Yet again we have been filming too! St Alban's Church in Digbeth were kind enough to let us use their church once again as the stunning setting for some more of our videos. You can access all our videos on youtube, but here's a preview...
It was lights, camera, action once again, this time in a not so glamorous setting - a derelict rooftop in Sheffield! We spent a Sunday evening being blown about, the wind in our hair, for a Bollywood music video. It was great fun, but sadly, that's all we can say for now - stay tuned for the final product.
As always, we have had another shipment of great new music including Alejandro (Lady Gaga), Just The Way You Are (Bruno Mars), Time After Time (Cindi Lauper), Love Song (The Cure), Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Division), Come On Eileen (Dexy's Midnight Runners), Energy 52 (Cafe Del Mar), Paradise City (Guns 'n' Roses), I'm Yours (Jason Mraz), One (Metallica) and Isn't She Lovely (Stevie Wonder), to name but a few! Have a look at our repertoire page for the full list.
We'd like to give mention to a great local supplier we met this month too, bespoke film-makers Shutterbox. Based in the West Midlands, Shutterbox began back in 2009 and their work is quite simply fantastic. We were privileged enough to be captured on Shutterbox's beautiful video of Werner and Kirsty's wedding at Moxhull Hall this May. Check out their amazing video trailer below!
"We just wanted to write and say thank you so much for playing at our wedding recently. You were absolutely amazing and you created exactly the atmosphere that we were hoping for on the day... You created a real sense of occasion during the ceremony, and then at the drinks reception, it was very relaxed and people were really having a good time listening to you.
You are one of the parts of our wedding which we have received most compliments on from our friends and family who were at the wedding. I think the metal people in particular were very impressed with your choice of songs and really enjoyed trying to guess what each of the songs was. Anyway, thank you once again, and we will definitely be recommending you to any of our friends who are getting married in the area. We wish you all the best for the future."
Kirsty and Werner, Moxhull Hall
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"Hi girls, just wanted to say a massive thank you for playing at my wedding yesterday. You really were the highlight of my day. Just wish I could have sat down and listened to you the whole time you were playing. Everyone commented on how fantastic you were and we all felt a little bit empty when we realised you'd slipped away. Thank you again. Your recordings on youtube and samples on your website really are NOTHING compared to the real thing."
Sushma, Swinfen Hall
"Thank you for performing at our wedding last week, you sounded amazing and all the guests really enjoyed the music too."
Emma, Tutbury Castle
"Just a short note to thank yourself and Nero Strings for performing so well at my party last night. Everyone remarked about the quality and professionalism of your performance. Thank you once again."
Neil, Dovecliffe Hotel
"I would like to say thank you for the music you provided at our wedding on Sunday. All of our guests complimented your performance and how modern the songs were. We were so impressed with your professionalism and how organised your performances were as well. Thank you so much for making our day that extra bit special. Many thanks."
Dan and Jen, Moxhull Hall
"Just wanted to say thank you for playing so beautifully at our wedding on the 7th at Phyllis Court. I hope you had a good day. I've had lots of comments, my family really enjoyed your music. Good luck with all that you do. I'll be sure to recommend you to my friends!"
Debbie, Phyllis Court
"I just wanted to say a big thank you for everything. You were all amazing! I am sorry I didn't get to talk to you on the day, everything went so fast and I was grabbed by the photographer before I could talk. I will definitely recommend you."
Amy, Alvechurch
"Thanks so much for playing at our wedding at Moxhull! You were brilliant! Loved it, loved it, loved it!"
El and Andy, Moxhull Hall
"Hi, thanks for playing at our wedding last weekend - you were brilliant!"
Jonathan and Joanne, Wroxall Abbey
"Many thanks for contributing to what was truly a memorable day for us all. Your music helped to create the atmosphere we so wished to produce. Many of our visitors expressed their delight, especially in the performance with Penelope in the church. We shall be recommending you to all our friends."
Ann, Luntley Court
"Hi, I just wanted to say a big thank you for performing at our wedding. All of our guests commented on how amazing you were and how surprised they were that you could play Bollywood songs. You all performed beautifully on the day and really added to the relaxed atmosphere I was aiming for. You all looked fabulous in your sarees, I understand they were probably not the most comfortable clothes to wear, but you looked fantastic. You were definitely one of the highlights of the day. I can't thank you enough for making the day so memorable. Thank you so much again!"
What a glorious Spring we're having! And not just the weather! We've been busy again, starting the off with a recital at St Mary's Hospice, Birmingham and a short filming session shot at St Alban's Church in Digbeth. Here's a peek at one of our new videos...
Wimbledon also came early for us this year. The Nero String Quartet were invited down to the Millenium Building to entertain the members of the All-England Lawn Tennis Club in their celebration of Wimbledon's 125th year.
