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January 11, 2012
I am so excited to be featured as the Breaker’s “Dream Maker” on their Wedding Blog.
Dream Maker: Valerie Romanoff 
Valerie Romanoff has played an array of instruments, mastered the electric guitar and considered herself a musician – knowing full well there was no other job she’d rather hold. Now the CEO of Starlight Orchestras in New York, the guitarist, composer and producer is living the dream and making dreams come true…read more
After college I got involved in the music scene in New York City, and soon found there was a need for good quality music for weddings. Our band developed a style that was unique to the wedding industry, and we created a prototype that became Starlight Orchestras,” Valerie says. “Our entire approach was based on the challenge ‘How good can it get?’ And we continue, 20 years later, making it better still with every single wedding.”
Q: What is it like performing at an event at The Breakers?
A: I will never forget the first time I performed at the Breakers. We had come from New York and were in the ballroom doing a sound check in the afternoon before the event. The band assembled onstage, and we began singing and performing “Lovely Day,” by Bill Withers. All of a sudden, across the room, a wall of curtains began opening! And there before us was the vast ocean; slightly turquoise, sparkling in the sun, bouncing with waves not 5 feet from the window. I caught my breath; I could not believe the power, the majesty and the beauty. Those qualities are evident throughout the hotel and banquet spaces. The Breakers is one of my most favorite places to perform.
Q: Where does your inspiration come from?
A: My inspiration comes from the excitement and the “energy” surrounding a party. We, as bandleaders, feel this excitement brewing, and can sense what songs and musical choices the crowd will love. The interaction between the musicians and the guests is like magic; something new and different is created every time. I am also inspired by the musicians and performers I work with, and the joy that happens when we are onstage together.
Enjoy a few photos of Valerie rocking out with her Starlight Orchestra’s best…
Q: How does The Breakers history and architecture inspire you and your events?
A: Driving up to the entrance of The Breakers I often envision the grand parties of times past, and I am inspired to recreate moods with music that reflect different times in our history. For example, at a recent Charity Gala at The Breakers I had 10 violins lining the corridor as guests first arrived, and we performed a repertoire reminiscent of a Palace Ball at Versailles. I could see how our music affected the emotions and even the stature of many of the partygoers. It was exciting!
Q: Do you have a favorite ballroom to perform in?
A: The Breakers has ballrooms in a wide variety of sizes and styles. The Starlight Orchestras are a great match because our ensembles also come in a wide variety, and pair well with the options available at the hotel. We have small trios that can play in the courtyard, six piece jazzy combos perfect for a dinner dance in the Magnolia Room, a 10 piece dance band for a wedding in the Venetian Ballroom, or a 15 piece blow-out party band rocking the Ponce de Leon room for one of Palm Beach’s top galas.
Q: What’s the most important piece of advice you can offer a bride and groom?
A: Try to really enjoy your wedding is to be in the moment! My advice to our brides and grooms is to choose your team of wedding professionals and do all the planning ahead. Communicate fully in the months and weeks before your wedding, and then on the big day, just let it go and be in the romance, the magic, and the fun!
Q: How does a wedding at The Breakers differ from those at other venues?
A: I recently was a guest at an event at The Breakers and the service, the ambiance, the food, and the staff blew me away! There are so many wonderful things about being part of the team when I work there, but being a guest showed me the other side, and increased my appreciation of the venue.
Starlight Orchestras
Valerie Romanoff, CEO
(212) 595-0999
Website | Personal Site | Twitter | Facebook
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January 1, 2012
 Valerie Romanoff- Starlight Experience
I am ending the last year with extreme gratitude, and starting this new one with incredible excitement!
I am so grateful for the amazing performers, musicians, singers, rappers, dancers, DJs who come together creating performances that burst with emotion, and inspire energy and celebration.
I am so grateful to my Starlight team, the folks behind the scenes who create the blueprint for the art we perform…our producers, arrangers, stylists, choreographers, artists, composers, audio engineers and programmers.
