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December 21, 2009
I am ecstatic to announce the release of my new CD,
 “Healing Music for Massage, Meditation and Transformation”
The music is created for massage, relaxation, tablework, yoga, acupuncture, meditation, resting, sleeping, painting, cooking, loving or any joyful activity. The intent of this album is to help create a peaceful and loving space, and to assist in the opening and deepening of our individual experiences.
You can order the CD directly, with free shipping**
!
There are 45 minutes of music; comprised of the following selections…
- Whisper- Tibetan bells open the album, opening the chakras and calling forth specific energies for healing and relaxation. Crystal singing bowls work on our brain waves and help bring us into a deeper state (4:11)
- Moon, Stars and Om- Peaceful music with light chanting “Om” and “Om Nama Shivayah” (6:45)
- Bird Song at Dawn- A duet between acoustic guitar and live bird song (7:19)
- Beloved Friend- This piece was conceived in the majestic mountains of Sedona, Arizona (7:32)
- Shalmana’s Song- Amongst world instruments, layers of harmonics and soothing sounds, Shalmana visits from afar (10:29)
- Prelude and Beyond- An epic journey through melody and rhythm, inspired by an Abraham workshop with Esther and Jerry Hicks (6:47)
- Looking Glass- The album closes with a bridge back to full consciousness, with an Eastern flair (3:17)
CREDITS
- Valerie Romanoff - electric and acoustic guitars, bass, keyboard and synth, dulcimer, crystal singing bowl, Tibetan bells, Native American flute, trumpet, vocal chanting.
Featuring the work of
- Daniel Paul- tabla
- Anthony Aiello- flute, soprano sax
- Tom Rossi- bansuri flute
- Debra Barsha, Doug Guttenberg, Tom Rossi – chanting on “Moon, Stars, Om”
Produced by Valerie Romanoff
Mixed and Mastered by Tom Rossi
All songs written by Valerie Romanoff
MY DEEPEST THANKS for endless love and support to Amy Hausman, Joy Guttenberg, Doug Guttenberg, Sheryl and Jerry Romanof. THANKS to my special friends who have helped me with this album or given me inspiration along the way: Pat Snow Krause, Susan Miller, Sarah Tolar, Debra Barsha, Alex Salzman, Anthony Aiello, Daniel Paul, Jai Uttal, Jaya Lakshmi, Rahansia Ben-Mejuri, Linc Chamberland, Tao Porchon Lynch, Patti Greenberg, Shalmana, the entire Romanoff Family, the entire Starlight family, Black and Butje, Cyn and Mart, Crispy, Mark Filippi, Sarah Scott, Laurell Eastman, Rebecca Blake, Claudia Wigent, Lauren Goldman, Maria Devitt, Dennis Vera, Chioma Eze, Lou Mannarino, Plamen Dobrev, Bernard Brim, Barbara Oakes, Valerie Smaldone.
SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS to Tom Rossi who helped me get from there to here, and to Amy Hausman for all of the creative input and production ideas she shared along the way
© 2009 ValRock Music Group (ASCAP)
December 15, 2009
I just have to say, I am blown away by all of the thank you calls and letters we have been receiving! It seems that the impact all of the Starlight Orchestras have been making on the wedding scene is unprecedented. Don’t get me wrong, we have always had a great company with an impressive history of outstanding bands over our 20+ years in the industry. Our entire concept has always been about raising the bar and exceeding expectations, and bringing a chic and fresh approach to music for weddings. While we have always been known and recognized for our high standards and our impeccable presentation, this year something is different. This year we have reached a new high, a new level of “even better.” Perhaps our answer to the struggling economy has not only been to add value and streamline the pricing, but to give people an “even better” reason to hire us, to be “even better” than ever before, to be more compelling than the other choices, and to really be worth it! I believe that the stakes have been higher lately; we haven seen some of our competitors go out of business, closing their doors after many years of service. We have seen the quality of some others start to diminish. We have noticed, in performances, the places where others have “cut corners” in order to stay afloat in these troubling economic times. At Starlight, we decided that we needed to be “even better” than ever, and that as a team we needed to find ways to “step it up” even more, especially now. Our bandleaders, administrative team, creative staff, musicians, performers and production crews have deepened our commitment to being outstanding, to caring, and to going the extra mile. We bring ideas to the early planning stages of an event, consult on the timeline and flow of the evening, customize our repertoire, update and refresh our performance style, upgrade our equipment, grow with the trends of technology. We take pride in being responsible employers and listening to the needs of our fellow vendors. We are standing at the cutting edge, ready to do whatever it takes to impress and uplift. Every week I am just blown away by the amount of letters, emails, calls and praise coming our way. I am so gratified by the recognition, and so deeply proud of my company and the caring staff that presides over our bands and the events we are a part of.
I was inspired to write this article after I read the letter below, which arrived on my desk this morning. Another happy client!
