An Event to Remember

Collide has officially hit the scene. With the event on November 17th we feel that there has been a firm foundation set for this young group. The night included two Collide performances (the second of which you can view below thanks to Crystal from Professional Socialites) with Jason Garcia, Cesar Gil, and Lewis Grell of LG Entertainment entertaining the crowd with their DJ skills throughout the night. Special thanks also to Sabrina at Chic Soiree for helping us bring the whole thing together.

Collide is now booking for the 2010 calendar year and once your date is picked up you will miss the opportunity of having this one-of-a-kind ensemble at your party or reception!

And don't hesitate to check out these blogs from A&A Video, Professional Socialites, and Love Lee Photography sharing their experiences from that night.

We are also excited about Divisi Strings' new ad campaign which will be premiering in the upcoming issue of Houston Brides magazine. The bi-annual publication will also feature an article about what's new in Houston and will specifically talk about Collide!

Here is another new video clip gifted to us from Rolando and Imagine Videos. This time its one of our string duos performing Vivaldi's "Largo" from The Four Seasons at Ashelynn Manor in Magnolia, TX. Enjoy!

Listening Party

Tuesday, November 17th Collide is opening the practice room doors and premiering new musical concoctions for your aural pleasure.

Collide has been receiving great attention and generating excitement as news of the concept circulates through Houston. After our performance at Hotel ZaZa in October (where the open area allowed us to entertain not only the wedding guests but the hotel patrons as well) interest has piqued.

The evening begins at 7:00 pm at the Arena Tower One Penthouse. Collide will perform twice throughout the night and will be asking all our guests to give us their input. It is important to us to learn from your listening experience to help us push our creative limits and bring the best new music to Houston.

As the big day approaches, the details are all coming together. Sabrina from Chic Soiree has really done a fantastic job preparing this event. Many great vendors from in and around Houston have gotten involved, including: Keisha's Kreations, Cafe Natalie, Event House Design, A Day To Remember, and more. A&A Video will also be on location filming for our upcoming promotional video!

We are eagerly anticipating this opportunity to showcase our music for our friends, colleagues & clients. This is a labor of love and our reward is sharing it with all of you. Look forward to seeing you there!

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

7:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Arena Tower One @ the PentHouse
7322 Southwest Freeway (at Fondren)
Houston, TX 77074

Invitation Link: http://divisistrings.com/pdf/Invitation.Collide.pdf
Enjoy this special treat thanks to Rolando and Imagine Videos!

New Sights, Big Sounds

Divisi Strings stands out from the crowd in and out of the gig. For the past three years we have been committed to providing the best live instrumental music in Texas. Divisi Strings has become a household name in the wedding industry and its time we put a face to the name... or should we say “faces.” In the short time that we have been in business the Big Sounds of Divisi Strings have been heard as far south as McAllen and Harlingen, TX and even east out to Lake Charles, LA. With branches in Houston, Austin, and Dallas it doesn’t seem that there is any limit to our reach. We have performed for hundreds of brides with everything from string quartets to harpists to Dixieland jazz bands and one of the defining features of our organization that our clients really connect with is that we are young, talented professionals.
Nancy Aidee (Nancy Aidee Photography) captured it all with her skilled photography a few Sundays ago when we had a (rare) day off. We have watched her work over the last couple of years that we have known her and Shelli believes she is one of the best kept secrets in the business.

So how best to celebrate another year gone by than to start a new division of Divisi Strings…

Collide is gaining fans and momentum at a dizzying rate. A collision of ideas, cultures, styles, and aural art forms, this group of diverse musicians brings everything to the table as they sample, deconstruct, and mash up every genre of music to create an entirely new musical landscape. Divisi Strings has collaborated with DJ firm, LG Entertainment to produce a show you will not find anywhere else. This one of a kind ensemble takes what may be considered a traditional string quartet and fuses in house beats laid down by the DJ. The finishing touch - Plasma TV's to highlight videos of each song the band performs and lighting services provided by COLLIDE! In November, we would like to invite you to a special gathering at the penthouse of the Arena Towers (7322 Southwest Freeway) for Collide’s official launch party.

