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Contemporary String Ensemble

Specializing in personalized wedding music, the Contemporary String Ensemble has been sharing the joy of music in Charleston, SC, as well as Myrtle Beach, Savannah, and the surrounding area for over 10 years. Our passion is sharing our music with others and seeing the joy it brings into their lives. There is nothing like live music!

Besides countless weddings, we have played for Piccolo Spoleto, the South Carolina Aquarium Water Ball, the Air Force Order of the Pelicans award dinner, the Coastal Community Foundation major donor dinner, and many others. Our three core members have a combined 40 years experience as musicians. We love what we do and hope to bring our excitement for music to your event!

Our mission is to help couples make their vision for their wedding a reality. That's why we work individually with you to find what works best for your needs. This includes customizing the instrument combination and music selections, adding special request songs for free, and working with the unique outline of your wedding ceremony.

The Contemporary Sting Ensemble can come several ways depending on your needs: String Quartet or Trio; Violin and Cello Duet; and Solo Violin or Cello.


MEET THE PLAYERS


Austin Fitzhenry: Director and Cellist

Austin Fitzhenry began studying cello at age six with former Charleston Symphony Orchestra principal cellist James Holland. Growing up in a musical family, he had the opportunity to begin performing at a very young age and played in his first wedding when only 11 years old. Eleven years of wedding performances later, Austin still gains a thrill from bringing the joy of music to listeners. In 2006 Austin earned a full scholarship for summer study at the Brevard Music Center. He has performed as a soloist with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra and served as principal cellist of the Charleston Symphony Youth Orchestra for 3 years. Austin continues to enjoy each and every opportunity he receives to make music.


Shannon Fitzhenry: Violinist

Shannon Fitzhenry has studied violin for 15 years, and is currently principal 2nd violinist of the College of Charleston Chamber Orchestra. At the age of 10, she attended the Amati Music Festival in Albany, New York, where she performed in masterclasses and concerts regularly. In 2007, Shannon won the South Carolina MTNA Competition. She has performed as a soloist with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, and the Piccolo Spoleto Festival Orchestra in their season opening performance. In 2012, Shannon was accepted with a full scholarship into the Aspen Music Festival in Colorado. Also in 2012, she placed first in the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition. Music is her passion, and she plans to pursue a lifelong career in her field.


Monica Clark: Violinist

Monica Clark has been playing the violin for over 16 years. She was taught by Geoffrey Applegate, famous performer, music minus one recording artist, and principle violinist of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Monica was principle violinist of the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra and first violinist in the Oakland Symphony Orchestra. She was awarded Honors Recital Soloist at Western Michigan University. She is a graduate of Saint Mary's College of Madonna University in Michigan. Monica has directed the Instrumental Music Team at Southern Catholic College and has taught Music at Pinecrest Academy. Over the years, she has classically trained hundreds of violinists both young and old.


Leslie Fitzhenry: Violinist and Violist

Leslie Fitzhenry has played the violin since she was six years old and has performed publicly from the beginning. In high school, she won first place in the Senior Strings division of the South Carolina Music Teacher’s National Association competition. After being chosen as a winner in a local concerto competition, Leslie performed as a soloist with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra. She now performs frequently for weddings and other events in the Lowcountry and surrounding areas. In addition to violin, Leslie also performs as a violist.


 

VIDEOS


AUDIO SAMPLES

All You Need Is Love

Bach Prelude

Bridal Chorus

Canon For 10 Cellos

Canon In D For Trio

Over The Rainbow

The Swan

Wedding March


SONG LIST

Classical Wedding Favorites:

Wedding March from A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Mendelssohn
Bridal Chorus – Wagner
Canon in D Major – Pachelbel
Trumpet Tune – Purcell
Trumpet Voluntary – Clark
Ave Maria – Schubert
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring – Bach
Arioso – Bach
Sheep May Safely Graze – Bach
Chorus from "Judas Maccabaeus" – Handel
Meditation from Thais – Massenet
Rondeau – Mouret
Suite #3 – Bach
The Four Seasons – Vivaldi
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik – Mozart
Water Music Suite – Handel
Prelude in G Major for solo cello – Bach
The Swan for solo cello - Saint-Saëns


More Classical:

Andante – Bach
Bourrée – Bach
Minuet in G Major – Bach
Minuet in G Major – Beethoven
Waltz in A-flat Major – Brahms
Humoresque in G-flat Major – Dvorák
Gavotte in D Major – Gossec
Aria from “Xerxes” – Handel
Bourrée – Handel
Sarabande – Handel
Presto – Haydn
Trio No. 1 in C Major – Haydn
Twelve German Dances – Haydn
Traumerei from Kinderscenen – Schumann
Waves of the Danube Waltz – Ivanovici
Adagio – Schubert
Andante – Schubert
Moment Musical – Schubert
Presto – Telemann
Concerto Grosso in D Minor – Vivaldi


Pop Wedding Favorites:

All You Need Is Love – Beatles
Viva la Vida – Coldplay
Your Guardian Angel – Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
A Thousand Years
In My Life – Beatles
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
I’ve Got You Under My Skin
They Can’t Take That Away From Me
Eleanor Rigby – Beatles
Can’t Buy Me Love – Beatles
Let Me Call You Sweetheart
Summertime from Porgy and Bess
Let’s Fall in Love
Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton


More Pop:

Someone to Watch Over Me – George Gershwin
Love Walked In – George Gershwin
Strike Up the Band – George Gershwin
Anything Goes – Cole Porter
Begin the Beguine – Cole Porter
It’s De-Lovely – Cole Porter
Night and Day – Cole Porter
Just One of Those Things – Cole Porter
Yesterday – Beatles
I Want To Hold Your Hand – Beatles
Penny Lane – Beatles
Best Of My Love – Beatles
Here Comes The Sun – Beatles
Stand By Me – Beatles
Hey Jude – Beatles
And I Love Her – Beatles
Here, There and Everywhere – Beatles
If I Fell – Beatles
Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds – Beatles
Let It Be – Beatles
1,2,3,4 – Plain White T’s
Al-Di-La
All or Nothing – Theory of a Deadman
Ain’t We Got Fun
Believe Me, If All Those Endearing Young Charms
Chariots of Fire
Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
Faithfully – Journey
Feels Like Home – Randy Newman
Dust in the Wind – Kansas
Edelweiss from The Sound of Music
Feather Theme from Forrest Gump
For Me and My Gal
Give My Regards to Broadway
Green Green Grass of Home
I Got Rhythm from Girl Crazy
In the Good Old Summertime
Jalousie (Tango)
Longer – Dan Fogelberg
My Love – Sia
Nola
Sweetie Mine from Sinbad
Tea for Two
Tennessee Waltz
The Band Played On
Toot, Toot, Tootsie from Bombo
Yellow – Coldplay
Your Song – Elton John
Wouldn’t It Be Nice

Irish and Folk:

Alexander’s Ragtime Band
Arkansas Traveler
Ashokan Farewell
Bill Cheatham
Blackberry Blossom
Chicken Reel
Coleraine
Danny Boy (Londonderry Air)
Devil’s Dream
Drowsy Maggie
Dusty Miller
Fisher’s Hornpipe
Flowers of Edinburgh
Garry Owen
The Irish Washerwoman
The Kerry Dance
Kesh Jig
Old Joe Clark
Shenandoah
Si Bheag, Si Mhor
Soldier’s Joy
Swallowtail Jig
The Wearing of the Green
When Irish Eyes Are Smiling
Yellow Rose of Texas

 


Song List

Videos

Audio Samples