December 12, 2009
Dear Valerie,
On November 14th, Starlight Orchestras created a dream come true. The wedding reception for our children Jessica and Joshua was everything they wanted plus more. The ceremony was elegant and classic with the custom quartet followed by the jazz duo that created the perfect ambiance during the cocktail hour. At the moment we entered the reception your band just blew any expectations we had out of the water. From the moment you began playing our guests entered onto the dance floor, and never wanted to leave, I know we had a great crowd, but your band just kept them going. The energy in the room was intoxicating and electrifying. I noticed that when they wanted to serve any of the courses, our guests were reluctant to leave the action to eat. For a Jewish wedding that is a surprise, since we love our food. It was mentioned to me that the dance floor should have been larger. That comment just proved to me that everyone was up and partying, not sitting around waiting for the next course. A friend of mine stated that I could have made the wedding in my backyard, and as long as we had you and your band it would still have been a fabulous wedding. Neil and I are truly grateful for your professionalism and talent. I never had any doubts that when we hired you our children’s wedding would be a great event. As I mentioned before, you exceeded anything we could have imagined.
Thank you so very much and I look forward to when my next daughter is ready to have Starlight share in our celebration once again.
Sincerely,
Shelley Edelman
December 15, 2009
December 15, 2009
Hi Valerie,
We are back from our honeymoon, and once again, you are the first person that I need to thank for making our wedding the best night of our lives! Starlight Orchestras was absolutely out of this world, and by far the best band that I have EVER experienced at a wedding. Not only are our guests still calling and emailing about the amazing party that was 3 weeks ago, but a friend of ours getting married next month just cancelled her band to hire you!!! That says it all! From the moment we hired Starlight, you and your team were a pleasure to work with — Claudia, Lauren, Sarah, and Rebecca. You collaborated with Andrew and me, and you really listened to our wants and expectations for our night. You then took those expectations and blew them out of the water!!! Beginning with the strings on the stairs and the ensemble during the ceremony, then to the women on electric violin, and your 17 piece band, every single element was extraordinary and executed flawlessly!
Valerie, your band truly is in a league of its own!
As Andrew and I were searching for the perfect band, we went with Starlight because of their fantastic reputation, outrageous performance (with outfit changes and all!), and superior client service. At our wedding, your band engaged and excited our guests and kept the party rocking all night long! As we looked through our photographer’s pictures when we got home, we quickly noticed the empty tables in the background because everyone was on the dance floor all night long. Even during the cake cutting, guests stood around us so that they could jump right back into dancing to your music. No one wanted the party to end!! In addition to honoring our requests, you sang them amazingly! From ACDC to Rent to Whitney and Journey, OMG, you were unreal.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the most unforgettable night of our lives! Beyond the flowers, the linens, the lighting, or the food, it is the band that makes the party, and Starlight Orchestras made our dreams come true. We can’t wait to hire you for our son’s or daughter’s bar or bat mitzvah, lol  !!
With love,
Lauren and Andrew Gordon
December 14, 2009
   
My dear friend Valerie Smaldone is a media personality, producer, writer, teacher, actress, spokesperson and all around multi-talented person. Our families have been sharing holidays and special times together for years. She co-wrote and is the voice over on my Starlight Experience Promo video, and she is helping me write my book on weddings. Apparently she also has other friends named Valerie. She had a fun idea to get all of us Valeries together for dinner, as we each work in media and entertainment and have careers that intersect.
Last week we all met at Bar Six, a charming little bistro in the village. I had the pleasure of spending the evening with Valerie Block and Valerie Geller who are both interesting and accomplished women. We had a wonderful time, this foursome of Valeries, and we look forward to expanding our circle.
Valerie Block posted about it on her blog the next morning…
http://nycgardener.blogspot.com/2009/11/valerie-squared-or-quadrupled.html
December 12, 2009
Chanukah Potato Latkes- (Read the post below to find out how I came to have this recipe)
With this recipe you achieve latke nirvana; a potato pancake that is light and crispy. You can use a box grater to grate the potatoes on the finer side, but it is easier and faster to use the shredding disc in your food processor. Shredded zucchini makes a terrific add-in, bringing color, flavor and texture to the mixture. Make sure you have plenty of sour cream, applesauce (recipe to follow) or simply sugar on hand to dunk, cozy up to or sprinkle on top.
Yields: 24 latkes
Start to Finish: Under 30 minutes
5 medium Russet potatoes, peeled
1 medium onion, grated (use a large one if you like a strong onion flavor)
4 eggs, beaten
½ cup matzo meal
1 to 2 teaspoons salt
¼ to ½ teaspoon pepper
1 medium zucchini, shredded, optional
½ cup oil for frying (peanut oil is recommended but vegetable oil is just fine)
Cranberry-Raisin Applesauce, recipe as follows
In a food processor using the metal blade, or using a box grater, finely grate the potatoes. Place them in a colander, and squeeze out all the liquid. Grate the onion, using the food processor pulse feature to capture any small chunks. Stir the onions, eggs, matzo meal, salt and pepper ( and zucchini if using) into the potato mixture.