Stay tuned for more information! In the mean time, visit www.divisistrings.com/collide.htm and download our first studio recording. For your viewing pleasure, check out our photos from the shoot.

COLLIDE!

Divisi Strings has set itself apart in the wedding industry as a constant innovator. Now we invite you to the musical premiere you don't want to miss.

A new group has formed out of Divisi Strings and LG Entertainment. When sounds collide you will want to be there.

Sunday, September 27, 3 pm at the Patio on Mercer's Fall Open House, Collide will offer up just a taste of what all the talk is about.

This is the group you will want to experience and keep coming back for more!

for more information:
whensoundscollide.com

info@whensoundscollide.com
877 532 2877

Bridal Kaleidoscope (CANCELLED!)

Join us September 13th for the first public performance of Amp'd at the upcoming 2009 Bridal Kaleidoscope. Presented by Houston Brides and Hilton Houston Post Oak, the event will feature a bridal runway show by Priscilla of Boston and the chance to mix and mingle with Houston's finest wedding vendors. We are eagerly anticipating this opportunity to showcase our newest ensemble and all brides that book Amp'd for their Big Day will be able to go home with 10% off!

For more information and tickets, click here.

Divisi Strings gets Amp'd!

Amp'd String Quartet is an elctrifying ensemble of Divisi Strings' founding members. With songs spanning Classic Rock to Modern Pop this group is creating buzz all around Houston. Whether performing acoustic, amplified, or with their drummer they will provide superior entertainment for your reception, corporate party, or private event.

Currently in the studio working on their first demo, get a first listen to some of their samples. Be sure to catch them live on September 13th at Houston Brides magazine's Bridal Kaleidoscope at the Hilton Post Oak. For more information, click here.

We would like to thank Tannie (DeVine Choices) and Keisha (Keisha's Kreations) for inviting us to their very first open house on Saturday, August 22nd at there studios in Missouri City. Many great vendors were in attendance including ETC Studios Photography, the Dancing DJ's, and Houston Party Booths.com.

For more information about Amp'd contact us through the Divisi Strings website or call our offices at (713) 229. 8663.

Divisi Strings LLC is co-sponsoring this fundraising event to benefit the Project Divisi String Orchestra. Project Divisi was founded in 2008 to serve the diverse communities of Houston through music. In 2009 they are continuing their mission with the Project Divisi Militia where they will perform at area schools.

Grand Prize

Free airfare for 2 on Continental Airlines to anywhere in the continental United States.
String quartet from Divisi Strings for your wedding day (winning bride's wedding will be in Houston Brides magazine)or
Project Divisi to perform a special concert for a Houston charity in your name
4 tickets to see Project Divisi and Houston Chamber Choir performing Mozart's Requiem, February 20, 2010

There will be a total of 3 prize packages. Additional prizes include Nancy Aidee Photography, Belle of the Ball Event Consulting, gift certificates to Houston's hottest restaurants, and more!

You may purchase tickets through September 30th at 5:00 pm, CST. Winners will be pulled live online at 3:00pm, CST on October 1st and listed on the website October 2nd.
To purchase your tickets please visit www.projectdivisi.org/raffle or call (713) 229-8663.

MJ's Billie Jean

Big Bridal Weekend

The July 2009 Bridal Extravaganza Show is over! But no rest for Divisi, we have to get started taking care of the 10 new couples that booked us this weekend. Congratulations to Matt, Maggie, Emily, Dannetta, Ellen, Tiffany, Ashley, Camila, Katharine, and Melissa for being one step closer to your Big Day! Everyone that booked with us at the show took part in our "Pick Your Perks" special and not only received a major discount from us, but also a gift card to The Tasting Room and Max's Wine Dive as our way of saying "Thanks!"

