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Back to Classical Ensembles
Featured Member Gold Standard Musicians Top Performer

Gold Standard Musicians

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4.93 
(23 reviews)
  • St Louis, MO
  • Classical Ensemble
  • Travels up to 120 miles
  • Contact for rates
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Promotional video thumbnail 1 for Gold Standard Musicians Watch
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Alchemy Trio, Farmhouse wedding 2020

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Acoustic Gold Duo, Rose Garden Wedding 2020

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Alchemy Trio Cocktail Hour

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We made the news! www.stlpianograms.com

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Vincent Varvel, Guitar

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Gilded Duo—1,000 Years
  • 1. Gilded Duo—1,000 Years
  • 2. Midas Duo—Besame Mucho
  • 3. Solo Piano Samples
  • 4. Electric Gold--Stl Blues
  • 5. Gilded Duo—To Make You Feel My Love
  • 6. Solo Piano Classical Christmas--Oh Come All Ye Faithful/Beethoven
  • 7. Electric Gold Quartet--Tango Toscana
  • 8. Solo Violin/Viola Tico Tico
  • 9. Solo Violin/Viola—Pachelbel’s Canon in D
Gallery photo 1 of Gold Standard Musicians

Natasha McGuire Photography--www.natashamcguire.com

Gallery photo 2 of Gold Standard Musicians

10/31/20 Cocktail Hour in the Zodiac Room at the Chase Park Plaza Hotel

Gallery photo 3 of Gold Standard Musicians

The Alchemy Trio playing a ceremony in STL’s City Hall Grand Rotunda

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The Gilded Duo—one of our most popular wedding bookings!

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The Gilded Duo in Lafayette Park

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Acoustic Gold Duo

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Our incredible guitarist, Mathew. Scroll to see his video—>

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Electric Gold, StL’s ONLY electric string quartet

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Jewel Box Wedding

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Pianist and Gold Standard Founder, Johanna. Photo Credit-Von McKnelly

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Electric Gold—spice up the traditional string quartet with electricity!

Gallery photo 12 of Gold Standard Musicians

Solo Violinist Amy playing a ceremony at Silver Oaks Chateau

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6 videos 9 audio 12 photos
Media Overview Reviews Booking Info
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Overview

Gold Standard Musicians are the very best of the best professionals St. Louis has to offer, working as soloists or collaborating in a variety of small groups. We work alongside our clients to realize their creative vision for their events—wedding ceremonies and receptions, dinners, holiday parties, corporate events, banquets, and more! We love making your requests a reality, whether you know what you want down to the last detail or want us to take an idea and run with it. Relax and enjoy. Your event is in the best of hands.


23 Reviews

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Verified Review
Cathi V. • September 18, 2021

Perfect Memorial Accompaniment

Johanna played the piano for my mom’s memorial. Her beautiful playing was the perfect way to honor my mother, who was an accomplished pianist herself. Every step of the booking process was seamless, and with Johanna playing, I could close my eyes and imagine my mom enjoying her favorite classical pieces!

Hired as:
Classical Pianist
Gold Standard Musicians

Response from Gold Standard Musicians:

Thank you so much, Cathi. It was really wonderful playing for you all. It sounds like your mom was a really special person, and it was an honor to be part of her life celebration.

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Verified Review
Barbara H. • June 28, 2021

Personalized performance

Johanna, pianist and Tova, violinist came to help us celebrate my in-laws birthdays and wedding anniversary in their home. Being former musicians themselves, my in-laws appreciated the fine details only professionals can deliver with great timing and pitch. A wonderful performance and great selection of music tailored to their liking. Thank you for providing an unforgettable evening.

Hired as:
Pianist, Violinist
Gold Standard Musicians

Response from Gold Standard Musicians:

Yay, thanks so much for having us out, Barbara! It was so fun meeting you and playing for you all! We had a great time.

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Verified Review
Susan R. • May 11, 2020

What a WONDERFUL MOMENT!

I had asked for a violinist to visit while family was gathering at my parents home for Mother's Day for a brief period and to play some of my Mom's favorite songs. Amy arrived early and we talked through the entry. Since we're social distancing due to Covid19 and my parents are 84 & 83 years old, family members had hoped to gather in their beautiful yard, but due to cooler temperatures, we had to shift the party to the garage. When Mom realized Amy was playing for her she was overwhelmed with tears. It was a beautiful performance and Amy nailed it! Great memories for the family. Thank you so much for helping out with our special day for Mom. Susan

Hired as:
Strolling Violinist
Gold Standard Musicians

Response from Gold Standard Musicians:

Thanks so much, Susan! It means so much to us to celebrate these special moments with families like yours. Amy sends her thanks for hosting and also for the cupcake! 😁

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Verified Review
Linda S. • December 7, 2021

Lovely!

Loved the beautiful music provided to us from this Piano/ violin duo. It was lovely and Johanna was great to work with!

Hired as:
Classical Duo
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Verified Review
Don B. • November 14, 2021

Great

She was great, played a great variation and a lot of requested material. Everyone was pleased and impressed. Thank you.

