.
Popular songs and jazz with pre-recorded accompaniment parts enliven the mood.
Two cellos of the Dyer Duo are the perfect choice for indoor or outdoor weddings, offering sonorous renditions of traditional favorites when no organ is available.
Processional, interlude and recessional by request; a variety of selections performed for prelude and postlude/cocktail hour.
The comforting warmth of two cellos is perfect for funerals.
Special requests? Just ask…
We hired Max for our wedding cocktail hour and throughout dinner. He did a phenomenal performance and made our wedding special. We highly recommend hiring him!
Max played for Mom’s 90th birthday cocktail party. The music he played was perfect! Mom played the cello when she was young and I knew it would be the right touch for the party. Max is kind and gracious (and very talented) and I highly recommend him for your event!
Max and his wife were phenomenal we booked last minute and they made the wedding ceremony one of the best. Thank you
Response from Max Dyer:
Thanks so much Kimberly. It was a pleasure to meet you both. Congratulations!
Max and Corky
Max was wonderful. He and his wife played in a short wedding ceremony, as well as at the beginning of a reception. They are very very talented - their music is breathtaking. They also happily learned a few new songs at our request and they were perfect. I highly recommend them!
We recently asked Max to be our solo cellist at our wedding and he was AMAZING! I found a song I thought would be impossible to find sheet music and he found a version and it was beautiful. I am so happy with my choice and urge anyone to hire him.
Max and his wife, Corky, played for my son's outdoor wedding at Olbrich Botanical Gardens. The music was so beautiful! They were easy to communicate with, professional, and accommodating. They projected well without amplification so set up only involved 2 chairs. It was both my son's and daughter in law's birthday and Max and Corky played Happy Birthday at the end of the ceremony for them. Highly recommend!
I decided to hire Max and his wife Corky not very long before my wedding. They were very communicative, practiced, on time, and just overall very wonderful.
All my guests raved about them, and how wonderful they were. Definitely worth it!
With rain changing our plans from an outdoor winery experience to a smaller restaurant alongside the winery, we could not have been more impressed with the flexibility from Max and his wife. The cellist playing was beautiful and we were so pleased.
Response from Max Dyer:
Thanks Kara and Jeremy!
Our heartiest congratulations to you both!
Max and Corky
Max played for my daughters wedding and cocktail hour. I missed hearing him play besides the service part. I was the one who wanted this done her!Guest commented on how amazing he was and the selection of music he played was enjoyable. He was very professional through the whole process. I would hire him again in a second for my next event! Thank you Max!!
Response from Max Dyer:
You are welcome Cindy. It was a beautiful service. Thanks so much for asking me.
MAX
Max and his wife were absolutely fantastic. Their beautiful playing made our wedding ceremony. They ended up also playing alongside my sister when she sang during our ceremony - this wasn’t planned but left everyone speechless. It was truly magnificent- do your self a favor and get musicians like Max and his wife for your event! You won’t regret it.
Response from Max Dyer:
Thanks SO much, Jacinta! We loved playing for your wedding!
Our warmest wishes and congratulations to you both!
Max and Cornelia Dyer
Max & Cornelia were so helpful and accommodating. They learned a new song for us for the bride's processional and was able to easily switch locations at the last minute when the weather proved too cold for an outdoor wedding. Their music was beautiful and really helped make our wedding day extra special. We'd love to have an occasion to work with them again :)
Response from Max Dyer:
Thanks David and Dorothy. Thanks for making us a part of your life on this very special day!
Many many congratulations!
Max and Cornelia performed at our wedding ceremony and cocktail hour and they were absolutely wonderful. Their music set such a romantic and elegant tone that my guests are still talking about it! In addition to their talent, Max and Cornelia are very professional and easy to work with. Highly recommend this duo!!
Response from Max Dyer:
Thanks SO much Anne. Every good wish to you both for many, many years of happiness.
Max and Corky
We could not have had a better person play at our wedding. Mr. Max is so talented and so friendly. He made our night even more magical.
Response from Max Dyer:
Thanks Monica.
It was a joy!
MAX
Photos from this event
Max was great and everyone enjoyed his beautiful playing
Max's cello music was one of the most moving and memorable parts of our ceremony, particularly we loved his "Inspired" album. The rich tones of his pieces reminds us of the highlights of our lives and truly inspires. His coordinated fading out and pauses worked well into our processional and we would not have done our wedding without him. Thank you!
After having to miss Yo Yo Ma in concert because of a more important family emergency, my wife treated me with Max. Loving the cello as I do, it was a fantastic experience.
Response from Max Dyer:
Thanks Donna
It was a pleasure to meet you both and robe a part of your very special Valentines Day surprise. All the best!
Max
Photos from this event
Max was the nicest and classiest touch to our realtor event we recently had. He is very talented and received great reviews from everyone. Thanks for adding a touch of class to our event!
Price Range: Contact for rates
Gig Length: 30 - 180 minutes
Languages: English
Unions: AFM
I provide elegant cello music for weddings, dinners, private parties and funerals and perform unaccompanied, with my own prerecorded backing music, or as a duo with my wife Cornelia. I am happy to help create custom music that will be perfect for your occasion. Our repertoire of music includes Medieval and Renaissance pieces, Dowland, Bach, Handel, Pachelbel, Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Schumann, and familiar folk melodies and songs, including popular and Christmas tunes. As professional musicians for over 30 years, Max and Cornelia Dyer bring sensitivity and experience to every special occasion.
