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June 22, 2010
Dear Rebecca,
I apologize for not writing sooner but Matt and I jetted off to Bali right after the wedding and have just been trying to get back into the swing of things. I wanted to thank you for helping to make my dream wedding a reality! I cannot give enough praise for the absolutely amazing job that you and your band did at our wedding on May 22nd. From the first moment that the ballroom opened, the dance floor was packed and you kept it that way for the entire night! We had the best time dancing with our friends and family and the vibe and feel of the party was exactly what we had envisioned. Every single guest we talked to could not stop raving about the band and how it was the “best wedding ever”!
Thank you also for helping to make our special dirty dancing first dance a success! We could have not pulled that off without your help. We are sending lots of our engaged friends your way, so hope to see you at a wedding in the near future!
Best,
Arielle Ornstein Baum
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June 13, 2010
What’s amazing is after all these years, the Starlight Orchestra just keeps getting better and better! Hard to believe but it is true. I am so grateful to all of the talented people who perform and produce with me. It is such an incredible honor and privilege, especially after nights like tonight! The way we incorporate new material, the way we cover the special requests for each event, customize the evening to sync with our clients’ vision, the way we train ourselves to manage the flow and timing, especially as things change midstream and the unexpected happens. We can always be counted on to know what to do and make the right choices for the party.
Tonight I am just blown away by the level of talent that finds its way to us. When all of our bands are working, we manage somehow to have “A-team” performers everywhere. It’s like a gourmet chef finding the most obscure yet perfect ingredients that make a recipe sing out ! I was especially impressed, as I always am at the wedding ceremonies, where the Starlight Custom Ensemble (under the direction of Claudia Wigent) performed a contemporary repertoire of songs by Phish, U-2, Coldplay, and favorites by the Beatles, Tom Petty and Guns and Rose, in addition to the classical chamber music standards! Nothing is impossible. When you have the talent, you can do anything.
I guess that is really my point tonight, as I look back on this absolutely fabulous evening; the talent plus the organization can make something truly incredible.
I also want to just add a little mention of something very exciting to me. Late in the evening during the event, I slipped one of my original songs into the set, and I did our reggae song, “Let’s Choose Love.” The guests didn’t know the song, of course, but I should say that they didn’t know that they didn’t know the song! EVERYBODY danced and sang along, as if the song were on the radio! OK, so it is a catchy hook! And I must say, it was so very inspiring. (the song will be released soon, and available on the website of our original music, www.valrockmusic.com. I will make sure to post about it!)
Thanks to Meryl and Jeff Schwartz who had us back for their second child’s wedding, and thanks to Sarah Scott who runs the whole show with me. And thanks to everyone in the organization; the musicians, performers, administrative staff, and technical crew of Starlight Orchestras!
Looking forward to next week.
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June 9, 2010
Valerie:
I had the pleasure of attending the AD Gala on Monday night with my entire family and we would just like you to know how impressed were with your orchestra’s music and stage presence…we had a tremendous time dancing and we would like to thank you and your orchestra for makimng the night really special for all attendees.
We hope to see you again soon at another gala or wedding.
Regards,
Nick & Ann Palmadesso
Dear Nick and Ann,
What a lovely sentiment! Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and to post a response. It is so gratifying to hear the positive feedback, and to see so many people having such a great time. This year I thought the event energized very quickly. People were dancing up a storm, and stayed later than we thought they would. Thank you you again for reaching out and letting us know what you thought. Please also feel free to recommend us to any other parties you might know about. We hope to see you again!
Best Wishes,
Valerie
Dear Nick and Ann,
What a lovely sentiment! Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and to post a response. It is so gratifying to hear the positive feedback, and to see so many people having such a great time. This year I thought the event energized very quickly. People were dancing up a storm, and stayed later than we thought they would. Thank you you again for reaching out and letting us know what you thought. Please also feel free to recommend us to any other parties you might know about. We hope to see you again!
Best Wishes,
Valerie
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June 7, 2010
In a few hours I will be on my way to the Hotel Pierre to perform with my band at a high profile Charity Gala. Evenings like these are part of what makes New York such a great city; men and women dressed in black tie and fabulous gowns coming out in support of worthy causes, donating to find cures, honoring philanthropic individuals, and in many ways showing that life goes on even when things are the toughest.
Tonight we are raising money to support research for Alzheimer’s Disease, a cause that is close to many hearts. It is quite an honor and a privilege for Starlight to be chosen to entertain at events such as these. Many years ago when I was starting out, the big society bands presided at most of these events; the Peter Duchins, the Lester Lanins, among others. I very much wanted to become one of the sought after orchestras where I could create an environment which would complement the dignity of the evening while bringing a modern and fresh approach with music to inspire and uplift. (My theme of life: Music to Inspire and Uplift!”).
And here I am years later having performed for literally hundreds of charity balls all over the country, still finding a thrill in creating a musical program (AND ENSEMBLE!) which will surprise, delight and inspire the guests. My team and I spend countless hours innovating new ideas, researching new material as well as reworking the classic favorites in unique ways. Tonight we are excited to present some new performers, add some original musical arrangements, and construct the stage in way that we have never done before. We are grateful for yet another opportunity to share and spread music, and all of the positive feelings that go along with it.
Thanks to Sarah, Rebecca, Laurell, Lauren, Maria, Susan, Charles and Dennis for all the work that is going into all of our events this month!
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June 4, 2010
I was delighted to hear from one of the metaphysical book and music stores in Sedona, Arizona called the Golden Word, that they sold out of my CDs and wanted more to restock their shelves! Okay, so they didn’t really have all THAT many to begin with, but it was still a great phone call and prompted a much needed/wanted trip to Sedona!
 Valerie Romanoff re-stocking "Healing Music" CD at the Golden Word Books & Music in Sedona In addition to running a business all these years (Starlight Orchestras, of course!) it is so different to be marketing my new original music projects that go under the heading of “Vitamin V,” which is geared toward music of upliftment, wellness, healing and transformation. (My next blog post will print a review of the Vitamin V concept from a well respected “healer dude” who uses my music in his treatment sessions.)
Anyway, the trip to Sedona was partly R&R, and partly a thrust to get my CD placed in more stores and wellness centers. I am happy to report that a yoga instructor at Mii Amo spa used my CD in her class, and then the Spa agreed to carry it in their boutique. A massage therapist used my CD in her massage sessions, and the gift shop at Enchantment Resort took some CDs to sell. Plus, Mystical Bazaar and Golden Word (who play the CD in their “in-store” rotation) each took more CDs, and The Healing Garden treatment center asked for some as well.
I must say, I was honored to see my CD on the shelf next to music by Deva Premal, Krishna Das, Jai Uttal, Jaya Lakshmi, Manose, and the Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo De Silos!
 Valerie Romanoff's Healing Music CD next to Jai Uttal, Jaya Lakshmi, Krishna Das, Deva Premal My dear friend Tao Porchon-Lynch, who has recently been called the “Grand Dame of Hatha Yoga” and uses my CD for her classes, just took a box of CDs on her recent trip to the Satchidananda Ashram “Yogaville” in Buckingham, Virginia. (Please feel free to visit www.valrockmusic.com to hear previews of the material, and to order CDs or downloads.)
Meanwhile, in Sedona, I went to hear pal Jesse Kalu perform his bamboo flute concert, and visited buddy Anthony Mazzella performing his virtuoso solo guitar at L’Auberge, both of whom played with me (with Vitamin V) at my CD Release Show in March!
 Valerie Romanoff and Anthony Mazzella at L'Auberge in Sedona
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