Sophisticated Jazz at the Central Park Zoo

Saturday was truly an amazing evening as we had the privilege of curating and producing an entire evening of jazz for a very special wedding at the Central Park Zoo. Huge thanks to Jung Lee and Fête for bringing us on board. We began with a jazz quartet for cocktails, melodic jazz dinner DJ set, and groovy jazz band led by Jay Bianchi for a special dance portion of the evening. The night consisted of upbeat standards, classic crooners, and a few original Bianchi Musica arrangements. The cocktail music kicked off the night filling the zoo with beautiful smooth jazz played right near the entrance of the zoo, which the sea lions seemed to enjoy by their occasional splashing around the tank and playful barking. The dinner was absolutely stunning set right next to the snow monkeys, with heart warming speeches, EM-C'd by Pilley Bianchi and our very own DJ Ted Ganung, setting the mood mixing an assortment of Miles Davis, Stan Getz, Joe Henderson & many more classic recordings.  The band sounded & looked amazing with three of our favorite vocalists, Kimberlee Wertz, Noreda Sweet & Jim Mola. In classic Bianchi Musica fashion, the full band also included a grand piano and our very special string section. 

 

Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg & the Carlyle

When music industry heavy-weights call us to perform for their own events we are always excited and a tad bit nervous. My friend & world re-known violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg called us to perform at her god-daughters wedding at the Carlyle June 22nd. We performed Meditation from Thais by Mascagni with Nadja, and her playing, as always, was beyond sublime.  

The ceremony processional was: 

Romance from Gadfly by Shostakovitch

Salut d'Amour by Elgar 

O Mio Babbino Caro by Puccini

St. Barthélemy 2013

It's been an amazing spring and now we are into summer.  We have had some stunning events, indoors and mostly outdoors.  The first outdoor event this year was April 27th in heavenly St. Barth's.  Thanks to Jung Lee & Allison Aronne at Fête for bringing us on board.

Ceremony: St. Barthololmew's Anglican Church, St. Barthélemy

Ensemble: String Quartet & Piano/Vocal

Groom & Groomsmen:  "All I Want Is You" by U2

Bridesmaids:  "Calico Skies" by Paul McCartney

Bride:  "Songbird" Eva Cassidy version

Service:  "The Prayer"

Recessional:  "Island in the Sun" by Weezer

Dinner:  Eden Rock

TEAM

Bianchi Musica:  Ariana Rosen, Kate Mollica, Hannah Hens-Piazza, Lauren Riley-Rigby, Pilley Bianchi

Planning:  Fête

DJ:  Dina Regine

Photograph:  Nathan Smith with Ira Lippke 

Video:  Craig MacNeill

The Glasshouses

On Saturday, March 23rd we were able to be apart of Justin and Jason's wedding by providing ceremony and cocktail music. It was a truly beautiful and touching event from start to finish. The Ceremony started right as the sun set shone into the 14th floor of the Glasshouses lighting up the entire room for a magical moment. The Cocktails were on the 21st floor with beautiful night views of the city creating an ultra chic New York City feel. 

Ceremony Ensemble:  Piano & String Quartet

Processional

Grandparents & Parents ~ The Arrival from Gattaca

Groomsmen, Maid of Honor & Flowergirls ~ All The Lovers (Kylie Minogue)

Signing ~ Teenage Dream (Katy Perry)

Recessional ~ When Love Takes Over 

Sex & The City

Dream team Vendors:
Planner:  Angie Nevarez, Baton
Design ~ Garin Baura
Catering ~ Creative Edge
Photography ~ Julie Skarrett 

6/18 at The Russian Tea Room

Last night we had a great time performing at The Russian Tea Room in Midtown Manhattan. We played two sets, one for cocktails and one for dessert. The repertoire for cocktails was Classical Music which varied from Cinema Paradiso to Moonlight Sonata. For desert protion of the evening, we had a wardrobe change from ivory gowns to black, and switched the music from Classical to Contemporary. Performing Madonnas "Like A Prayer" to Rhianna's "We Found Love," the second set even inspired a few dance moves from the Maitre'D when he realized the String Quartet was playing an arrangement of Katy Perry's' "Fireworks."

Impressionism: Bridging the Channel

Amazing concert yesterday by our beautiful quartet, Silhouette.

