What is a string quartet?
A string quartet consists of 4 musicians; 2 playing violin, 1 playing viola and 1 playing cello. String quartets are very popular for providing background music because of the high quality but un-obtrusive sound they produce.
To hear what our string quartet sounds like please click here.
How far will you travel?
We are happy to play at events around the North East of England, throughout Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham and Teesside. For gigs a considerable distance from Tyne and Wear we may make a small charge to cover reasonable travel.
Please contact us for more information.
What will you wear?
We normally wear black trousers or skirts and either purple, pink, blue or black tops. However, we can change this to fit in with your event, for example by wearing different coloured tops, smart dresses, suits or more casual clothing if you prefer.
What kind of music will you play?
We have a very varied playlist, covering everything from traditional classical music through to pop tunes, folk music and jazz. We will select a range of appropriate music to fit your event, in consultation with you. Please visit our playlist page for more information.
Can you play a particular piece of music for me?
With enough notice we are happy to get hold of or arrange your special piece of music to play at your event. Please phone or email us to discuss this in more detail before your event.
How much will it cost?
Prices for weddings and corporate events start from £360. This covers all our costs, although for events outside Tyne and Wear we may charge reasonable travel expenses.
Please contact us to discuss your individual requirements and receive a quote.
When and how do we pay you?
We require a deposit of £100 when making your booking, with the balance to be paid at least 1 month before the event. Payment is normally by cheque, although arrangements can be made to enable payment by bank transfer.
Can you play outdoors?
We are more than happy to play outdoors. However, in wet or windy weather we will need to move indoors, so it is a good idea to make sure there will be an alternative space available if the weather conspires against us.
How many breaks do you take?
We like to play as continuously as possible (where appropriate!) to give you and your guests uninterrupted background music. For engagements of 2 hours or more we will need to take short breaks. Wherever possible we will try to fit these in around your event.
What happens if one of the players is ill on the day?
We have a database of 'back-up' players who can stand in if a player is unavailable on the day of your event through accident or illness - We would still play the same music and you would receive the same high standard.
What happens if it snows on the day of our event?
We will always do our very best to get to your event, whatever the weather. To date, we have never missed a gig because of the weather (or for any other reason!)
How far in advance do I need to book?
Arco String Quartet can become booked up early during busy periods, such as the summer months for weddings, so we recommend that you book as far in advance as possible to avoid disappointment. However, it is always worth checking with us as we do sometimes have availability up to 2 weeks before events.
Do you need any special equipment?
We bring all our own equipment with us apart from chairs! Our instruments are all acoustic so we do not normally need any power sockets or amplifiers. If a space is particularly dark (for example at a party, or outdoors in the evening) we might need to use small lights, which we will provide.
What does 'Arco' mean?
The word 'Arco' literally means 'with a bow', and is used in printed music to indicate when string instruments should be played with the bow rather than plucked.
My question isn't answered here, how do I contact you?
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