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"I just wanted to say thank-you so much for Sunday. You both played beautifully and although we weren't around too much as we were kept busy, we absolutely loved what we heard! Our guests did too and we had loads of great feedback. It really set a great atmosphere and was a real highlight for us!"
Natalie and James, Ettington Park Hotel
"Hi Stella and co, just wanted to say a massive thank you again for Sunday - people told me they really enjoyed the session! Thanks once again and all the best."
Varun and Jas, Chesford Grange
"Just a short note to say thank you so much for organising the string quartet for us, and for their doing such a fabulous job at our wedding at Nunsmere Hall. They were everything we had hoped for, and everyone has commented to us about how lovely they thought the music was. We are very grateful to you and to the girls for all that you did to make things run smoothly. We had a wonderful day. Thanks again."
Andrea and Chris, Nunsmere Hall
"Just wanted to say thanks for playing at my wedding in April - you were absolutely fantastic, one of the real highlights for me. All of my guests were very impressed and are still talking about how good you were now! Thanks again."
Lauren, Kilworth House
"I just wanted to drop you a quick note to formally say 'thank-you' for playing at our wedding at Ettington Park. Having returned from our honeymoon and had a chance to catch up with people, everyone made mention of the music. Quite simply, you were awesome! We're so pleased we went with just contemporary tunes, because it added a completely different dimension - and provided guests with the impromptu pop quiz we had hoped for. In fact it sounded so good that I reckon some of the older guests might not have realised they were listening to Nirvana or Snow Patrol as opposed to something from Classic FM! We only wish we could have recorded the entire set to listen to again, or even better do it all over again tomorrow! We would certainly recommend you to anyone, and please feel free to use us on the testimonials page on your website. Thank-you once again, and we'll hopefully see you again soon."
Darren and Jo, Ettington Park Hotel
"You played at my wedding in April and just wanted to send you my appreciation. Unfortunately, as I was here, there and everywhere I wasn't able to sit and listen to you. You did make me cry walking down the aisle with Pachabel's Canon though, but I have heard only positive feedback about you. Everyone enjoyed it. Keep up the good work and I will be recommending you to everyone I know. Thanks again for making our wedding day so special."
Jenny and Thomas, Dunchurch Park
"Both Vanessa and myself wanted to thank you all for playing at our wedding in Netherseal and Tamworth at the Castle Hotel. The music was amazing and very professional. Everyone commented it and loved the little "concert" prior to the wedding, it really added a touch of class to the day. You are all amazing musicians. Thanks again."
Ian and Vanessa, Tamworth Castle Hotel
"We just wanted to say a huge thank you for playing at our wedding. The music was lovely, and especially poignant when I walked down the aisle! Lots of our friends and family have commented on how nice it was to have a string quartet playing in the Cathedral and then for the arrival drinks - with one person especially commenting that anyone that can play Lady Gaga on a violin is especially talented! Thank you again for helping to make our day so special for us."
Mandy and Darren, Wroxall Abbey
"We wanted to say a huge thank you to all of you for the amazing performance you gave on our wedding day. The music was absolutely beautiful and really in keeping with the wedding - to have Pachabel's Canon performed live as I walked up the aisle was something I've always wanted and will always remember. The guests also commented on how good you were and also how smart you looked. Despite not really getting an opportunity to speak to you on the day, I noticed that you moved to wherever the guests were congregating which involved you having to sit outside at one point - thank you so much for doing this, we really did appreciate it. We will happily recommend you to others."
Emma and Mark, Ansty Hall
"We just wanted to say a massive thank you for playing on our big day! We have had so many guests comment on how fantastic the music was. Thank you again."
On the morning of Monday 4th April 2011, we travelled over to Selly Oak to play a private recital for the day patients at St Mary's Hospice.
We performed an hour long programme, kicking off with some well-known classical pieces, such as Vivaldi's Spring and Elgar's beautiful Chanson de Matin, before an easy-listening second half, which included some timeless classics like George Gershwin's Embraceable You and Henry Mancini's Moon River.
To accompany the recital, we provided a collection of listening activities to stimulate the mind. It was truly lovely to hear what thoughts and memories had been triggered by our short concert. For example, Waltz of the Flowers and Spring provoked thoughts of "Ladies in ballgowns dancing in a grand ballroom with their partners" and "Walking through green fields", and the second half of our programme reminded one listener of "Happy times and happy memories".
It was a real delight for us to perform for the patients at St Mary's Hospice and for more information of the great work they do please see their website http://www.bsmh.org.uk/.