I am grateful to my industry friends and colleagues for their ongoing collaboration over the years; the designers, florists, event planners, caterers, photographers and cinematographers.
I am humbled and especially grateful to all of our clients, who have the vision and trust that Starlight can produce and deliver something extraordinary, and represent their style and taste. I am thankful for your unwavering confidence. To the event producers throughout the country who have brought Starlight to their most prestigious events, I can say that I am proud and honored to be on your team.
AND I am so jazzed for the new ideas that have been taking shape and will be flowing through our company as the new year progresses. Life is full of thrilling possibilities, and the unfolding journey is a joy unto itself.
Here’s to a wonderful, creative, expansive, joyful and abundant year ahead!
Thank you,
Valerie
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photo by Eliesa Johnson of Photogen of an event in Minneapolis with event planner Amy Zaroff of Amy Zaroff Events
November 29, 2011
People often ask what is Starlight’s specialty. My reply is that flexibility, versatility and reliability are the most important qualities. Our Starlight Orchestras have a broad range of presentation and each of our clients wants something different on the style spectrum. We are asked to be simple and elegant, and we are also asked to be dazzling and fiery. We can do either one. We are asked to be sophisticated and demure, and we are asked to be wild and crazy. We can do both. We are asked to wear conservative outfits, and we are asked to design some thing clubby-chic. Our look changes with either. We can provide a program of society and Sinatra, or we can perform a party with all tunes by Pitbull, Rhianna, and Beyonce. We are all of the above, and anything else we can conceive of. None of this defines us, we are not limited to the style of what we did for any one past event. With ensembles of varying sizes (from 3 pieces to 20), there are endless options and possibilities.
Like all great actors, we can slip into whatever role is needed. We are ever-changing, ever-evolving, always customizing, and our goal is to delight many different types of people all at the same time. A tall order. But we love it and we excel at it. There is no greater thrill than sharing the magic of the party!
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November 23, 2011
Thanksgiving again! A time of tradition and family, good food, things all-American. One of my favorite recipes are these creamy and rich corn muffins. They are so easy to make, and people go crazy for them, especially since they are filled with real corn. Every November, I make batches of these crazy corn muffins and give them to family, friends, neighbors, and especially to my band at holiday time. Everyone looks forward to whichever event falls closest to Thanksgiving, when I traditionally arrive with a huge box full of muffins….they are so buttery that you need a napkin! And even though I usually cook organic all the way, here is one of those annual exceptions. Really, try them! They are so easy to make.
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Ingredients-
4 eggs
2 sticks unsalted butter (I use only 1, since I like them a little less buttery. Up to you.)
1 large container of sour cream
1 can creamed corn
1 can kernal corn
2 boxes Jiffy corn muffin mix or 1 large box Trader Joe’s corn bread mix
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Preheat oven to 350
Melt the butter, add to eggs in a large mixing bowl and stir.
Add the 2 cans of corn, sour cream, mix well,
Add the boxes of dry mix, stir until smooth.
Pour into greased muffin tins,
Bake according to directions on box.
Yum!!
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November 22, 2011
 Kathryn and Rebecca sharing the love! Inspiration, Collaboration, Innovation…. and a really really good time! I just got back from Engage!11 (a luxury wedding summit) which took place at the Ritz-Carlton in the Cayman Islands. This conference is a masterful production by the ladies of Engaging Concepts; Rebecca Grinnals and Kathyrn Arce that everyone looks forward to attending. This year’s featured speakers were Barbara Corcoran, Marcy Blum, Ed Libby, Todd Fiscus, Brian Rafanelli, Sean Low, Jasmine Star, Randy Fenoli, Carley Roney, David Beahm, Darcy Miller, Mindy Weiss, Ceci Johnson, Marley Majcher, Simon T. Bailey, Andy and Brian Marcus, Sylvia Weinstock and Michelle Rago leading a media panel consisting of Shira Savada, Jill Meister, Harmony Walton, Rebecca Crumley and Angela Desveaux.
