Austin Charnis Guitar
Overview
Hi, I’m Austin! I’m a classical, Spanish, and contemporary guitarist with more than 15 years of experience performing at weddings and events throughout the Northeast.
Whether you’re planning a wedding ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner, private party, or corporate event, live guitar can create a beautiful atmosphere without overwhelming the occasion. Choose from classical and Spanish guitar, Bossa Nova, jazz, Latin music, and contemporary favorites, with special requests and custom arrangements always welcome.
From helping you choose the right music to creating a relaxed and inviting atmosphere, every detail is handled with care and experience so you can simply enjoy your event.
Reviews
29 reviews
Maddy M.
June 11, 2025Incredible performer, great flexibility!
Austin was absolutely amazing! We hired him about a month out from the wedding after our previous guitarist cancelled on us. Despite how last-minute it was, he dove in head-first, learning the music we needed him to learn, accommodating our requests, and being flexible with our questions and changes. The music itself was played so beautifully (it brought my now-husband who never cries to tears!!) and perfectly, it felt like we hired him a year out as opposed to only a month. Thank you, Austin, for stepping in when we needed you and helping make our ceremony that much more special!
Hired as: Guitarist
Austin Charnis Guitar
Thank you so much, Maddy! It was a pleasure to work with you and it was so fun learning "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You" which has quickly become one of my favorite songs to play :). Your ceremony was absolutely beautiful and it was an honor to be a part of it. Wishing you all the best!!
Natalie S.
July 5, 2023Amazingly Talented Guitarist!
We had a wonderful experience working with Austin. He is an amazingly talented guitarist who helped make our wedding day everything we envisioned and so much more!
We were planning a small intimate wedding and were looking for a guitarist for our ceremony, cocktail hour and reception. We were very fortunate to find Austin. His reviews were exceptional, so we decided to listen to some of his music samples. We were impressed with his music and set up a meeting with him. He was very personable, provided valuable input and was very flexible with our requests. He played the perfect assortment of music throughout the day, including a song that he learned especially for us and requests from the group. He had a great sense for the vibe in the room and changed things up throughout the night. Everyone had so much fun!
We are so happy that we chose Austin to be part of our special day. We highly recommend him to anyone looking for a musician! We hope to work with him again in the future!
Hired as: Guitarist
Austin Charnis Guitar
Thank you so much, Natalie! It was such a special day and I'm so glad you and your guests were happy with the music. I had a lot of fun learning and performing "At Last" and "Glasgow Love Theme", both of which are now on my song list. The impromptu karaoke session in the wine cellar was a moment I will certainly never forget! Wishing you all the best, and hoping to take you up on working together again very soon :)
Francis A.
June 16, 2021Completely Satisfied
After my initial request on GigSalad, Austin was very prompt and flexible. More importantly, his playing at the event was exceptional. The event was a memorial service and his musical selections were perfect and his playing is beautiful. Being able to have Austin perform added so much to the service, we recommend him highly.
Hired as: Classical Guitarist, Guitarist
Austin Charnis Guitar
Thank you so much for the kind words, Francis. It was an honor to be able to perform at this beautiful event.
-Austin
Joanne V.
May 25, 2026Exceptionally Talented and Kind!
We stumbled upon Austin's music via Instagram and we feel so lucky that we did. Not only is he exceptionally talented and professional but he is also a calm and pleasant individual. He made the entire process fun, easy, and organized. He was timely in his communications leading up to the day and worked with us, and our officiant, for a seamless, MAGICAL, ceremony and reception. Our ceremony and first dance was everything we envisioned and he even sent us an abridged version of our song to practice dancing to so we felt comfortable and prepared. It really gave us the opportunity to be present. Most importantly, Austin is just a lovely individual. He is courteous, friendly, and professional. All of our guests loved him! He really puts in effort to add to your special day. We are so grateful we chose Austin and we know you will be, too!
Hired as: Classical Guitarist, Guitarist
Austin Charnis Guitar
Thank you so much for this, Jo! It was such a pleasure to work with you both, and to see everything come together so beautifully. Wishing you and Mike a lifetime of happiness! <3
Derrick L.
June 2, 2025Amazing Guitarist!
Austin is amazing at the classical guitar! The ambiance he creates is perfect for weddings, or private events to create romance and class. As a guitar enthusiast I'm super impressed by how good his technique is and he can play some really difficult music, but make it sound elegant and easy. Would 100% recommend!
