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Evanston Strings, Elegant & Professional Live Music
- Chicago, IL
- Violinist
- Travels up to 30 miles
- $250 and up
Overview
Hi! Evanston Strings is a collection of string ensembles serving the Chicagoland area. From solo violin to trio or string quartet, we bring elegance & professional to any event. Founded by violinist Mari De Napoli while a Northwestern Masters student, we perform a multitude of genres & have played over 350 events- weddings, corporate engagements, recitals, church services, stadium music concerts, touring shows, proposals, birthdays, and more!
We make the booking process seamless by sending an extensive repertoire list of classical/pop, offering zoom meetings confirm details, and showing up early. We genuinely love bringing your vision to life and adding a special, unique touch to your event.
18 Reviews
On October 27, 2024, we had the privilege of having two artists from Evanston Strings perform duets at a birthday celebration. We have only the highest praise for them, but I want to give our observation some perspective. Pinchus Zuckerman was interviewed shortly after he took the baton as conductor and music director of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and said what had inspired him about the players was their attitude, conscientiousness and willingness to play in ways they had not before. Those words apply equally to the two accomplished artists we had from Evanston Strings, Mari De Napoli and Kristina Zlatareva, and I would add to those descriptors, consummate mastery and flexibility. Mari is the founder and lead violinist of Evanston Strings, and Kristina is a violin and viola faculty member of Northwestern’s Music Academy and performer on the international stage.
We were late in getting our selections to them, because, unknowing to us, our email with our proposed list had been stuck in our outbox. When I finally discovered that, and sent it on to Mari, it was two days before the event. Mari responded with the calm of a true professional, researching all of the music and saying confidently that there would be no problem at all.
I gave them impossible tasks in my email which arrived at Mari’s inbox so late. Here’s an example from the list of pieces and instructions:
“5:45 -6:30 while everyone is gathering ‘La Musica Notturna di Madrid,’ Boccherini, a two-minute segment, beginning 5 minutes in, with pizzicato; I realize some of this was written for multiple strings [String quintet in C major G324] but if you could do this as a duet, please do; if not, I understand” [!] Mari and Kristina transcribed it and played it flawlessly, without knowing the piece previously. There were several pieces like this, where, I’m sure, they had to rely on perfect sight-reading. These are true virtuosos, the type Pinchus Zuckerman was referring to and, likely would have felt at home playing with. And these two from Evanston Strings were not limited to classical. They played a wide variety of popular music at the event.
Last, they are true professionals. They arrived with time to set up, began on time and played per the schedule throughout the evening, with certain selections to be played at specific times.
We are so pleased with them, we will use Evanston Strings again and again for future events. We recommend them highly.
Craig N
Chicago
Violinist, Classical Duo, Viola Player
Response from Evanston Strings, Elegant & Professional Live Music:
Wow thank you for these kind words and high praise, Craig. It was our joy to play at your celebration. Hope to work with you again!
I highly recommend! This was the best performance ever!
Violinist
Response from Evanston Strings, Elegant & Professional Live Music:
Thanks, Ryan! Congrats on your engagement!
Wonderful string music, the perfect backdrop to our wedding ceremony that was outdoors. Mari was so helpful leading up to the event with picking songs and providing guidance and was extremely communicative, often within minutes! It made our special day stress free. She was fantastic!
Violinist
Response from Evanston Strings, Elegant & Professional Live Music:
Thank you for this beautiful review and for including in my gorgeous celebration! Congratulations again :)
Mari: A Musical Masterpiece
Mari's musical talents and professionalism were the perfect complement to our wedding day. Her punctuality and efficient setup ensured a seamless start to the celebration. Both she and her partner were a delight to have around, and our guests couldn't stop raving about their incredible performance.
The live music created a truly magical atmosphere, adding a personal touch to our special day. Mari's extensive song library made it easy for us to select the perfect tunes, and her skill as a musician was evident in every note. Working with her was a breeze, as she was always accommodating and helpful.
We are so grateful to Mari for her contribution to our wedding. Her talent and professionalism made our day even more memorable. If you're searching for a musician who can provide exceptional entertainment and create a lasting impression, we highly recommend Mari.
Violinist
Response from Evanston Strings, Elegant & Professional Live Music:
Wow, thank you so much for this glowing review. You had a beautiful wedding we were lucky to be part of. Thank you again :)
Real professional, her presence definetly elevated my events.
My guests really enjoyed the background violin
Violinist
Response from Evanston Strings, Elegant & Professional Live Music:
Thank you for taking the time to write such kind words! Glad I got to be a part of your baby shower :) Congrats!
I wanted a Bridgerton-like sound for my 30th birthday so I reached out to Evanston Strings. I spoke to Mari, the coordinator and violinist, and she recommended a string quartet, which was PERFECT for the party. They played the modern hits that everyone recognized and loved and absolutely blew everyone away. We will definitely be hiring Evanston Strings again for our next party.
String Quartet
Response from Evanston Strings, Elegant & Professional Live Music:
Thanks, Gina for this review! We had such a blast at your 30th. See you at the next party!
Could not recommend Mari enough. She made my surprise proposal so romantic and she was so easy to work with. Gave me an insane song list to choose from, met on zoom a few times, and came early to rock it at the proposal. Highly recommend and will be using her for our wedding!