MAX DYER is a cellist with over 30 years of professional experience in the United States and abroad. In addition to his classical career as cellist with the Houston Ballet Orchestra, Max plays cello in every context from opera and chamber music to folk, jazz, gospel and Indian classical. A sought-after improvising recording artist, he has performed on Grammy winning albums and literally hundreds of recording projects for major and independent labels.
Max holds a Masters Degree from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music where he studied with Shirley Trepel. He is married to cellist and author Cornelia Watkins and perform together for weddings, receptions and memorial services as Duo Dyer.
CORNELIA WATKINS DYER is an active freelance musician and has taught cello privately for 35 years. Previously on the faculty of Rice University's preparatory program, and Lecturer in Music at the Shepherd School of Music, she now teaches pedagogy at the Bienen School of Music, Northwestern University. She is the author of two books on teaching and learning music and the cello, and holds music performance degrees from both the Hartt School of Music and University of Houston.
I can provide my own sound amplification if necessary.
| September 18, 2024 • 4:00pm - 7:30pm | Funeral/Memorial Service |
| April 20, 2024 • 3:00pm - 5:30pm | Wedding Ceremony |
| October 13, 2023 • 4:00pm - 6:30pm | Wedding Reception |
| September 30, 2023 • 12:00pm - 3:00pm | Personal Occasion |
| September 23, 2023 • 1:30pm - 2:15pm | Wedding Ceremony |
| July 22, 2023 • 5:30pm - 7:30pm | Cocktail Party |
| June 30, 2023 • 4:00pm - 5:00pm | Wedding Ceremony |
| June 03, 2023 • 12:30pm - 1:30pm | Wedding Ceremony |
| September 11, 2022 • 3:00pm - 3:30pm | Wedding Ceremony |
| August 13, 2022 • 3:00pm - 4:00pm | Wedding Ceremony |
| March 26, 2022 • 3:00pm - 3:45pm | Wedding Ceremony |
| June 26, 2021 • 10:30am - 11:30am | Wedding Ceremony |
| June 05, 2021 • 2:30pm - 4:30pm | Wedding Ceremony |
| August 21, 2020 • 3:00pm - 4:30pm | Wedding Ceremony |
| August 08, 2020 • 2:00pm - 3:00pm | Wedding Ceremony |
| October 12, 2019 • 2:00pm - 3:30pm | Wedding Ceremony |
| October 07, 2018 • 2:30pm - 6:30pm | Wedding Ceremony |
| October 21, 2017 • 4:30pm - 5:30pm | Wedding Ceremony |
| May 15, 2017 • 11:30am - 1:30pm | Nonprofit Event |
| April 01, 2017 • 1:00pm - 3:00pm | Wedding Ceremony |
| February 18, 2017 • 5:00pm - 6:00pm | Wedding Ceremony |
| February 14, 2017 • 6:30pm - 8:00pm | Dinner Party |
| September 12, 2015 • 3:00pm - 6:00pm | Wedding Ceremony |
| March 20, 2014 • 7:00pm - 9:30pm | Corporate Event |
| February 04, 2014 • 2:00pm - 4:00pm | Studio Session |
| October 30, 2013 • 4:00pm - 7:00pm | Grand Opening |
WEDDING MUSIC – DYER DUO
Below is a list of music organized by our recommendations for each part of the service. Some are listed twice because they work well in more than one place in weddings, but you may certainly request other substitutions. After you have made your processional, meditation, and recessional choices, other favorites not specifically requested can certainly be performed during the pre service if desired. Be sure to let us know.
Preservice Music—Bach Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring; Mouret Fanfare and Rondo (Masterpiece Theater Theme); Mozart Contradance; Saint-Saens The Swan; Offenbach Rondo; Schumann Stückchen #5; Boccherini Sonata in C for 2 celli; Laven Alpenglow; Somewhere Over the Rainbow; Wonderful World (Louie Armstrong), and various joyous Baroque and Classical minuets, gavottes, and other dances.
Processional—Pachelbel Canon; Wagner Bridal Chorus (aka “Here Comes the Bride”); Bach Air (from Orchestral Suite #3); Bach Wachet Auf; Handel Largo from Xerxes; Beatles Here There and Everywhere; Purcell (or Clarke) Trumpet Tune, Roo Panes “Lullaby Love”, “My Narrow Road”, Crosby Stills and Nash “Our House”
Meditative Service Music (for candle lighting, underscoring readings, etc) –Erik Satie Gymnopedie #1; Bach Arise and Praise; Bach Air (from Orchestral Suite #3); Elgar Nimrod (from Enigma Variations); Amazing Grace; Morricone “Gabriel’s Oboe”
Recessional Music: Couperin La Tromba; Purcell Trumpet Tune; Mendelssohn Wedding March; Beethoven Ode to Joy; Mouret Fanfare and Rondo (Masterpiece Theater Theme); Beatles All You Need is Love, Roo Panes-Lullaby Love, Narrow Road Crosby Stills and Nash – Our House
Jewish Music: Dodi LI, Hebrew Melody, Khosn Kale Mazel Tov, Siman Tov u Mazel Tov (others on request!)
Custom (link hidden)r weddings and funerals (with our without prerecorded backing music)
Cello Duo arrangements of many hymns and familiar Christian and Jewish music
Unaccompanied Bach Suites 1-3, John Dowland Lute music
Renaissance and Medieval music selections with Backing Track
Christmas music medley
JAZZ
Three Hour-long sets of familiar jazz and popular standards with backing track.
| Max Dyer | cellist |
| Cornelia Dyer | cellist |
a power outlet
One or two straight backed chairs
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