Vendor Highlight // Boom Island String Quartet
What better than live music at your wedding??? Check out this amazingly talented group - the Boom Island String Quartet. Read their Q&A below and make sure to follow them on Instagram and attend one of their upcoming shows!
All photos by: Emma Halet Photography
Q: When & why did you start Boom Island String Quartet?
A:
Martha: We started Boom Island String Quartet in 2015. I went back into the website archives to try to find an exact date and it appears that our website was born on August 24, 2015. I know we had been playing together for a few months by that point. We were founded as a student group playing alumni weddings and campus events, which is a pretty common origin story for String Quartets. We loved playing music together and loved working with our clients so it made sense that this could be a long term thing for us. We really owe Alex a lot in helping us grow. She has started two businesses already so she really has guided us on the administrative side of things.
Q: Tell us a little bit more about you and your team!
A:
Alia: As an ensemble, we rehearse at least once a week depending on how many performances we are preparing for. In our group we have two violinists, a violist and a cellist (I’m the cellist). To ensure well-roundedness we are always making both classical and contemporary additions to our repertoire. We love to perform in the community at a variety of venues, not just at weddings. In the last couple years we have started a tradition of playing a Halloween show and a Holiday show, which are definitely highlights for us. Each of us studied music as part of our higher education, and we love the chance to express ourselves artistically in this group. I personally work in the tech industry by day, and I love the unique opportunity to collaborate musically with these women!
Q: What type of services do you offer?
A:
Maya: We have a variety of services! For weddings, we can play ceremony music, processionals, recessionals, cocktail hours, or special music at the reception. We are very versatile though and always open to new things, so feel free to ask if you have special requests! Aside from weddings, we also play at company parties, fundraisers, coffee shops, and private house parties. Our quartet has also done recording projects in the past and are open to doing more in the future. For more specific information about our packages, feel free to check out our website: www.boomislandstringquartet.com .
Q: If you had to describe your business in one word, which word would you use?
A:
Martha: Flexible
Maya: Diligent
Alex: Versatile
Alia: Innovative
Q: What's your favorite part of doing what you do?
Martha: I have two favorites. I absolutely love putting the setlist together with clients. I think it is so fun to work with them and find music that sets the stage for whatever event they are hosting. I also enjoy playing with my fellow musicians.
Maya: I really enjoy playing pop music with a string quartet. Most of my life, I have played classical music, so it is really exciting for me to play music from pop artists like Queen or Bruno Mars!
Alex: I’m also a composer and arranger. One of the most special things about doing wedding music is when clients request a new arrangement of a song that is really special to them as a couple. I love being able to make that happen.
Alia: I truly can’t imagine my life without music; I am grateful to perform as a hobby and creative outlet that also doubles as a side hustle! I love the opportunity to perform for folks who don’t get to hear a string quartet on a regular basis.
Q: Who is your ideal client?
A:
Alex: We work with a wide variety of clients who have diverse needs and interests. Sometimes for example, there’s competing interests between the couples’ musical tastes and their parents’ expectations for more formal/traditional wedding music, and so we help couples plan their music selections to provide a little something for everyone. We’ve seen a lot of unique ceremonies and are always willing to adapt--we even wore costumes for a wedding last year! The most important thing is communication. For a lot of couples, this is the first time they’ve ever hired live musicians and they have a lot of questions. We’re always happy to answer these and make recommendations based on what we’ve learned from other wedding ceremonies (like don’t put the musicians in a canoe, please). Likewise, if clients are quick to respond to our questions, we’re better able to meet their needs and make sure the event goes smoothly.
Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A:
Martha: I am really into Cribbage, hanging out with my cat, and karaoke. Also right now walks because quarantine.
Maya: I spend my free time filling out my bullet journal, baking, and biking around the twin cities.
Alex: I like to watch movies and go hiking.
Alia: My hobbies include traveling and trying local restaurants, breweries and distilleries! The next country I would like to travel to is Croatia. I also love to enjoy a lazy weekend, especially in the summer up north at the cabin.
Q: Anything else you want us to know about you & your business?
Martha: Please come to our shows, give us suggestions of pieces you want to hear us play, ask for our autograph, whatever. Our relationship with our clients doesn’t necessarily begin or end with us playing for their wedding/event. I love the back and forth that the public facing aspect of our business offers. I think it’s really special.