 Shannon Wilson Page Hiller, Rusty James, Randy Fenoli, Carla David,Barbara Corcoran, and Valerie Romanoff My favorite moments of the Engage! conferences are always connecting with friends and colleagues; old and new, and collecting inspiring new ideas to bring back to my business.
 me and Michelle Rago avoiding the stingrays! There is so much I can say about the value and spirit of this conference, yet these two videos by Elysium Productions tell it all…
Have a look! And again, much thanks and congratulations to Rebecca and Kathryn for another wonderful experience.
Engage!11 Recap Video Day 1
Engage!11 Recap Video Day 2 and 3
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November 21, 2011
Tomorrow night Starlight will be providing the music for our first GAY WEDDING IN NEW YORK CITY. Our two grooms, along with friend and event planner Susan Holland, have planned a chic and fabulous soiree at one of Manhattan’s top hotels. I have been getting phone calls from my musicians who are all so excited to be a part of our first same sex wedding. Here’s what we are planning for music! We will start the evening with a sophisticated repertoire from the Great American Songbook, with grand piano, upright bass, tenor sax and drums. Two of our musicians will sing Michael Buble, Tony Bennett, Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra favorites. During dinner we will have a singer playing acoustic guitar doing soft rock tunes. There will be a guest performance by a friend who is a well-known celebrity. After the cake cutting, the grooms will make a short speech and invite all their friends to join them on the dance floor. The band changes gear, we add 4 singers and start the dance party with a custom repertoire of up-tempo music. During the evening, additional performers will come out, and there will be a few special surprises. Congratulations to our wonderful grooms and their family and friends. This will be a night to remember!
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November 11, 2011
In addition to our popular and well known bands, Starlight would love to introduce you to some of our speciality groups and smaller ensembles for small events and holiday parties. We have different varieties of jazzy bands incorporating xylophones, vibraphones, jazz harp & oboe, and other instruments you just don’t see everyday. We love to play world-fusion music with sitar and string quartet, or African harp (kora) with acoustic guitar and kalimba. Our “Starlit DJ” spins a variety of Buddha Bar-esque mixes and dance favorites. Our Brazilian trio is suave & romantic featuring a repertoire of bossa novas and sambas. People have been loving our unplugged rock duo “Our Side Of The Moon” featuring classic rock, acoustic style. If you like THE BLUES, we have an organ and harmonica DUO with vocals. Plus many other types of trios & quartets. We are excited to share our music with you, and to be a part of your happy celebrations! Call us at 212.595.0999!
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November 11, 2011
I just want to take a quick moment to acknowledge and thank our Director of Sales, Ms. Lauren Goldman! Lauren works tirelessly making sure that every detail is tended to! She talks to just about every single Starlight client, and she makes sure that every Starlight bandleader is prepared for their events. Our job is filled with a million and one details, and Lauren is on top of every one.
Thanks, Lauren, see you next week!
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November 10, 2011
 REFLECTIONS: THE YOGIC JOURNEY OF LIFE (Music by Valerie Romanoff, Words by Tao Porchon-Lynch)
 When I was asked to compose the music to accompany Tao Porchon-Lynch’s yogic meditations and poems, I was honored and delighted. 93 year old Tao is a much celebrated yoga master, traveling throughout the world teaching yoga and touching lives. I produced a CD to accompany her new book Reflections: the Yogic Journey of Life which was released a few months ago. Our CD is included on the current Grammy ballot, where NARAS academy members will vote to determine the final Grammy nominations in each category!!! Tao has been a dear friend for many years, and we are both thrilled and excited about this project and our collaboration. The CD is available at www.valrockmusic.com, And the book at www.createspace.com/3585753
Read more about Tao
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