Golden Gate Music presents some of the most popular live music ensembles in the San Francisco Bay Area, Napa and Sonoma Wine Country, Silicon Valley, Carmel and beyond. To listen to live unedited samples of the groups, please visit the Live mp3's page.
The Golden Gate String Quartet has over a century of combined experience. We have performed in the greater Bay Area's finest hotels, restaurants, gardens, and in many of the wineries and wedding venues of the Napa and Sonoma Wine Country. We've played for hundreds of weddings and corporate events of every imaginable sort. Not quite sure of a string quartet for your event? With a little change in personnel, we can offer a string trio, duo, flute or guitar trio, or soloist. Mia, our vocalist can be added as well, or a Baroque trumpet for a truly exciting wedding processional. The Golden Gate String Quartet is versatile and has a large repertoire of exclusive arrangements of popular songs in addition to all your classical favorites.We have done several costumed period performances, and most recently created "The Suffragette Quartet" for HBO and "The Bottoms Up Quartet" for the Society of California Pioneers Post-Prohibition gala.
Golden Gate Strings is like no other group in Northern California. This larger ensemble consists of concertmasters and principal players from the San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland and Marin Symphonies and the San Francisco Opera and Ballet Orchestras. From its impeccable look of gowns, white tie and tails to its exclusive arrangements of a wide variety of styles, from Classical to R & B, Motown, Funk and beyond, Golden Gate Strings is fast becoming a new San Francisco tradition.
The Two of Us is a truly unique string duo. We are not your usual stuffy classical players although both of us are very experienced classical musicians. We have performed together for over 20 years - classical, popular, jazz, tango, Continental - even Motown and R & B! And, we do it all from memory. Do you have a favorite song? There's a good chance that The Two of Us will be able to play it. Planning a wedding on a tight budget? We can play classical music for the ceremony, then lighten things up for the reception. You get the benefits of two groups and save money too.
The Golden Gate Continental Trio brings you the romantic music of France and Italy, as well as all your Latin favorites. You have a choice of instruments; violin, guitar and bass: violin, accordion and bass; and two violins and guitar or accordion. For an authentic Italian touch, we can even provide a nationally acclaimed mandolinist. You can also add the excitement of a sultry chanteuse to the trio. The group is available for French or Italian costume events and specializes in Argentine tango.
Fievre is our concert string quartet. Members are violinists Wenyi Shih and John Tenney, violist Su Buchignani, and cellist Jan Volkert. Unlike traditional quartets, our repertoire extends from classical through exclusive arrangements of jazz, contemporary and especially tango. Like its name, this quartet burns with tango fever, featuring classic tango tipico as well as edgy tango nuevo and original compositions.
The Golden Gate Society Orchestra takes you back to the era of grand parlors and potted palms. Specializing in turn-of-the-century waltzes, polkas, rags, and favorite popular music of the 1920s to the 1940s, the Golden Gate Society Orchestra uses only original arrangements of the era for that authentic touch. Planning a "waltz night" party or fundraiser? The Golden Gate Society Orchestra is the perfect choice.
Mia captivates audiences wherever she sings. She is equally at home with many vocal styles, including classical, musical theatre, light jazz, tango and her specialty, European cabaret. Mia was the winner of the San Francisco Cabaret 2000 Competition in the foreign language category. She has written and performed three one-woman shows featuring the works of Kurt Weill. Mia is well-known in the California tango community for her work with Strictly Tango. She is also a vocalist in Ensemble Bizou.
Ensemble Bizou takes you to the world of European cabaret of the 1930s with haunting melodies and sultry vocals. This sextet offers cabaret favorites from France, Germany, Italy and America. The group even looks the part, fully costumed in vintage costume.
These are the core groups of the organization. Of course, we can design a special group to reflect your favorite style and to respect your budget, from a soloist to a full orchestra.