 Heat ½- inch of oil in a non-stick skillet, over medium heat, until very hot (a drop of water should dance in the pan). To test the seasonings before frying the entire batch, (you wouldn’t want to taste the raw potato and egg mixture), drop one tablespoon of the mixture into the hot oil, fry for several minutes on each side and drain on a paper towel. Taste the latke and add more salt or pepper if needed. Now you are ready to make the rest. Drop a generous tablespoon of latke batter into the skillet and flatten the pancake with the back of a spatula. Turn the latkes over when the underside is nicely brown, about 3 to 5 minutes. Fry until golden on both sides. Drain on waiting paper towels. Repeat, this process adding more oil to the pan and a touch more matzo meal to the mixture if needed to absorb the excess liquid that will collect in the bowl. Serve hot.
*While Chanukah is all about the magic of oil, this recipe is all about perfectly fried latkes. The secret is to have the oil at the right temperature between 350 and 375 degrees, to prevent the latkes from soaking up too much oil.
Cranberry-Raisin Apple Sauce
Tart, sweet, chunky, cinnamon- deliciously easy and fast
Yields: about 1 quart
Start to Finish: Under 1 hour
4 crisp apples any variety ( a combination of apples and pears works well too), peeled, cored and diced
1 orange, juiced and zested
1 cup apple juice or apple cider
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup plump raisins
1 bag whole fresh cranberries
3 to 4 tablespoons light brown sugar (depends on how sweet the apples are)
Peel and dice the apples, (they don’t need to be uniform, it’s nice to have some pieces larger and chunkier.) Place the diced fruit in a large saucepan. Stir in the orange zest, orange juice, apple juice or cider, and cinnamon. Cook over medium heat for 15 minutes. Stir in the raisins, cranberries and sugar. Continue cooking, over low heat, until the cranberries are mostly melted into the sauce and the apples and raisins are soft, about 20 minutes. Serve hot or cold. The sauce will thicken as it stands.
Feedback
Apples are a great source of pectin, a natural gel enhancer and heart healthy by product found in many fruits. When cooked, the apples release the pectin and the applesauce naturally thickens.
December 12, 2009
One of the best parts about my job is meeting and connecting with different people. Through the process of planning their events and being part of their most special days, bonds and friendships form that are everlasting. I was spending a lot of time planning the intricate details of a customized wedding ceremony one year with a very special client named June Hersh. Her daugher Ali (now Mrs. Dan London) would be getting married at Central Synagogue (one of the oldest synagogues in New York City) with the reception to follow at the New York Public Library. At the time, we were each cooking and preparing for our Passover Seders, and we enjoyed sharing our recipes and traditons with each other. Since that wonderful wedding three years ago, we have continued to connect at holiday time and share new recipes.
I have been so happy to see people enjoying (and cooking) the recipes I have been posting on this blog. Something about good food, friends, parties, music… They all go together in creating a joyful, rich life.
Please see the recipe above for delicious Chanukah Potato Latkes and Cranberry-Raisin Applesauce from June Hersh. And stay tuned for more guest recipes!
TO RECIPES
TO HOME PAGE
December 10, 2009
How wonderful to come into the office after a busy weekend of events, and find our mailbox overflowing with letters of gratitude and appreciation! Here are some picks from this weeks sentiments… Thank you to our clients for the kind words…
12/03/09
Hi Rebecca!
Sorry it has taken me this long to drop a note, but we were escaping reality on the other side of the world for a few weeks
I just wanted to thank you again for making our wedding absolutely unbelievable. I’m sure you get “thank you’s” all the time because you guys are amazing, but I can’t even begin to express how incredible the whole night was. I have people from all over the world asking me about our band and I am pretty sure you might get a call from Dublin inquiring what it would take to get your band there for a wedding.
Every song was beautiful and your rendition of Empire State of Mind was totally mind-blowing, and the most vivid memory I have of the night is about 100+ people on the dance floor rocking out to that song. For fear of being annoying, redundant and borderline crazy I will cut this email here, but please pass along to your whole team how thankful and honored we were to have you there and if there is ever anything we can possibly do for you please let us know!
All the best,
Leslie
Leslie Cafferty | I A C
Associate Director | Corporate Communications
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12/03/09
Sarah,
Please forgive my long overdue email but I want to say thank you once again! Your performance at our wedding was truly incredible and far surpassed our expectations (and they were high!). The energy you and the band brought to the room made our wedding the most perfect night and amazing party. We are still getting phone calls about how amazing the band was and all of my single friends want you at their weddings when the time comes!!
