Midnight on the Water
Overview
Philly's most innovative string ensemble, playing classical, jazz, trad, pop, and the uncategorizable! There're lots of great groups out there, but what makes us unique is (1) the range of styles we not only perform but actually feel at home in; (2) the fact that we do all our own organizing, arrangements, and performances, resulting in a product that's at once more professional and personal; and (3) our blend of deep expertise and youthful excitement to play with one another and for you. Check out our repertoire in the "Set List" tab below our reviews!
Reviews
35 reviews
Emily C.
May 12, 2026They were awesome!!
Midnight on the Water played for my wedding ceremony and cocktail hour. They took our general requests and specific requests ahead of time and played exactly what we asked for. It was beautiful!!! I only wish I could’ve frozen time to take it all in even more. I also heard only great things from the wedding guest. 12/10 - great to work with and exceeded my expectations!!!
Hired as: Celtic Music, String Trio, Wedding Band
Alicia H.
March 27, 2026Amazing!!!
We were blown away!!! Would highly recommend. We hired the band for our daughter’s 1st birthday. They played an amazing set and were so personable.
Hired as: Celtic Music
Mary A. K.
September 18, 2025Cellist was terrific
Booked last year and everything went as planned.
Hired as: Cellist
Sarah D.
September 8, 2025Beautiful Music, Wonderful Team
We heard about Midnight On the Water from my MIL as she knows Tom from many years ago. We trust their judgement as they are also musicians and are so happy to have found this band. Working with Nathan was a breeze. They were able to play the songs we requested for our ceremony and some lovely tunes while our guests arrived and were seated. While we didn't get to listen to all of their playing since we were preparing for the day, the moments standing waiting to walk, it sounded lovely and really helped set the mood for our garden ceremony. Highly recommend Midnight on the Water, worth every penny!
Hired as: String Trio
Denise D.
May 21, 2025We loved the music!
Midnight on the Water was professional, on time, and played beautifully for my daughter's wedding celebration.
Hired as: Mandolin Player, String Trio
Booking information
Price range: $250 and up
Languages: English
What to expect
Our years of experience performing music *and also* working with people and organizations mean that you can expect the highest standards of professionalism and musicianship from us. What's most unique about us, however, is our personal touch. Unlike other ensembles that feature a rotating cast of musicians under a single brand name, we're just us - Tom, Nathan, and Dani - and we do all our own correspondence, arranging, and performing. This results in a more distinctive, spontaneous, and mature sound, and also means that from the initial booking through through correspondence & preparation to your event itself, you'll be working with the same people who will actually perform for you.
When you book us, one of us (Tom, Nathan, or Dani) will be in touch with you to learn more about your event and how we can best enhance it. We'll provide a detailed contract so that all the logistical details (like arrival times, repertoire, sick policies, etc) are crystal clear. We'll stay in touch with you after signing to answer any further questions that arise as you prepare your event, and also, if you want, to custom-tailor a set list with you.
We rehearse a lot so that at your event our focus can be on you. Our specific goals differ widely for different types of events. At wedding ceremonies, parties, and receptions, our aim is to enhance the ambiance, not to be the center of attention. At events like concerts and contradances, our aim is to fully enthrall your ears - maybe with sounds so irresistible you and your guests can't NOT get up and dance. Again, we're happy to dialogue with you to learn what your goals our for your specific event!
In performance, we're unique in the range of musical styles we can feel at home in - again, that was the whole idea of our ensemble to begin with. We're happy to play complete programs of classical music, jazz, pop, or North Atlantic fiddle styles as well or better than any ensemble that specializes in these styles - or we can mix them together in whatever combination suits your taste!
About
Midnight on the Water started as an idea. The three of us have collectively played well over one thousand performances with classical, jazz, trad, and pop ensembles, but rarely have we met other string players who are equally at home across all those musical contexts - until we met one another! What would happen, we thought, if the three of us got together to play ALL the music in a single ensemble? Three years of music later, we're more excited about playing together than when we began, and we can't wait to play for you.
Collectively, we've played several hundred weddings over more than a decade and won repeated best-of awards from event coordinators like Gigmasters, Wedding Wire, and the Knot; founded and directed several music & dance programs and festivals; performed at venues like New York's Carnegie Hall, Boston's Institute of Contemporary Art, Prague's Rudolfinum, and on every continent except for South America and Antarctica; received degrees in music performance, musicology, and ethnomusicology from schools like the New England Conservatory, Berklee, and Princeton; and taught music at schools including Cornell University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Swarthmore College.
