The Strolling Violinist™ Award-winning luxury violinist for weddings, parties & corporate events.

My technical requirements are very simple. For most events, I’m completely self-contained and can provide my own violin, electric violin, and battery-powered amplification, so I do not require access to electrical power.

I generally need a small, level performance area and enough space to safely set up my equipment. For outdoor performances, I require protection from rain or other conditions that could damage the instrument or electronics.

For larger venues or events using a professional sound system, I’m happy to connect with the venue’s PA and coordinate with the sound engineer. Otherwise, just show me where to play and I’ll take care of the rest!

I like to keep things simple. Before the event, I need the **venue address, performance location, start and finish times, parking/loading information, and a day-of contact person**.

It’s also helpful to know whether the performance will be indoors or outdoors, whether there is cover from sun or rain, and whether amplification is permitted. For weddings, I’ll also need the ceremony timeline and musical cues for the processional, special moments, and recessional.

Since I can provide my own battery-powered amplification, most venues require very little technical setup. Give me the details, point me toward the stage—or the happy couple—and I’m ready to play!

Yes. I can provide my own **professional battery-powered amplification system** for most weddings, private parties, cocktail hours, and smaller events, so access to electrical power is usually not required.

For larger events, I’m happy to connect my electric violin to the venue’s professional sound system and work with the sound engineer.

I do not normally provide dedicated stage lighting, as most venues already have appropriate event lighting. If specialized sound or lighting production is required, I’m happy to coordinate with the venue or production team in advance.

Yes. I can provide **Spotify background music before the performance and between my live violin sets** through my sound system, helping keep the atmosphere and energy flowing throughout your event.

You’re welcome to provide a preferred playlist, or I can select music to complement the style and mood of the occasion. While this isn’t a full DJ service with mixing, announcements, and dance-floor production, it’s an easy way to provide continuous music alongside the live performance.

One of the most unforgettable gigs of my career was performing at **Fuji Rock Festival in Japan with Deadweight in 2000**. Playing for an international festival audience was an incredible experience and remains a career highlight.

As for venues, I’ve been fortunate to perform everywhere from concert halls and wineries to luxury hotels, San Francisco landmarks, intimate weddings, and private events throughout the Bay Area. **San Francisco City Hall** remains one of my favorite places to perform. The architecture, acoustics, history, and emotion of wedding ceremonies there make every performance feel special.

After decades as a professional musician, I’ve learned that the “best” venue isn’t always the biggest one—it’s the place where the music becomes part of a moment people will remember for the rest of their lives.

My favourite events are **weddings and intimate celebrations**. There’s something special about playing live violin for one of the most important moments in someone’s life. I love tailoring the music to each couple—from classical and jazz to R&B, pop, rock, and special requests—and creating a soundtrack that feels uniquely theirs.

I also love strolling cocktail hours and receptions, where I can interact directly with guests, take requests, and turn the violin into part of the celebration. For me, the best events are the ones where the music creates a genuine connection and a memory people carry home with them.

I’m a professionally trained violinist with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and I’ve been performing professionally for decades.

I started gigging as a young musician and quickly discovered that some of the greatest musical education happens outside the practice room. Over the years, I’ve performed classical, jazz, rock, bluegrass, pop, R&B, and original music—from symphony and chamber performances to clubs, festivals, recording sessions, weddings, corporate events, and private celebrations.

I founded the Rilke String Quartet, performed with orchestras including the Santa Rosa Symphony and California Symphony, toured internationally with Deadweight, and performed at Fuji Rock Festival in Japan. I’ve also worked as a recording musician and built a career performing throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

That experience eventually evolved into **The Strolling Violinist™**, where I bring decades of musicianship into events while ke

I’ve been influenced by an enormous range of musicians because I’ve spent my life moving between classical music, jazz, rock, bluegrass, and songwriting. Some of my strongest influences include **J.S. Bach, Stéphane Grappelli, John Coltrane, Frank Sinatra, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, and Kenny Baker**. As a violinist, I was also profoundly shaped by my classical teachers and by the chamber-music tradition.

If I had to choose one favorite artist, **John Coltrane** would be very high on the list. His combination of virtuosity, relentless exploration, spirituality, and emotional honesty represents much of what I admire about music. He never seemed satisfied with simply playing what he already knew.

And the greatest song of all time? That’s an almost impossible question, but I’d choose **“A Love Supreme” by John Coltrane** as one of the greatest musical statements ever created. It goes beyond genre—it’s music as technique, emotion, searching, and spiritual expression all at once.

My own

I typically arrive **30–45 minutes before the scheduled performance** to set up, tune, check amplification, and coordinate any final details with the venue or event planner.

For most events, I perform **45–60 minute sets with short breaks between sets**. Weddings and ceremonies are structured around the event timeline rather than fixed sets, so I coordinate the music with the processional, ceremony, recessional, cocktail hour, and other special moments.

My setup is compact and self-contained, so I can usually be ready to perform quickly and with minimal disruption to your event.

Absolutely! I’m happy to perform outdoors and regularly play weddings, proposals, cocktail hours, garden parties, and other outdoor events throughout the Bay Area.

I use a **battery-powered amplification system**, so electrical power is usually not necessary. I simply require a safe, level performance area with adequate cover or shade and protection from rain, excessive heat, or other weather conditions that could damage my instruments or equipment.

With those basics covered, I’m ready to bring live violin music almost anywhere!

Absolutely—the client has a big say in the music! I have an extensive repertoire covering **classical, jazz, pop, rock, R&B, romantic standards, bluegrass, and contemporary music**, but I tailor each performance to the event and the client’s preferences.

Clients are welcome to choose favorite songs, request particular genres, or give me the overall mood they want and let me build the program. For weddings and proposals, I’m also happy to learn special songs when given enough notice.

I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all set list. **Your event, your soundtrack—I bring it to life on the violin.**

Previous clients often describe my performances as **beautiful, professional, engaging, versatile, and memorable**. They especially appreciate my ability to personalize the music, accommodate special requests, and adapt to the atmosphere of the event.

Whether I’m playing an intimate wedding ceremony, strolling among guests at a cocktail hour, or performing electric violin for a lively celebration, my goal is always the same: **great musicianship, dependable professionalism, and a performance that becomes part of the memory of the occasion.**