Thank you again so much for making our night so amazing!!
xo,
Jen
jennifer liss
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12/3/09
Hi Laurell-
We hope that you have had a great few weeks. Shira and I are just back from our honeymoon, and still basking in the glow from our awesome wedding!!
We wanted to thank you so much for making it such an unbelievable party. Our guests have not stopped raving about how awesome our band was and we wanted to pass along that feedback. You guys really rocked and made it an amazing night for us. We hope you had a little fun while working so hard, too
Thank you again for everything!
Best,
Loren and Shira
Loren Berger
RBS Greenwich Capital
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12/03/09
Dear Valerie,
I have no words… it was unbelievable beyond unbelievable! You were just amazing!
I am sure you hear this all the time, but my friends can not stop talking about it, and we did not want the party to end. I can’t wait for my next daughter to get married so we can use you again! I can’t express how amazing you were.
By the way, my friends’ husbands wants to know where the male singers got their black and white shoes…
Thank you again, and I will write you a longer letter soon.
Shelley Edelman
December 10, 2009
Once again, Starlight was asked to perform at this year’s Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, “A Magical Evening” at the Marriott Marquis in New York City. While this event has always been full of emotion, it has become a deep and meaningful experience for many in the entertainment field. Film actors, Broadway actors, recording artists, health care professionals, and the many friends of the Reeve family, come together to celebrate life, and continue the work started by Christopher and Dana Reeve in the cure for spinal cord injury and paralysis. The program is always heartfelt and moving. Meryl Streep is always an important presence at this event, and many celebrities over the years have shown their support. From Glenn Close, Robin Williams, and Paul Simon to Donny Osmond, Nathan Lane, Anne Hathoway, each year has a new roster of talent eager to collaborate. At Starlight, we prepare a musical program that adds to the uplifting theme of the evening. We strive to present songs that will honor, encourage and inspire, while continuing to create a festive atmosphere and bring people to the dance-floor in celebration. This year, we accompanied a very talented singer named Ali Stoker, and enjoyed the music of Colbie Caillat who sang “Fallin For you” and “Bubbly” . We were happy to see Rachel Ray dancing to our music, as well as Richard Kind (from Curb Your Enthusiasm). We are always grateful to Francine LeFrak for asking us to be a part of this wonderful event, and we send our love to Alexandra, Will and Matthew Reeve, who continue to carry on the work of their parents.
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December 6, 2009
It is early morning and I know I should sleep longer. Tonight’s party will last til the wee hours, but even in sleep, I am excited, my wheels are turning and I am preparing. Preparing to provide the musical elements for tonight’s wedding.
What do I need to do before I leave, what do I need to think about, how do I mentally prepare for the night ahead?
I re-read all of the notes I have taken during the months before the wedding, and then I look over the timeline for the event. I make sure that all of my papers and music lists are organized and ready to go. I send a quick email or text to the crew and wish them a good day and an easy set-up. Then I spend a little time musing about the evening, about possible song selections, arrangements or combinations that I haven’t thought of before, and open my mind to the ongoing creative process.
I pull out my guitar and spend a bit of time practicing, and then I warm up my voice as well.
A whole section of the day is devoted to hair and makeup, and the primping, prepping, and packing to be fully prepared (and “performance ready”) for the night ahead. (see my blog post on “What’s in the Bag?”)
There is a very special part of the day where I spend a few moments alone and quiet, clearing my mind of details and practicalities, and creating an empty space for new ideas to come. I set my intentions, which include opening to intuition and being able to tune into the guests at the party, and to sense what is needed at what precise moment. The goal is to keep things moving, flowing and always ascending. Sound is a powerful energy that has the ability to affect and inspire. I recognize that music can be used consciously to create emotion, to strengthen our desires, in addition to creating a festive backdrop for celebration and dancing.
There is a big responsibility ahead, and I happily accept the challenge. Once again, I am filled with gratitude for the music that is my life, and for the important role I get to play in people’s most meaningful celebrations.
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December 2, 2009
Valerie~
Mark and I have been trying all week to think of the best words to describe you and Starlight Orchestra. Unfortunately, there is not one word in particular which would effectively convey how I am feeling almost one week later. When planning Lauren’s wedding I was very conscious of only hiring only vendors I was 100% confident would execute the dream wedding we hoped for. But YOU were just beyond our wildest expectations! Your passion for music, your love for your clients and your perfection in your performance was paramount to anything I have EVER, EVER witnessed in my life. You truly made our dreams come true and we thank you from the tip of our toes to the top of heads—ROCK ON Valerie Romanoff and may your journey through the years of music live on forever…YOU ARE THE ABSOLUTE BEST! My only regret is not having another daughter so someday I could book you for her wedding as well!
xo Sally and Mark Gorsky
And by the way…your corn muffins are wonderful as well!!! LOL
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