You can see more information at our website (link hidden)
Additional booking notes
We require three armless chairs and, if playing outside, complete coverage. (Violins really don't like water!) We generally play acoustically, but depending on the repertoire you want for your event and the size of the space, we can also provide amplification.
Upcoming booked events
June 2027
26
Saturday
Wedding Reception
5:00pm - 6:30pm
•
Kempton, PA
August 2026
07
Friday
Wedding Reception
7:00pm - 7:45pm
•
Doylestown, PA
08
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
4:30pm - 6:30pm
•
Philadelphia, PA
December 2026
12
Saturday
Birthday Party
5:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Havertown, PA
Past booked events
May 2026
07
Thursday
Corporate Event
2:30pm - 3:30pm
•
Williamsport, PA
02
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
3:00pm - 5:00pm
•
Lambertville, NJ
March 2026
21
Saturday
Birthday Party
3:00pm - 5:00pm
•
Williamstown, NJ
17
Tuesday
Retirement Community Event
4:00pm - 5:00pm
•
Exton, PA
17
Tuesday
Nonprofit Event
2:00pm - 3:00pm
•
Allentown, PA
October 2025
18
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
5:00pm - 6:00pm
•
Macungie, PA
05
Sunday
Nonprofit Event
3:30pm - 5:00pm
•
Bryn Mawr, PA
September 2025
12
Friday
Wedding Ceremony
4:30pm - 5:30pm
•
Wilmington, DE
06
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
3:30pm - 4:30pm
•
Fort Washington, PA
May 2025
17
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
2:00pm - 3:00pm
•
Bethlehem, PA
16
Friday
Wedding Reception
7:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Richboro, PA
03
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
4:30pm - 6:30pm
•
Bethany Beach, DE
March 2025
26
Wednesday
Wedding Ceremony
1:00pm - 1:15pm
•
Philadelphia, PA
16
Sunday
Nonprofit Event
11:30am - 12:30pm
•
Cherry Hill, NJ
09
Sunday
Concert
4:00pm - 5:00pm
•
Elizabethtown, PA
08
Saturday
Bar/Bat Mitzvah Party
7:30pm - 8:30pm
•
Philadelphia, PA
February 2025
14
Friday
Retirement Community Event
5:00pm - 6:00pm
•
Wayne, PA
December 2024
24
Tuesday
Worship Service
3:30pm - 5:00pm
•
New Holland, PA
November 2024
23
Saturday
Dinner Party
5:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Philadelphia, PA
October 2024
26
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
3:30pm - 4:30pm
•
Highland Park, NJ
23
Wednesday
Surprise
6:00pm - 6:15pm
•
Kennett Square, PA
19
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
3:30pm - 5:30pm
•
Big Indian, NY
12
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
4:30pm - 5:30pm
•
Phoenixville, PA
September 2024
14
Saturday
Wedding Reception
5:00pm - 6:00pm
•
Philadelphia, PA
August 2024
31
Saturday
Wedding Cocktail Hour
5:00pm - 6:00pm
•
Limerick Township, PA
31
Saturday
Personal Occasion
11:30am - 2:30pm
•
Woodbury, NJ
23
Friday
Personal Occasion
6:30pm - 7:00pm
•
Philadelphia, PA
03
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
4:00pm - 5:30pm
•
Annandale, NJ
02
Friday
Contradance (Glen Echo DC)
7:00pm - 10:00pm
June 2024
28
Friday
Wedding Ceremony
5:00pm - 6:00pm
•
Whitehouse Station, NJ
08
Saturday
Cocktail Party
4:00pm - 5:00pm
•
Pottstown, PA
May 2024
18
Saturday
Funeral/Memorial Service
6:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Philadelphia, PA
12
Sunday
Wedding Ceremony
1:00pm - 2:00pm
•
Pequea, PA
11
Saturday
Contradance (New York NY)
7:00pm - 10:00pm
10
Friday
Funeral/Memorial Service