Bloomingdale School of Music

March 10, 2013 at 3:00pm

Voices New and Old Series

Impressionism: Bridging the Channel 

Ariana Rosen, violin

Kate Mollica, violin

Hannah Hens-Piazza, viola

Lauren Riley-Rigby, cello

Ma Mere L'Oye........................................Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)

Pavane de la Belle au Bois dormant-Petit Poucet-Le Jardin Feerique

Three Idylls..............................................Frank Bridge (1879-1941)

I Adagio Molto

II Allegro Poco Lento

III Allegro Con Moto

String Quartet in G minor, Op. 10.............Claude Debussy (1862-1918)

I Anime et très decide

II Assez vif et bien rythme 

III Andantino, doucement expressif

IV Tres modere- En animant peu a peu - Tres mouvemente et avec passion

 

Oscar de la Renta Fall 2013 bridal collection

On Thursday, February 21, Ted Ganung, Lauren Riley-Rigby & Ariana Rosen represented Bianchi Musica at the exclusive fragrance launch and preview of the Oscar de la Renta Fall 2013 bridal collection at The Bridal Salon at Saks Fifth Avenue. Champagne was served as we were able to get a sneak preview of some of the elegant styled wedding dressings and  fragrant perfumes. Before you walked into the Bridal Salon music was being played as people gathered around to view the styles of other designers such as Rebecca Taylor and take their pictures with a Tropical backdrop and Hawaiian accessories. 

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Celebrating Valentine's Day at Tiffany & Co

 

In honor of Valentine's Day, Darcy Miller and Martha Stewart Weddings hosted an invitation only celebration at Tiffany & Co. We were happy to be on the invitation list. Champagne & entrees were served as the guests could decorated boxes filled with amazing cookies and sweets from Madame Chocolate & One Girl Cookies. A photo both was set up for couples to take pictures and calligrapher Deborah Nadel added love notes on Tiffany cards.

Ted spinning in Honolulu, Hawaii

by Ted Ganung

For this edition of Turntable Tuesday I wanted to share pictures and music from my recent DJ event in Honolulu, Hawaii. Dub & Bass is a semi-annual event held in Honolulu, Hawaii that brings together the origin of Roots & Reggae Dub and weaves it into a journey through time into Jungle, Drum & Bass, Dubstep, and all forms of conscious dance music. While in Hawaii I was also able to record vocals for one of my original Productions with Sister Lubei which I have shared below, forthcoming 1/22/2013 on all good digital stores and was invited to come back a second night to the Lotus Club in Downtown Honolulu for an exclusive Deep House Set. 

Dub & Bass returned to Lotus on Friday night with NYC DJ and musician Ted Ganung, joined by local DJ's Packo, Sejika and Oldman Klevansky and a live art show by Nicole Vermillion. The night was a fusion of neo roots/reggae dub, drum & bass, dub step and jungle music that kept people dancing until close. 

-Tracy Chan (Nonstophonolulu.com)

Roots reggae has been cited by many critics of the 20th century as the mother of many modern music forms. Born from the garrisons of Jamaica this music has give a voice to disaffected peoples of all cultures and all backgrounds around the world. The messages of rebellion and truth seeking that roots provides struck a chord across the globe. 

-Channel One Sound 

 

 

New Year's Eve at Noir

On New Year's Eve our quartet played a hip & trendy party hosted by French Tuesday's at Noir. Noir New York City pays a homage to the glamour and sophistication of classic New York, with timeless detailing and decor, upscale lounge, and crafted cocktails. Frenchtuesdays.com  Hugs to Nuño Carlos Cachon Torres-Soto.

Ted at Angel Orensanz

On December Twenty Seventh our Co-Producer and DJ Ted Ganung rocked it out in our last same sex wedding for 2012 at Angel Orensanz. A truly beautiful event that included live show tunes, as well as Ted's slamming DJ Set that consisted of everything from the Ratpack to Electronic Dance Music. 

St. Jean Baptiste Church

All Bach New Year's Eve Concert

Monday, December 31 2012

at St. Jean Baptiste Roman Catholic Church

Lexington Avenue and 76th Street, Manhattan

Program features Orchestral Suite No. 3; Mass in F; the "Brandenburg" Concerto No. 4, and Cantatas Nos. 158 and 189, 

performed by the Amor Artis Chorus and Baroque Orchestra;

 Johannes Somary, music director

Cheryl Bensman Rowe, soprano

Jeffrey Dooley, countertenor

Patrick Romano, tenor

 John Ostendorf, bass

8 P.M. Tickets are $15. Information: (212) 874-4513.

 Conductor Stephen Somary and the Amor Artis Chamber Choir and Ensemble perform a festive all-Bach New Year's Eve concert in the lovely St. Jean Baptiste Church in New York City.

St. John the Divine

St. John the Divine.  This will truly be sublime.

