Sweet Harmony Music LLC

String Quartet Video

https://youtu.be/vshNbaFwnyc?si=Vw3sRMmA8VhQgThe

https://youtu.be/t4d24Ds_orI?si=-zMF0yJ8t8qF0Ljp

String Trio Videos

https://youtu.be/EDV2tStgYTg?si=Bhmy7ThLur7hfDC8

https://youtu.be/vSn4FRqc_ck?si=TsjRWcI7xa25zcaW

From Tara: "One of my favorite events that I've ever played was a marriage proposal was at an outdoor restaurant. The couple had flown in from England, and the groom-to-be planned the proposal as a surprise. He instructed me to set up my keyboard near them and play as if I was playing for the entire restaurant. He had booked a plane to fly overhead with the banner, "REBECCA, WILL YOU MARRY ME?" and that was my cue to start playing "Your Song" by Elton John! He got down on one knee and began to sing in a shaky, emotional voice. He got through part of one verse before the tears started flowing freely and he could not finish. But she said yes!"

"We also recently played for a wedding at Fox Hollow where the couple dressed their adorable little dog in a white wedding dress, and gave us a special song to play for the pup to walk down the aisle: "Isn't She Lovely" by Stevie Wonder!"

We specialize in small musical ensembles playing classical, pop, and jazz tunes. We most frequently perform for wedding ceremonies, but we also often play for cocktail hours, dinners, receptions, rehearsal dinners, bridal showers, and more events such as corporate receptions and birthday parties!

Some of our ensemble offerings include:

DUOS  Violin and Cello  |  Violin and Guitar  |  Violin and Harp  |  Violin and Piano  |

TRIOS  Violin/Viola/Cello  |  Violin/Cello/Piano  |  Violin/Cello/Guitar  |

QUARTETS  Violin/Violin/Viola/Cello

JAZZ GROUP  Sax/Keyboard/Bass/Drums

And there's more, so please reach out and we'll help you figure out what's perfect for your wedding!

Two new friends, a pianist and a violinist, getting together to play music at weddings -- that’s how Sweet Harmony started, in June 2008. Excited about Sweet Harmony’s mission and growth, sales reps and musicians from all US regions began to join the company. And now, 17 years later, we're a national network of musicians playing 500+ events each year; providing excellent work opportunities for local musicians across the country, and working hard to serve the needs of our customers in each community (especially Long Island!).

Our mission is to support local live music in communities like yours.

Your Long Island sales rep is our violinist/violist Kristin Nikaj, who's based in Northport. Kristin is an active chamber musician, orchestral player, recitalist, and teacher. She has performed throughout New York's premiere concert halls, including Carnegie Hall, Steinway Hall and Lincoln Center. She has also performed internationally, touring throughout Italy and Switzerland in 2004. Kristin has performed with numerous orchestras such as the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, Gateway Classical Society, New England Symphonic Ensemble, and Charlottesville Virginia Consort. And, she is a violist with The Red Door Chamber Players where she also serves as Executive Director.

In 2009, Kristin graduated with a Master’s Degree in Performance from Mannes College, where she served as principal violist of The Mannes Orchestra and The Mannes Opera Orchestra. Although she primarily performs classical music, Kristin has toured with popular artists including Adele and Kid Cudi. Television performances include CBS's The Late Show with David Letterman, ABC's The View, and BET's Rising Icons and The Mo’Nique Show. In addition to performing, Kristin maintains a private violin/viola studio of talented young musicians in Long Island.

Sweet Harmony owner Tara Bhrushundi is a pianist who has played for many hundreds of weddings throughout the New York metro area, New Jersey, Philadelphia, and more. She holds a Master's degree in Jazz Piano Performance from Rutgers University and has performed in a great variety of different musical settings over the years: classical chamber music, small jazz groups, jazz big bands, rock bands, solo piano concerts, free improv jams in Brooklyn, gospel music for Baptist churches, musical theater, ballet accompaniment, hymns and worship songs in many churches, pop song studio recordings, and more. Tara has also taught piano for many years to students from age three to mid-80s.

Q. Why should we book live musicians?
A. We’ll bring soul, life, and the warm sound of real players to your important day. We’ll feel the moment with you as you walk down the aisle or have your special dance. A live performance is always unique!

Q. Is Sweet Harmony an entertainment company?
A. We consider ourselves to be a national network of outstanding local musicians. Because we play mainly for ceremonies, we think about how the music supports these profound moments of your life. We're not there for entertainment as you are taking your walk down the aisle or when you first become a married couple. Live music helps you feel these moments and remember them.

Q. How early should we book?
A. We recommend booking at least six months in advance. Wedding weekends are a hot commodity! But, we will play for your wedding on short notice if we are available.
 
Q. How do the song choices work?
A. For your ceremony, in general you should choose two processionals (music for walking down the aisle at the beginning) and a recessional (music for walking back down the aisle at the end).
 
Some parts of your wedding have ambient music, which means that it is in the background as people are talking. You can choose specific music for these portions of your wedding, but you don't have to. Many people prefer to choose a general style of music that fits their wedding -- upbeat, fun? Mellow and romantic? Timeless and traditional or unusual and modern -- or maybe a mix of everything! We love to help you create your vision. Also, it's important to let the musicians put their knowledge and experience to work for you having played for hundreds of events. They'll know how to arrange a set list that works well to keep an event flowing.
 
Q. Is there a charge for learning music that is not on your song list?
A. Yes, there will be a cost for each new song depending on the availability of sheet music, and whether we need to commission a special arrangement. Let us know which song you would like to request, and we'll see what we can do!

Q. Is Sweet Harmony an inclusive company?
A. If you take a dive through our photos over the past years we've been in business, you'll see musicians of many various backgrounds, representing their communities and heritages. We feel it is a testament to our inclusive nature that musicians from different walks of life are attracted to our company, feel comfortable here, and want to play for us. We are also called "accommodating" quite often in our customer reviews. Events of various cultures and purposes will have different musical needs, which we are happy to provide to the best of our ability.

Q. What are your weather guidelines for an outdoor wedding?
A. String instruments are delicate and sensitive to weather! A shaded area will need to be provided to protect the instruments from direct sunlight. Our low temperature guideline is 60 degrees, although we can still play outside in 50-degree temps if a tower propane heater is provided next to the musicians. And we cannot play in any droplets of rain or ocean mist.

Q. Will you bring amplification for your instruments or our officiant?
A. We often bring amplification for our instruments depending on the specifics of your event: inside or outside? How many guests? Many of our string musicians have their own small portable amplifiers. We do not have microphones or sound equipment for officiants. (String instruments are amplified with special devices called pickups that attach to the instrument -- very few of our string players would own microphones.)