9:30am - 10:30am
•
Berwyn, PA
05
Sunday
Contradance (Arden DE)
1:30pm - 5:00pm
03
Friday
Dinner Party
5:30pm - 6:30pm
•
Big Indian, NY
April 2024
27
Saturday
Wedding Reception
6:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Phoenixville, PA
21
Sunday
Contradance (Brooklyn NY)
7:00pm - 10:00pm
10
Wednesday
Contradance (Princeton NJ)
7:00pm - 10:00pm
05
Friday
Contradance (Ottsville PA)
7:00pm - 9:30pm
March 2024
30
Saturday
Funeral/Memorial Service
2:00pm - 3:00pm
•
Pottstown, PA
27
Wednesday
Cocktail Party
3:30pm - 4:30pm
•
Moorestown, NJ
22
Friday
Wedding Ceremony
2:30pm - 3:30pm
•
Hopewell, NJ
16
Saturday
Christmas Party
6:00pm - 7:30pm
•
Jenkintown, PA
16
Saturday
House Party
3:00pm - 4:00pm
•
Pennington, NJ
16
Saturday
Personal Occasion
12:00pm - 2:00pm
•
Philadelphia, PA
February 2024
24
Saturday
Benefit Concert
7:00pm - 10:00pm
24
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
1:15am - 2:30am
23
Friday
Funeral/Memorial Service
1:00pm - 2:00pm
•
Holicong, PA
December 2023
09
Saturday
Wedding Engagement
5:00pm - 6:00pm
•
Philadelphia, PA
02
Saturday
Christmas Party
7:30pm - 9:00pm
•
Mount Laurel, NJ
November 2023
26
Sunday
Concert
3:00pm - 4:30pm
•
Glenside, PA
18
Saturday
Surprise
2:00pm - 2:30pm
•
Philadelphia, PA
October 2023
22
Sunday
Wedding Ceremony
6:30pm - 8:00pm
•
Brooklyn, NY
14
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
5:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Hampton, NJ
07
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
4:00pm - 5:00pm
•
Doylestown, PA
September 2023
23
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
5:30pm - 7:00pm
•
Somers Point, NJ
16
Saturday
Surprise
7:00pm - 7:30pm
•
Philadelphia, PA
16
Saturday
Funeral/Memorial Service
2:00pm - 4:00pm
•
Coatesville, PA
03
Sunday
Fundraiser
3:00pm - 5:00pm
•
Philadelphia, PA
February 2023
15
Wednesday
House Concert
3:00pm - 4:30pm
•
Philadelphia, PA
Set list
Our set lists vary widely depending on the type of event we're playing, and we're always happy to create custom set lists for clients. In general, we can play any repertoire advertised by any string ensemble. Here is some of what we've played for folks in the past!
POP TUNES:
Abba -- Dancing Queen
Adele -- Easy on Me
Adele -- Rumour Has It
Adele -- Set Fire to the Rain
Adele -- Someone Like You
Adele -- To Make You Feel My Love
Aha -- Take on Me
Beatles -- All You Need is Love
Beatles -- Something
Ben E. King -- Stand by Me
Ben Platt -- Grow As We Go
Beyoncé -- Run the World
Bill Withers -- Lean on Me
Bill Withers -- Just the Two of Us
Billy Joel -- She's Got A Way
BTS -- Dynamite
Camila Cabello -- Havana
Chappell Roan -- Red Wine Supernova
Chris Stapleton -- Tennessee Whiskey
Coldplay -- Yellow
Coldplay -- Viva La Vida
Coldplay -- Clocks
Cristina Perri -- A Thousand Years
Dan + Shay -- Speechless
Diana Ross -- I'm Coming Out
Dua Lipa -- Levitating
Ed Sheeran -- Shape of You
Ed Sheeran -- Thinking out Loud
Ed Sheeran -- Perfect
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros -- Home
Elton John -- Can You Feel The Love Tonight
Elvis -- Can't Help Falling in Love
Eric Clapton -- Wonderful Tonight
Etta James -- At Last
Girls Aloud -- Can't Speak French
Greatest Showman -- A Million Dreams
Hall & Oates -- Rich Girl
Harry Styles -- Watermelon Sugar
Hozier -- Take Me to Church
Jack Johnson -- Better Together
Jackson 5 -- Want You Back
John Legend -- All of Me