The Bridal Extravaganza Show brings in thousands of brides from across the state of Texas (good thing we have branches in Austin and Dallas!) and they have the opportunity to visit with some of the best vendors the wedding industry has to offer. Our company is becoming known for its ability to do a little something special and at this show we unveiled a few pieces that are exclusive to our group: a pair of Michael Jackson hits "Billie Jean" and "Beat It" had people dancing in the aisle, "Viva la Vida" from Coldplay had brides searching out our booth, and "At Last" by Etta James actually left one bride-to-be in tears. Our ability to play Led Zepplin, Rolling Stones, and Jimi Hendrix was one of the reasons we were chosen to perform at Kelley & John's wedding at Hotel ZaZa. Their rock 'n' roll wedding was featured in the latest issue of Houston Brides!

The tour continues throughout August and September as we visit some of our favorite venues. The open houses following the BES are a great opportunity for brides to get a little more one-on-one time with Divisi Strings musicians. Look for us at: Butler's Courtyard (August 2nd), Houston Brides at Alden Hotel (August 6th), The Tasting Room Uptown Park and River Oaks locations (August 11th and 19th), Courtyard on St. James, Hotel Galvez, and Ashelynn Manor (August 16th), Houston Brides features Priscilla of Boston at Hilton Houston Post Oak (September 13th), and the Patio on Mercer (September 27th).

If you saw us at the show this weekend let us know what you enjoyed and what you might like to see more of in the future!

A Bridal Extravaganza!

Divisi Strings is making its fifth appearance at Houston's Bridal Extravaganza Show on July 25th and 26th at the George R Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston. We are excited to again be presenting our city's finest classical musicians in a variety of ensembles to be seen and listened to.

Not only will we have a string quartet at our booth (#1229) for the duration of both days of the show, but throughout the day we will have harpists, guitar players, and strings performing at each of the convention hall's entrances.

Future brides visiting the booth will be privy to some very tempting offers. Should a bride choose to book her wedding at the show they will receive special discounts and offers for some of Houston's most popular retailers. And those that have their wedding booked at some of Houston's hottest venues will receive even more savings!

We are looking forward to this event for another reason as well. This is our opportunity to unveil some special music that we have collected and arranged for some of our past clients. Last January, "The Prayer" for string quartet was a big hit and has since been performed by us at over 20 events. This year definitely be on the lookout for some of our more contemporary songs from Coldplay, Journey, and Michael Jackson. And don't be shy about making requests for your wedding favorites. Its just a flip of the page to Pachelbel's "Canon in D" and the "Wedding March"!

Check out this video from January's show!

Austin and Dallas customers don't fret! Email us at info@divisistrings.com and take advantage of the same savings we will be giving to our Houston customers!

A weekend full of celebration...

July 4th was celebrated throughout the country and in an especially big way in Houston with the largest fireworks display over land. But the holiday weekend didn't keep us any less busy with Houston musicians travelling south to Galveston and west into Chapell Hill for a beautiful wedding at Texas Ranch Life.

As the guests reached the tree-topped plateau they were met by a string quartet and vocalist providing a mix of musical genres. The musicians performed the Academy Award-nominated and Grammy Award-winning "What Are You Doing the Rest of your Life" by Michel Legrand, "The Lord's Prayer", and the contemporary Christian song "How Beautiful" by Twila Paris.

The musicians were instructed to dress for the occasion as the temperature once again reached record highs. Traditionally the men wear full tuxedos but the summer season calls for a looser dress code with temperatures on the rise.

Tony and I personally performed at four venues over the holiday weekend beginning in historic downtown Richmond, Sugar Land's St. Laurence Catholic Church, the Intercontinental Hotel, and Ashton Gardens.

For the services in Sugar Land and at the Intercontinental Hotel we performed as a harp and string trio together. The ensemble has become very popular for Divisi over the last few months performing in over 5 different services this summer. In my opinion this is the best combination of instruments featuring the harp. It has the most music available for brides (over the solo harp, or harp and violin/cello) and really brings out the best qualities of each instrument.