Hired as:
Violinist
Gold Standard Musicians

Response from Gold Standard Musicians:

Thanks so much, Don. I’ll pass on your kind words to Carolina! I hope the birthday lady had a great day!!

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Verified Review
Lori B. • September 15, 2021

Beautiful!

Johanna Ballou was a true delight to work with and she played beautifully! Thank you so much for working with us. Your beautiful music was perfect for our event and I would highly recommend you.

Hired as:
Pianist
Gold Standard Musicians

Response from Gold Standard Musicians:

Thanks, Lori! It was great meeting you, and it was really fun playing for you all!

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Verified Review
Patricia B. • June 27, 2021

Gold Standard Musicians were Wonderful and highly recommend

The addition of the string trio gave us an additional and beautiful way to say ‘goodbye’ and to express our emotions and was a tremendous addition to honor and celebrate our mother’s life. They were amazing and really created a “celebration of life” atmosphere for our mother’s funeral. Highly recommend them.

Patricia Brooks

Hired as:
String Trio
Gold Standard Musicians

Response from Gold Standard Musicians:

Hi Patricia.

Thank you so much for your kind words. This is exactly what we strive for—I’m so glad you felt the music added poignancy to your mother’s memorial. I wish peace and comfort to your family during this time, and it was an honor to help celebrate her life.

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Verified Review
Philip D. • April 10, 2021

Mat was awesome

Mat was awesome!

Hired as:
Guitarist
Gold Standard Musicians

Response from Gold Standard Musicians:

Thanks for entrusting us with your party entertainment, Phil!!

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Megan P. • September 29, 2020

Wonderful addition to my husbands 30th!

We hired Amy to play modern pop songs during cocktail hour at my husbands 30th birthday. She arrived on time, was very professional and did a great job! It was the perfect addition to the night!

Hired as:
Violinist
Gold Standard Musicians

Response from Gold Standard Musicians:

Thank you so much, Megan! We love bringing the special touch to birthdays. Thanks for having us out!

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Verified Review
Molly T. • September 25, 2020

Great pianist! Highly recommend

Very professional and beautiful pianist! She was willing to learn any piano song that my husband and I wanted during our ceremony.

Hired as:
Pianist
Gold Standard Musicians

Response from Gold Standard Musicians:

Thank you so much, Molly! I had such a great time playing for your beautiful ceremony and learning your great requests! They’re wonderful additions to my repertoire.

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Verified Review
Vanita M. • September 20, 2020

Very Professional and Pleasant Experience

Our violinist,Amy, was truly professional and provided the perfect selections of soothing music needed for our loved one memorial services. Our special request performed during the service was beautifully and elegantly rendered. It was a pleasant and special addition to the service that we will always remember.

Hired as:
Violinist
Gold Standard Musicians

Response from Gold Standard Musicians:

Thank you so much, Vanita. It means a lot to us to play for memorials like Lisa’s. Thanks for having us and for your kind words. I’ll send them on to Amy.

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Verified Review
Timothy G. • June 23, 2020

Perfect and Professional

Music was beautiful, on time and family was very pleased.

Hired as:
Violinist
Gold Standard Musicians

Response from Gold Standard Musicians:

Thank you, Timothy! Playing music for grieving families is an honor and responsibility we care about so much. Thanks for the opportunity.

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Verified Review
Jenny K. • October 13, 2019

Amazing!!

She did a great job! She coordinated with the wedding planner, showed up on time and played beautifully! She was amazing!

Hired as:
Pianist
Gold Standard Musicians

Response from Gold Standard Musicians:

Thank you so much, Jenny! I had a ton of fun playing for cocktail hour at your beautiful wedding! I also had a lot of fun meeting some of your family-they’re super fun and sweet. Congratulations to you and Christopher. All the best to you two!!

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Verified Review
Katherine F. • July 7, 2019

Forever Grateful!

Johanna was amazing to work with! She helped us find Violinist Elizabeth for our wedding reception and we couldn't be happier with the results. Both Johanna, when organizing the details, and Elizabeth, were both so professional and wonderful to work with. All the guests just loved hearing the romantic sound of the violin while they mingled during the reception. We got lots of compliments regarding the music. I just want to thank them again for being everything I was hoping for and more! I would highly recommend their services to anyone looking for a musician for their private event.

Hired as:
Classical Ensemble
Gold Standard Musicians

Response from Gold Standard Musicians:

Congratulations, Katherine and Matthew! It was an honor to be part of your celebration. Thanks for entrusting us with the music, and we wish you all the best in your future!!

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Verified Review
Patrick L. • June 2, 2019

Wow!

Johanna & her violinist were exceptional! Arrived on time, very professional, and played heart out. She is the real deal!

Hired as:
Classical Duo
Gold Standard Musicians

Response from Gold Standard Musicians:

Thank you, Patrick!! It was so fun getting to meet your family and share music with you all! I hope the rest of your visit is wonderful.