Journey -- Don't Stop Believing
Judy Garland -- Somewhere Over the Rainbow
K-Pop Demon Hunters -- Golden
King Harvest -- Dancing in the Moonlight
Lady Gaga -- Bad Romance
Lady Gaga -- Always Remember Us This Way
Led Zeppelin -- All of My Love
Leonard Cohen -- Hallelujah
Lori Lieberman -- Killing Me Softly With His Song
Louis Armstrong -- What a Wonderful World
Luis Fonsi -- Despacito
Madonna -- Material Girl
Michael Jackson -- Smooth Criminal
Miley Cyrus -- You
Muse -- Blackout
Natalie Cole -- This Will Be
Nirvana -- In Bloom
Nirvana -- Smells Like Teen Spirit
One Direction -- What Makes You Beautiful
Outkast -- So Fresh And So Clean
Ray Charles -- Georgia On My Mind
Sam Tinnesz -- Play with Fire
Sarah Bareilles -- One Sweet Love
Simon & Garfunkle -- Sound of Silence
Stevie Wonder -- Isn't She Lovely
Stevie Wonder -- Overjoyed
SZA -- Nobody Gets Me
Taylor Swift -- Enchanted
Taylor Swift -- Love Story
The Animals -- House of the Rising Sun
The Beach Boys -- God Only Knows
The Beatles -- Here Comes the Sun
The Beatles -- I Want To Hold your Hand
The Killers -- Mr. Brightside
The Temptations -- My Girl
The Turtles -- Happy Together
The Verve -- Bittersweet Symphony
Train -- Marry Me
Van Morrison -- Brown Eyed Girl
Vance Joy -- Riptide
Yes -- Owner of a Lonely Heart
CLASSICAL WEDDING CEREMONY & COCKTAIL HOUR
Processional: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (JS Bach)
Bridal processional: Canon in D (Johann Pachelbel)
Sand ceremony / ring warming / unity candle, etc: Ave Maria (Franz Schubert)
Recessional: La Rejouissance from the Royal Fireworks Music (George Frideric Handel)
Cocktail hour:
Entrance of the Queen of Sheba (George Frideric Handel)
Air in G (JS Bach)
Bourree in F (George Frideric Handel)
Trumpet Tune (Henry Purcell)
Largo from the Four Seasons (Antonio Vivaldi)
Trumpet Voluntary (Jeremiah Clarke)
Rondeau (Jean-Joseph Mouret)
Air from Water Music in F (George Frideric Handel)
Bourree from Water Music in F (George Frideric Handel)
Hornpipe from Water Music in D (George Frideric Handel)
1-HR MULTI-GENRE CONCERT ON THE THEME OF LOVE
Isn't She Lovely (Stevie Wonder)
Canon & Gigue in D Major (Johann Pachelbel)
Waking Up (Myriam Alter)
Por una cabeza (Carlos Gardel)
Da Slockit Light (Tom Anderson) / Inisheer (Thomas Walsh) / Ashokan Farewell (Jay Ungar)
All Of Me (jazz standard)
Meditation from Thaïs (Jules Massenet)
Fractions of Mast (Dani Hawkins) / Reign of Love (Keith Murphy) / Whiskey Business (Tom Krumm)
All of My Love (Led Zeppelin)
Georgia On My Mind (Ray Charles)
An Bradán Feasa (Nathan Bishop) / Slängpolska efter Juringius (Trad. Swedish)
CONTRADANCE
Reels:
Old Joe / Kitchen Girl
Maxime LeBlanc / Fleur de Mandragore
Curvy Road to Corinth / Torn Jacket
Galway Rambler / Bees Wax Sheep Skin
Banshee / Coalminer
Brenda Stubbert’s / The High Drive
Mountain Road / Mineral Bluff
La Belle Gaspesie / Brumley Brae
Father Kelly’s / Frank’s Reel
Jigs:
Apples in Winter (Em) /The Wild One (Dm)
Rolling Wave (D) / Indian Point (Em)
Out on the Ocean (G) (P1) / Out on the Road (P2) (D)
Road to Lisdoonvarna / Dark Girl in Blue / Star above the Garter
Maison de Glace / Gold Ring
Waltzes:
Le Voyage de la Diabline (Trip to Provence)
Call of the West
Haapavesi
Westphalia Waltz
Midnight on the Water
Influences and inspiration
Time for Three, 2 Cellos, The Fretless, Turtle Island String Quartet, Vitamin String Quartet, Bridgerton, Black Violin