Hired as: Bossa Nova Band, Classical Guitarist, Guitarist, Jazz Guitarist, One Man Band
Austin Charnis Guitar
Thanks so much, Derrick! Looking forward to seeing you at an event soon :)
Booking information
Price range: $750 - $2500
Languages: English, Spanish
Gig length: 30 - 300 minutes
Insurance: $1,000,000 - Liability coverage provided at all gigs
What to expect
Music that complements your event and reflects your taste. Choose from classical and Spanish guitar, Bossa Nova, jazz, Latin music, contemporary favorites and more, with special requests always welcome. Expect a polished, professional performance, high-quality sound, and an experienced musician who understands how to create the right atmosphere without overpowering the occasion.
About
Austin Charnis is a classical, Spanish, and contemporary guitarist based in Westchester, New York. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music Business from SUNY Fredonia, where he studied classical guitar performance with Professor James Piorkowski.
Austin first picked up the guitar as a rock guitarist in high school, but his direction changed when he began studying classical guitar with his mentor, Peter Press. What started as preparation for an audition to the Fredonia School of Music quickly became a lifelong love of the instrument and its possibilities.
For more than 15 years, Austin has built his career performing at weddings and events throughout New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and beyond. His repertoire spans classical and Spanish guitar, Bossa Nova, Latin music, jazz, rock, pop, and instrumental arrangements of contemporary songs. He especially enjoys taking familiar music and adapting it for solo guitar, as well as creating custom arrangements for songs that hold special meaning for his clients.
Austin believes live music should complement an occasion rather than compete with it. Whether performing a wedding ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner, or private event, his approach is relaxed, personal, and centered around creating an atmosphere people can genuinely enjoy.
Over the years, Austin has performed at hundreds of weddings and events throughout the Northeast and has been recognized eight times with both The Knot Best of Weddings and WeddingWire Couples’ Choice awards. He is also a preferred musician for many wedding venues and planners throughout the region.
Additional booking notes
I provide everything needed for my performance, including professional sound equipment suitable for both indoor and outdoor events. My setup is compact, discreet, and can operate without access to electricity, making it easy to accommodate nearly any location.
In most cases, all I need is a small area to perform. I’m happy to coordinate directly with your venue or planner ahead of time to make sure everything is covered.
Past booked events
December 2023
08
Friday
Dinner Party
6:00pm - 9:30pm
•
Latham, NY
November 2022
26
Saturday
Bar/Bat Mitzvah Party
11:30am - 2:30pm
•
Larchmont, NY
November 2021
27
Saturday
Birthday Party
12:00pm - 1:00pm
•
Bridgeport, CT
August 2021
14
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
5:30pm - 7:30pm
•
Hamburg, NJ
July 2021
17
Saturday
Anniversary Party
1:00pm - 4:00pm
•
Newburgh, NY
10
Saturday
Personal Occasion
5:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Clinton, CT
June 2021
15
Tuesday
Personal Occasion
6:00pm - 7:30pm
•
Branford, CT
Set list
Sample Wedding Ceremony - Traditional
Prelude: Trumpet Voluntary, Clarke
Processional: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, Bach
Bride's Entrance: Canon in D, Pachelbel
Recessional: The Wedding March, Wagner
Postlude: Ode to Joy, Beethoven
Sample Wedding Ceremony - Contemporary
Prelude: Three Little Birds, Bob Marley
Processional: Cherry Wine, Hosier
Bride's Entrance: Can't Help Falling In Love, Elvis Presley
Recessional: Here Comes the Sun, The Beatles
Postlude: Going to California, Led Zeppelin
Sample Cocktail Hour
The Girl From Ipanema
Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Michelle
Moon River
My Cherie Amour
What a Wonderful World
Love Me Tender
Wonderful Tonight
Little Martha
Can You Feel the Love Tonight
When I'm 64
A Thousand Years
Danza Brasileira
Spanish Romance (Romanza)
Sons De Carillhoes
Variations on a Theme of Mozart
Influences and inspiration
David Russell
Tommy Emmanuel
Jimmy Page
George Harrison
Denis Azabagic
Elena Papandreou
Roland Dyens
Chet Atkins
Victor Villadangos
Yamandu Costa
and MANY more!
Setup requirements
None! I provide everything that I need.