We look forward to continuing the celebrations throughout the month of July and into the fall with all of our clients. If you are just beginning your bridal adventure mark your July calendar and plan to visit with us at the Birdal Extravaganza Show on the 25th and 26th at the George R Brown Convention Center, Booth 1229 and at both entrances throughout the show! Hear our musicians live and take advantage of special offers and discounts only available that weekend!

June comes to an end...

This month Divisi Strings kicked off the summer wedding season with 33 events across Houston, Austin, and Dallas. There was almost constant sunshine throughout this month, which provided a lovely setting for these summer weddings. We were fortunate to perform 4 events in the lush woodland environment of Ashton Gardens. We also performed in some of our favorite Austin venues: Allan House and Barr Mansion just to name a few. This weekend we were able to perform at the A.D. Bruce Religion Center of the University of Houston. As Tony and my alma mater this venue is always nice to visit. The Villa Ballrooms, Grace Heritage Center, and the Houstonian were some other venues we delivered our Big Sounds to this past weekend.

Tony and I traveled once again with intern JD to perform a ceremony and cocktail hour in Beaumont. We were looking forward to this event especially because it took place on the steps of the Julie Rogers Theatre. This remarkably charming venue is home to various symphony and ballet orchestras in the Beaumont area.

As we began our drive, we noticed patches of dark clouds in the horizon. The rain was light and sporadic, but for an outdoor wedding this was enough for concern. Upon arrival we drove past the venue and noticed the arrangement of chairs and flowers beautifully adorning the lawn. Our attention shifted back to the skies. The wedding was set to continue as planned with the cocktail hour also outside, around the corner from the ceremony. The street in front of the ceremony was closed so that the attendants could process across the street from a beautifully picturesque cathedral. As we prepared for the ceremony we watched the sky open up to a beautiful sunny afternoon. The couple was married on the steps of the theater with the sun setting softly behind the historic church.

favorite weekend repertoire ingredients: "Billie Jean", "Viva La Vida", "Hey Ya", and "Cry Me A River" are pieces you will more likely hear in a cocktail hour or reception. They are more non-traditional music selections, but work well in any event. We have fun playing them and your guests will notice.

We are looking forward to July 4th! Divisi Strings will keep you posted.

Modern Luxury, TwoBeWed, and RockBand

Modern Luxury's latest Houston Brides issue highlights Divisi Strings in two wonderful
weddings. In addition to our full page ad, this magazine covers us as we play Canon in the chapel and "Paint it Black" at Hotel Zaza.




For Meghan and Brian we delivered our sounds for their picture perfect ceremony at the All Saint’s Catholic Church. They chose our most popular ensemble, the string quartet. This group so easily fits due to its fullness in voicing and variety of repertoire. We sat peacefully in the choir loft, which allowed our music to fill the place. Natalie Dawley and Danyett Baxter from TwoBeWed presented their attention to detail throughout the venue. The beautiful artwork in the sanctuary met with the couple’s elegant style to make for a lovely evening.



The second wedding in this issue carried such a chic and trendy style that Divisi Strings was thrilled to play our part. It was very exciting constructing a program consisting of Outkast, Led Zeppelin, the Doors, and the Rolling Stones. We knew this was going to be down right fun, and our musicians were eager to play.

Kelley and John picked our string quintet for their modish event. This group is very well-suited for the set list of arrangements. The guests were pleasantly surprised as they witnessed the couple, family and friends processing to “Paint it Black”, “Hey Ya”, and “Break on Through”. For the reception Divisi Strings provided a guitar duo playing Latin music into the night. Hosted in Hotel Zaza’s Déjà vu room, the intimate party of guests gathered to have some fun. "Rock Band" was just one of the elements making this event truly memorable. In between the pinball machines and arcade games, Bobbie’s Cake Creations and Events in Bloom provided their creative touches. D. Jones Photography captured the evening beautifully.

Little Black Book

Divisi Strings has just been jotted down in Style Me Pretty's Little Black Book! Divisi has always admired the detail and brilliance that Style Me Pretty applies to their website and blog. They have elevated us to a new light in their very own Little Black Book. This is an exclusive collection of wedding vendors from around the globe, hand-picked and carefully edited.