Violinist
She was amazing. Everybody enjoys her performance.
Violinist
Response from Evanston Strings, Elegant & Professional Live Music:
Thank you! I had the best time performing at your wedding and celebrating your love. Congrats again!
Mari made my surprise proposal so romantic. She played so beautifully and was also very professional. I will definitely be using her again.
Violinist
Response from Evanston Strings, Elegant & Professional Live Music:
Thank you for the kind words! It was an honor to be part of your proposal. 🤍
Very professional i would recommend her and hire again
Violinist
Response from Evanston Strings, Elegant & Professional Live Music:
Thank you so much for including me in your fun birthday party and for being an awesome host :)
Mari's soulfull smooth playing was just what we needed. Could not have been happier with everything from A to Z as she delivered as she promised. Would recommend her to anyone seeking a consummate professional violinist.
Violinist
Mari was pleasant to work with from our initial consultation zoom to arriving early to the event, to the beautiful music that my guests thoroughly enjoyed. Her music made the event and I would definitely recommend her to anyone looking to spruce up their event with some class!
Violinist
Mari was extremely professional & definitely highly trained. I sent her a playlist of my favorite songs as well as the vibe I was going for and she did not disappoint. 10/10 would highly recommend.
Violinist
Response from Evanston Strings, Elegant & Professional Live Music:
Thank you for the kind words, Crysthal! So happy we got to make your birthday so special :)
Mari and her team provided an excellent pre and post ceremony assortment of classic wedding songs. The group was incredibly easy to work with and we’re very helpful with any questions we had getting things selected and set up.
String Quartet
Response from Evanston Strings, Elegant & Professional Live Music:
Thanks David! Congrats again to you and Kat— thanks for including Evanston Strings in your beautiful celebration 🎻
Mari De Napoli was very professional and dependable. Her musical skills were wonderful and she helped make my event very special. I would highly recommend Mari as an excellent musician.
Violinist
Response from Evanston Strings, Elegant & Professional Live Music:
Thanks Carolyn for this glowing review and for including me in your beautiful event!
Mari and her string quartet did an amazing job at our wedding. I coordinated most with Mari about what songs we wanted and we even requested a special song not on their song list that they nailed! It was so fun to have a live string quartet there for the wedding and cocktail hour. Mari was a pleasure to work with and was very responsive to any questions we had. I would recommend her to all our friends for any special events.
String Quartet
Very professional, great communication and excellent music
Violinist
Response from Evanston Strings, Elegant & Professional Live Music:
Thank you! It was an honor to play at your wedding!
Mari's additional was such a beautiful touch to our ceremony last summer. She was easy to coordinate with, made choosing our music easy, arrived early, and played a beautiful set. The guests kept talking it about it through the dinner!
Violinist
Response from Evanston Strings, Elegant & Professional Live Music:
Hi Kevin, thanks for writing such a kind review. I'm happy to hear that you and the guests loved the music. Congrats again on the wedding!
Booking Info
Price Range: $250 and up
Gig Length: 30 - 300 minutes
Languages: English
What to Expect
Music has the ability to take an already special event to the next level. I know the importance of creating a mood, atmosphere, and a perfect moment because music plays an essential role in making memories and bringing your event to life. You will have a polished and professional performance either as a soloist or as part of an ensemble.
I pride myself on communicating effectively with clients to make sure they are completely satisfied with my performance. I am always happy to work with you on music selections, and other details event details. I promise to be on time, professional, and passionate.
About
Evanston Strings was founded in 2023 when violinist Mari De Napoli was working towards her Masters degree at Northwestern. Having played over 150 weddings solo and with ensembles in the Los Angeles and Chicago area, she thought, "why not make it official and start a live strings service for luxury events?". Evanston Strings started off with just solo violin but has grown to every iteration of string ensemble you can think of (duets, trios, quartets, even small orchestras for weddings). We can play anything from pop to classical to traditional Indian or Jewish music. Working together with clients to create the perfect playlist and unforgettable moments is Evanston's bread and butter.
Our roster of musicians include professional harpists, pianists, cellists, violinists, violists, and more; everyone has at least 2 professional degrees, over 20 years experience and robust performing careers. We have performed with artists such as Laufey, Common, Jack Black, Stevie Wonder, and Smokey Robinson. Our artists have performed in iconic places like Carnegie Hall and Millennium Park, but also shine in any setting for a proposal or wedding at the beach. We’re able to perform the classics of Mozart to Michael Bublé, Bridgerton favorites, Bollywood wedding classics, and more.
From a dynamic solo violinist to a classic string quartet, Evanston Strings will help curate the perfect musical performance to dazzle your guests and fit your personal taste. Each event promises an attentive coordinator with unlimited meetings to go over aesthetics, playlists, and all logistics.
Additional Booking Notes
If performing outside, I require cover for protection from direct sunlight or precipitation, as both are harmful for string instruments. I also typically perform in black clothing. If you prefer something else I am happy to accommodate.
Also, unless otherwise specified, I perform as a solo artist without amplification or backing tracks etc. but I am always open to discussing options for your vision and event.