Ensemble Mercury

Leading up to your event, we will be in contact regarding your personalized setlist and arrival information for the ensemble.
We will work with you to determine the exact music you'd like to hear and talk about any specific song requests and timings.
We develop a personalized timeline for each event which gets sent to our musicians and clients for each gig.
The musicians typically arrive 30 minutes before the start of the event to set up and be prepared for when the time comes to play!

ABOUT US:
Ensemble Mercury is fluent in all genres of music including classical, jazz, pop, rock, and folk music. Our members are experienced improvisers, familiar with studio recording environments, and well-versed in finding music that works best for your event. We perform regularly around the city with the orchestras and chamber groups throughout Northeast Ohio and also play private events throughout the year including weddings and galas.

Members of Ensemble Mercury met while studying at top conservatories in North America. Fast forward to today and we are all professional performers and teachers in the Cleveland area.

MUSICIAN BIOS:
McKenna Glorioso, Ensemble Mercury’s founder: violinist, violist, and music educator based in Cleveland. McKenna is typically the lead musician and your point of contact on the day of your event. She is a violinist Akron Symphony Orchestra, Principal 2nd Violin of the Suburban Symphony, and violinist/synth player in the dreampop band Wish Queen. In 2023, McKenna joined the national tour for “Our Planet: Live in Concert,” performing over 50 shows and traveling to over 30 states in just three months. As a teacher, McKenna teaches at The Music Settlement and is registered as a Suzuki teacher.

Kelsey Ferguson graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Music with a double master’s degree in Violin Performance and Suzuki Pedagogy. She is a registered Suzuki teacher in books 1-10 and teaches violin at Laurel School, City Strings, Gilmour Academy, and is the director of children’s choirs at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Cleveland Heights. In 2016 she toured with the violinist Robert McDuffy, REM’s Mike Mills, and the Fifth House Ensemble performing Mills’ rock violin concerto.

Sydney Link is a member of The Orchestra Now in New York. Sydney handles most of our contracting and communications, so you'll be hearing from her a lot! She completed her masters in Viola Performance at The Cleveland Institute of Music and graduated from McGill University’s Schulich School of Music with a bachelor’s degree in viola performance and a minor in music entrepreneurship. She is a registered violin and viola Suzuki teacher and has a teaching studio of violinists and violists. Sydney has performed as assistant principal of the Youngstown Symphony and as principal viola of The Orchestra Now, the CIM Symphony Orchestra and as principal viola of the McGill Opera.

Ellie Glorioso is an American cellist based in Cleveland, Ohio. They instruct at The Music Settlement; manage a robust private studio, Cleveland Cello Collective; and serve as Director of Strings at Notre Dame College. As a proud founding member of the Cleveland Music Exchange, Ellie helped develop an organization that connects skilled teachers with developing global music communities. Ellie is also an active chamber and orchestral musician performing with ensembles such as Cleveland Opera Theatre, Opus 216, and the Akron Symphony Orchestra. In 2023 Ellie made their debut as a soloist performing Anna Clyne's "DANCE" with the Cleveland Repertory Orchestra.

PRICING STRUCTURE:
Although we typically perform as a string quartet, we frequently perform as soloists, duos, or trios. You can expect your quote to reflect the number of musicians hired, the amount of time we will be playing, and the distance away from our home base (Cleveland, OH). Your quote will include all costs including rehearsal time if needed, administrative fees and expenses, and a few custom selections if you would like to include any songs that may not be on our website. A smaller ensemble is a great option for budget-conscious clients.

Our pricing guidelines are as follows:
Soloist (violin, viola, or cello): $350 and up
Duo (violin/viola or violin/cello): $450 and up
Trio (two violins/cello or violin/viola/cello): $600 and up
Quartet (two violins, viola, and cello): $750 and up

Ensemble Mercury rarely plays with amplification. Even in crowded spaces where dialogue is happening, we usually project very well through the room. If you are worried about the group projecting throughout your space, we recommend booking a larger ensemble such as a string quartet instead of something smaller like a solo or duo. The only materials we require in the event space is four armless chairs, space of about 8'x8', and adequate lighting to see our music.

Due to the nature of stringed instruments, we are unable to play in any form of precipitation or weather colder than 60 F or warmer than 85 F. Feel free to get in touch if you have an outdoor event and would like to discuss details or a rain plan.