This aspect of their website is by invitation only. We are proud to be the first group in the entertainment category for both Houston and Austin!

Project Wedding

Divisi Strings has been acknowledged by Project Wedding's Best of 2008! This award is especially dear to us because it is based on sincere client reviews, and only given to the top 5% wedding professionals in their area. We are delightfully impressed with the interest Project Wedding has for bringing the top wedding vendors to real clients nationwide. We humbly accept this award and it is a true honor to be recognized by our clients. THANK YOU!

my best friend's wedding ...

June is in full bloom with the passing of another lovely summer weekend. Divisi Strings had some very exciting events in fascinating places with familiar faces - The Alden Hotel's Veranda was one piece of the elegant puzzle added to our weekend, along with a long time favorite, Ashton Gardens. We also serenaded the columns of Paraiso Maravilla, and performed at the acclaimed Dallas Arboretum. The Dallas Arboretum hosted a famous (wedding) movie moment in the film, Dr. T & the Women. Starring: Richard Gere, Helen Hunt, Shelley Long, and me! Yes you read correctly, I was in a movie with Richard Gere. (But back to our summer weekend)

Tony & I, with founding Divisi member Daphnee, hit the road this weekend and traveled to San Antonio to perform on the Big Day of two very close friends of mine. I knew Sarah from my years at the University of North Texas, and it was a heartfelt privilege to present our music as she took on her new life with husband John Dominguez.

After the wedding we played Cocktail Hour music at a new venue for Divisi. The Radius Cafe is said to be the catalyst for the flow of ideas, community involvement, and interest in culture. The space was very eclectic and complimented Sarah's theme perfectly! Crafted paper flowers ornamented the tables and a Candy "Bar" couldn't have been more delightful. Congratulations Sarah and John. You really are beautiful together!

In Houston our musicians were gaining new experience with a contemporary song list and non-traditional ensemble choice. Violin, Cello, Piano, and Guitar created a very authentic sound while 3 vocalists shared the stage performing "You Raise Me Up", Eva Cassidy's "Songbird", and "The Prayer" made famous by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli. You may not think of having such a diverse group at your wedding, but the musicians loved it and the father of the bride was moved by the experience. This couple knew exactly what they wanted and their music choices fit perfectly within the Westminster United Methodist Church. It was the first time we've seen this configuration, but I have to say that it worked beautifully.

favorite weekend repertoire ingredients: The Prayer, You Raise Me Up, and Songbird. I had never before heard "Songbird" until about 3 months ago. We highly suggest these pieces for the processional or even the unity candle/sand ceremony. All pieces can be played by every ensemble we offer!

Till next time,

Shelli

Another Wonderful Weekend

June 13, 2009 Highlights

Divisi Strings had a beautifully robust wedding weekend! We performed an incredible 7 events in Houston and 2 in Austin. Divisi Strings Dallas got a break for a change. We didn't let the Texas heat get us down with 4 outdoor weddings; Bella Notte in Round Rock, Briscoe Manor of Richmond, just to name a few. Tony and I had the pleasure of performing with intern JD and Divisi founding member Daphnee at one of The Woodlands treasures, The Chapel in the Woods. The Big Sounds of Divisi Strings combined with striking architecture, floor to ceiling stain glass, and a beautiful bride made this Woodlands wedding one for the blogs.

And we would like to congratulate the newly Mr. & Mrs Talosig of Houston Texas, having exchanged their vows at the downtown jewel, The Corinthian. This wedding holds a special place in my heart for Mr. Talosig was one of the most enthusiastic grooms we have met!


And his taste did not disappoint having booked some of Houston most prestigious vendors; Montage Photography, R Cross Productions, and Richard Brown Orchestra for the reception entertainment. And as always, Jackson and Co. exceeded everyones expectations.



It was a pleasure to be in such great company this weekend and we look forward to the next!