New Year’s Eve Concert for Peace, 2012

Monday, December 31 at 7:00PM 

at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine

1047 Amsterdam Avenue

at 112th Street

New York, NY 10025

New Year's Eve Concert for Peace

December 31, 2012 at 7pm

Cathedral Choir and Orchestra

Wolfgang Mozart, Coronation Mass

Ludwig van Beethoven, Choral Fantasy

Felix Mendelssohn, Verleigh uns Frieden (Grant us Peace)

Anton Bruckner, motets

Harry Smith, host

Judy Collins, guest artist

Jamet Pittman, soprano

Kirsten Sollek, contralto

Steven Fox, tenor

Peter Stewart, baritone

Founded by Leonard Bernstein in 1984, the annual New Year's Eve Concert for Peace is a signature Cathedral event, gathering old friends and new for over a quarter of a century. The music, the candles, and the spirit of peace send audiences out into the chill January night feeling connected, uplifted, and ready to communicate and uphold that spirit.

Trinity Church

Well known for their concert series at Trinity Church, this will be a classic.


Parthenia a quartet of viols

"As It Fell on a Holie Eve- Music for an Elizabethan Christmas"

Thursday, Dec 27 7:30 pm

at Trinity Church 

89 Broadway New York, New York

Rosamud Morley, Treble Viol
Lawrence Lipnik, Tenor Viol
Beverly Au, Bass Viol
Lisa Terry, Bass Viol

Guest Artist 

Julianne Baird, Soprano

7:30pm Tickets $25-General Admission (212)-866-0468 

Gotham Early Music Scene and Trinity Wall Street Church present Parthenia and soprano Julianne Baird in a glittering array of songs, dances and carols from Elizabethan England. Along with music by Thomas Morley, Anthony Holborne, Thomas Ravenscroft, Dr. John Bull and Tobias Hume, this concert will feature a wide variety of music by the celebrated master composer of England’s Golden Age, William Byrd.

Our Lady of Pompei Church

If you are downtown and in the little Italy area, you can find a little respite in the hustle and bustle at this concert.


Memorare

Saturday, Dec 29th 7:30pm

at Our Lady of Pompei Church

25 Carmine St. New York, New York

 The Lorenzo Ruiz Choir of New York and the BNP New York Choir's bring New York city a concert tribute to the Blessed Mother and promises to be a joyous festival of Christmas carols and love songs. 

7:30 PM tickets are $20-$500 (718)-456-7314

Proceeds from the concert will go to BNP New York's project of sending seminarians to school in the Philippines. This project which started on 1988 has so far produced 4 seminarians who were ordained as priests. Currently, they have one seminarian who, with God's blessings, will be ordained on 2014.
Hopefully we can add more seminarians to this program. Donations start at $20 which are tax deductible.

Saint Peter's Lutheran Church

There are some amazing concerts this holiday season and we are posting several of our fav's.  I love the ethereal nature of the repertoire below and you can't beat the price.  A great lunch time treat.

Vox Fidelis- 

Christmas in the High Renaissance

Thursday, Dec 27th 2012 1:15pm

at Saint Peter's Lutheran Church

619 Lexington Ave. New York, New York

Timothy Smith, director

Vox Fidelis Early Music Ensemble

1:15pm Free Concert 

Vox Fidelis specializes in sacred Renaissance polyphony, its cultivation and promotion, and its place in traditional sacred liturgy. They will be singing festive selections by Praetorius, Palestrina, and more to celebrate Christmas Renaissance style!

Turntable Tuesday

by Ted Ganung

For this week I bring a very special debut release "Twisted Trees" from LA based artist, Tate Hall. Twisted Trees is an epic journey through time and space that marks an escape from reality. The album is meant to be listened to from start to finish as one seamless piece of music evolving from track to track. Tate Hall, an already accomplished Sound Engineer, shows his strength in his debut release with his signature clean and ultra refined production style. Below I have included a link to listen to the album, for more information on Tate Hall click here Tate Hall Music


 

Park Avenue Synagogue

We are winding our wedding season down as we groove into the holidays and get ready for tons of parties.  We have many more weddings to post and this one was pure joy performing with Azi Schwartz the music director & cantor at Park Avenue Synagogue.  Again, huge tip of the hat to Fête {feteny.com} for bringing us on board.  We were string quartet and piano.  Azi has a voice that will truly make you melt. You can hear him performing the most devine music on his CD "Ahavat Olam", a collection of Jewish romantic music with chamber orchestra.  http://pasyn.org/  Or better yet, catch an inspiring service at Park Avenue Synagogue.  

Processional:

"Ma Tovu" ~ Lewandoski

Grandparents & Mother of the bride

"Now We Are Free" ~ Hans Zimmer

Groom & Groomsmen

"Launch" ~ Trvor Rabin

"Caribbean Blue" ~ Enya

Bride

"Cavalleria Rusticana" Pietro Mascagni

Circling of the Bride

"Ani Chavatselet"

Before the breaking of the glass

"Im Eshkachech

Recessional

"Pride, In the Name of Love" ~ U2