Photos from this event

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Verified Review
Neil R. • December 10, 2018

Johanna was everything as advertised!

Johanna was on time, engaging, extremely talented and flexible. She was extremely well received by our guests.
I’d highly recommend her in a heartbeat!

Hired as:
Pianist
Gold Standard Musicians

Response from Gold Standard Musicians:

Thanks so much, Neil! I had a wonderful time at your party. You and your guests were such fun!

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Verified Review
Lorraine H. • October 7, 2018

Beautiful night

Johanna was outstanding and the music was exactly what was needed for our family event. She is terrific!

Hired as:
Keyboard Player
Gold Standard Musicians

Response from Gold Standard Musicians:

Thanks so much, Lorraine! It was so fun being a part of your family’s celebration! All the best to you and the newlyweds.

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Verified Review
Tracie N. • March 18, 2018

Outstanding!

Johanna is an outstanding pianist! She was perfect for my event and I would highly recommend her to others who are looking for a similar service. She was very easy to work with and very professional as well.

Hired as:
Pianist
Gold Standard Musicians

Response from Gold Standard Musicians:

Hi Tracie! Thank you so much for your kind words. It was a joy playing for your family's special event. I look forward to seeing you all again on the big wedding day!!

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Verified Review
Andrea B. • December 28, 2017

A beautiful evening

Johanna is truly a wonderful and versatile pianist, and her music provided a wonderful ambiance for our event, with selections from ragtime to Broadway to Bohemian Rhapsody! She responded promptly and thoughtfully to all my questions, and she provided a microphone for my family to use upon request. She helpfully provided song lists to give an idea of her vast repertoire, and even learned some new songs that we especially love. We received so many compliments on the music and everyone wanted to know where we found such an incredible pianist! Thank you so much for your wonderful performance--it really was the icing on the cake for our special evening!

Hired as:
Pianist
Gold Standard Musicians

Response from Gold Standard Musicians:

Thank you, Andrea!

It was a pleasure playing for you and your friends and family. I had a great time and I'm so glad you enjoyed the music. All the best to you, and Happy New Year!

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Verified Review
James K. • December 11, 2016

Johanna preforming on a 1910 A. Bord Baby Grand

Johanna is a great choice for any event.

Hired as:
Pianist
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Karen P. • August 15, 2016

The Best Pianist

Johanna played for my daughter's wedding. She was very organized and always responded to my questions. She played everything we asked for. We got so many positive comments on how beautiful the music was at the wedding. I would highly recommend her for your event.

Hired as:
Pianist
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Joseph G. • August 10, 2016

Phenomenal Collaborator

Johanna is one of the best pianists I have ever worked with. This summer, a soprano friend and I collaborated with her on a musical theatre project. While she hadn't played our songs before, she dutifully and cheerfully learned 22 new songs to perform. At the recital, many of the audience members commented on her ability to handle all the challenges of some very tricky music. I highly regard Johanna and always want her to play for anything I perform if possible.

Hired as:
Pianist
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Elizabeth R. • August 9, 2016

Great to work with!

I own a wedding music company, and hired Johanna to perform a wedding with one of our musicians. She was kind and pleasant, performed each song exquisitely, and epitomized punctuality and professionalism. Highly recommended!

Hired as:
Classical Duo

+ 19 More Reviews

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Booking Info

  • Profile
  • Setup Requirements
  • Social

Price Range: Contact for rates

Gig Length: 20 - 240 minutes

Languages: English

Unions: AFM

Website: Visit website

Phone Number: Call

What to Expect

What to expect in the booking process:

-A personal approach to make sure all your expectations are understood and fulfilled. Don't know exactly what you want? I can help!
-Prompt communication
-Attention to detail

What to expect at your event:

-No worries for you!
-Early arrival and setup
-Awesome music!
-We can provide a keyboard if necessary and amplification (we’re off-the-grid, no electrical outlet necessary!)
-Friendly professionalism

About

Gold Standard Musicians are the very best of the best professionals St. Louis has to offer. We work alongside our clients to realize their creative vision for their events—wedding ceremonies and receptions, dinners, holiday parties, corporate events, banquets, and more! We love making your requests a reality, whether you know what you want down to the last detail or want us to take an idea and run with it. Relax and enjoy. Your event is in the best of hands.

Gold Standard Musicians offers an ever-expanding range of instrumental combos to choose from. We can work with your budget and vision to help you figure out what will work best for you.

Let us help you create the perfect musical setting for your event! Get in touch today.

Additional Booking Notes

This will vary depending upon the venue and ensemble/band hired. If I'm playing by myself, all I need is either a piano or an electrical outlet for my keyboard and amp.

Services Offered

Classical Ensemble Cellist Classical Duo Classical Pianist Corporate Entertainment Funeral Music Guitarist Jazz Guitarist Keyboard Player Pianist String Quartet String Trio Strolling Violinist Viola Player Violinist

Setup Requirements

I can provide a keyboard and amp, but I do need an electrical outlet!

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