In January, the Nero String Quartet jetted off to Kuwait to take part in the 17th Qurain festival, a cultural festival held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
The concert took place at Abdul Aziz Hussein Theatre, Mishref on 18th of January. Our programme included excerpts from Vivaldi's Four Seasons, Dvorak's American String Quartet, Mozart's The Hunt and Tchaikovsky's Waltz of the Flowers. Prior to going onstage, we were interviewed by local press and had some photographs taken. The concert was a sell-out, and judging by videos taken during our performance, it was enjoyed by all. On some recordings, it is possible to hear the audience clapping and singing along! We really enjoyed the show and our hard work definitely paid off. Straight after the concert, we were swept away to a private reception where we were treated to a delicious banquet and cool mango smoothies. Unfortunately, we could not stay for too long as we had a very early start the next day.
At 6am, the following morning, we were having breakfast in ballgowns and full stage make-up ready for our appearance on Good Morning Kuwait. Luckily, the television studio was not too far from the hotel we were staying and when we arrived, we were given strong tea (thank goodness!) and suddenly, we were on set! We met the presenter of the show who immediately made us feel most welcome. The set was great, our backdrop was a tropical beach! We had a GREAT time on the show, playing three times in total, and we are extremely excited by the international enquiries we have received since our Middle-Eastern trip!
We have also been busy with even more new repertoire! Feeling Good (Nina Simone), It Must Be Love (Madness), Bad Romance (Lady Gaga), Kashmir (Led Zeppelin), May It Be (Enya), Take My Breath Away (Berlin), The Wonder Of You (Elvis), I Think We're Alone Now (Tiffany), Isn't She Lovely (Stevie Wonder), Like A Prayer (Madonna), One (Metallica), Teenage Wasteland (The Who) and She's Always A Woman (Billy Joel). Phew! We have been having some seriously fun rehearsals with all the new music!
Talking of serious fun, we have just had a photo shoot! We are currently busy assembling some new publicity material, but here's a preview taken at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.
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"Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, we have just returned form our honey moon. Just wanted to say how much we loved the trio at our wedding, especially in the pavilion. A few of our guests said how it felt like they were on the titanic! The music, food ect was just perfect. Our day was wonderful, so thanks for being part of that. Thanks for playing at our wedding, the day was just magical :)"
Natalie, New Hall Hotel
"Just a quick email to say how beautiful the music was for our day. I'm really sorry we didnt get to speak to you (the day went by in a blur!). The music was simply stunning and made our day perfect. All our guests commented on how it made both the ceremony and time afterwards feel so relaxed. I will, without question be recommending you to anyone who asks and if we can leave a comment on the website we will do so. Thanks once again and maybe we will meet again at a friend or relatives wedding!"
Anthony and Alex, Curradine Barns
"Now back at my desk I just wanted to say thank you very much for Nero's performance during our evening at Ettington Chase on Wednesday. I'm sorry I missed the opportunity to say this in person on the night! So, please take this as the round of applause you would have received for the beautiful music you played throughout."
Janis, Ettington Chase
"I was so pleased with the service that I received from the Nero String Quartet for our wedding - I loved the fact that you really listened to what we wanted, and were really accommodating. I got so many compliments from the guests - your performance was flawless and I couldn't have been happier. I especially loved you accompanying our hymns, and the fact that you'd learnt them specifically for our day. I genuinely wouldn't hesitate in recommending you to anyone, and will certainly be contacting you again if we ever arrange any other events. Thank you for everything!"
Mrs Pip Fanning, Dunchurch Park
"We're now back from honeymoon so I thought I'd drop you a quick e-mail to pass on our thanks to the quartet for the work you did for us on our wedding day. We received many postitive comments from our guests and we were also very impressed by the quality of your work and the atmosphere that the quartet created at both the church and wedding breakfast. It was certainly money well spent and contributed to what was a great day.Thanks again and all the best."
Matt, Crowne Plaza Liverpool
"I wanted to say thank you for playing at our wedding. I'm looking forward to seeing the recording of you as I was so nervous I blocked everything out. My husband said how good you were and really set the mood."
The Designer Vintage Bridal Show took place in February and was most definitely a highlight for us. Located at the lovely Highbury Hall in Moseley, it was strewn with vintage glamour! We saw dresses to DIE for by Jenni Packham, Tobi Hannah, Lindsay Fleming and Kate Edmondson, we met some really great suppliers like: Lorna Roberts Photography, image consultant Emily Jane, photographers Liezl Croft and James Crockford, and our personal favourite (the lovely, scrumptious lemon cake they gave us has something to do with that...) Caroline's Cake Company. Yum.
There was so much to see! On the way in, we met Audrey, a beautiful vintage caravan supplied by Vintage Glamour Days which can be hired to serve drinks (our cellist is definitely going to have one at her wedding!), we were serenaded by vintage tunes courtesy of Sugarfoot Stomp and we literally had to tear our violinst/magpie away from the gorgeous accessories at Laurel Lime!
We had a great weekend at the fayre. If you are interested in future Designer Vintage Bridal events, you can sign up to receive the newsletter at the website.
