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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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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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July 25, 2011
Here is a video clip of Starlight’s Amy Hausman officiating yesterday’s wedding of Avenue Q’s Rod and Ricky. The ceremony was covered by NBC news and NY1.
http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/143569/-avenue-q–puppets-have-outdoor-wedding
 Starlight Rainbow Weddings' Amy Hausman performed the marriage ceremony From NY1 website: “Broadway also celebrated New York’s new same-sex marriage law on Sunday.
The puppets Rod and Ricky from the musical “Avenue Q” exchanged vows in front of the City Clerk’s office this morning.
In attendance for the ceremony was fellow puppet Kate Monster, who served as flower girl.
“It is such a beautiful historic day, I’m so happy for them and they’re beaming. Look at them, aww,” said puppeteer Jennifer Barnhart, who plays Kate Monster.
The couple has fallen in love on stage more than 3,000 times since the play opened on Broadway in 2003 and then moved to the New World Stages in 2009.”
See more great photos of the day at Sharon Schuster’s blog
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July 22, 2011
The Starlight Rainbow Wedding Initiative is getting ready for Sunday, the first day that same-sex couples can legally be married in New York. Our own All People’s Wedding Officiant- Amy Hausman will be performing the marriage ceremony of Avenue Q’s Rod and Ricky. The below article is from the Wall Street Journal!
“Following the passage of the landmark bill in New York to legalize same-sex marriage, two prominent shows both on and off-Broadway will celebrate the first official wedding ceremonies next week.
Off Broadway (though it used to be On), “Avenue Q” will mark the occasion by having Rod and Ricky, the same-sex puppets who have met and fallen in love on stage 3,267 times since the show’s Broadway opening in 2003, join the men and women lining up at City Hall to officially wed Sunday, the first day same-sex couples can be legally married in the state. Let’s just hope the newlywed puppets will make it back uptown in time for the show’s 3 p.m. curtain call.” READ MORE
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June 25, 2011
 We are joyous as we celebrate not only Gay Pride, but also the legalization of same sex marriage in NY. As a business owner in the wedding industry, PLUS being a member of the gay community, I am happy to put forth STARLIGHT ORCHESTRAS as the music company of choice for GAY WEDDINGS!
This brings to mind one of my favorite gay weddings, which we did several years ago at the St. Regis Hotel. It was all the more special because one of the brides is a high-level event planner in our industry, and being chosen to perform was quite an honor. Many of the guests flew in from New Orleans, and the other side was from New York. With both a rabbi and a priest, this was one of the most amazing joinings and celebrations we have been part of.
The Starlight team is happily looking forward to being an integral part of the up and coming GAY WEDDINGS in New York and around the country. This month we have performed for weddings in the Bahamas, in Sioux City Iowa, in Greenwich, and in NYC at the Pierre, the Plaza, the Museum of Natural History, and tonight at the Mandarin Oriental. We love all of our clients; the happy couples and their families, and we are thrilled that so many gay couples can now (legally) share in the joy and the rituals that make weddings so magical!
(Thanks to David Beahm for the photo!)
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June 25, 2011
We are joyous today as we celebrate not only Gay Pride 2011, but also the legalization of same sex marriage in New York State. As a business owner in the wedding industry, PLUS being a member of the gay community, I am happy to put forth STARLIGHT ORCHESTRAS as the music company of choice for GAY WEDDINGS!
This brings to mind one of my favorite gay weddings, which we did several years ago at the St. Regis Hotel. It was all the more special because one of the brides is a high-level event planner in our industry, and being chosen to perform was quite an honor. Many of the guests flew in from New Orleans, and the other side was from New York. With both a rabbi and a priest, this was one of the most amazing joinings and celebrations we have been part of.
The Starlight team is happily looking forward to being an integral part of the up and coming GAY WEDDINGS in New York and around the country. This month we have performed for weddings in the Bahamas, in Sioux City Iowa, in Greenwich, and in NYC at the Pierre, the Plaza, the Museum of Natural History, and tonight at the Mandarin Oriental. We love all of our clients; the happy couples and their families, and we are thrilled that so many gay couples can now (legally) share in the joy and the rituals that make weddings so magical!
(Thanks to David Beahm for the photo!)
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June 24, 2011
We are so proud that Starlight’s own Robert Taylor Jr. is still in the competition on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE. Four dancers were eliminated this week and HE IS STILL ON THE SHOW! Way to go Robert! We are so proud of you and so excited for you. Everyone can watch the excitement unfold on Wednesday and Thursday nights on FOX TV at 8 PM and vote for the amazingly talented Robert!
Here is a link to his audition video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7U3ywFzlkw
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June 22, 2011
25 Fun & Fabulous Wedding Ideas
Get guests laughing, dancing and having a ball all night long with these delightful wedding reception ideas.
Musical Notes
17. Don’t be afraid to mix up the music, says Valerie Romanoff, of Starlight Orchestras, in New York City, which provided the music for the wedding of Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas. Try a different musical feeling for every stage of the night: Consider strolling violinists playing lighthearted classical pieces as guests arrive at the reception venue, then Brazilian samba for the cocktail hour, followed by a swing band in the ballroom for dinner and dancing.
18. Create a vibrant, on-vacation vibe with music from the Caribbean —think a steel drum, reggae or calypso band.
19. The secret to getting everyone up and on the dance floor is to target the older crowd with the first song of the set, says Romanoff. “Play something from the 1940s that your grandparents will like, then segue into a little Motown or disco, which will appeal to folks your parents’ age,” she says. “As long as you don’t go to hip-hop too quickly, you’ll get all your guests on their feet and keep them there.” Read more…
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June 20, 2011
 Robert Taylor Jr. and The Starlight Orchestra On behalf of everyone at Starlight Orchestras, I would like to officially congratulate one of our super-star performers, Robert Taylor Jr., for making it to the top 20 on the Fox TV Show, So You Think You Can Dance. Whether you’ve seen Robert light up the stage at an event or you’ve had the pleasure of working side by side with him, you already know the talent and energy he brings to every performance. We are so excited for him and we’d like to ask you to help us support him in this competition.
You can cast your vote for Robert this Wednesday night, right after the show, between 10pm and midnight Eastern Time by visiting http://www.fox.com/dance/vote/
If you can watch Robert on the show at 8pm, I recommend that you do. His performances have been just amazing. Check out his audition for the show here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7U3ywFzlkw
Robert first joined our Starlight family in 2004, not long after his Season 3 appearance on American Idol and we’ve had a blast working with him ever since! We’re just so proud and happy for Robert and we’re so grateful to all of you for helping us support him!
Congratulations Robert! We love you!
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January 31, 2011
There is so much happening these days in the world of Starlight Orchestras, Valrock Music, and Vitamin V that I wanted to publish a quick “what’s new.”
1. We are off to Dallas to perform at the opening Superbowl Party given by Jerry Jones (Dallas Cowboys) for all the NFL Owners and friends and families. We are so excited to present “The Starlight Experience” at Arlington Stadium, with our incredible lineup of amazing performers and our varied and exciting repertoire. If I had to briefly describe this ensemble, I would say “Earth, Wind and Fire meets Beyonce meets Black Eyed Peas meets the the Supremes.” With a little Aerosmith thrown in. Something like that.
2. We are currently producing a 30 piece orchestra to accompany a surprise artist at a private event next month in Manhattan. This is an exciting project as it stretches the boundaries of what are known for, and adds another level of variety to the music we perform.
3. Starlight bandleaders Sarah Scott and Rebecca Blake are singing and doing individual touring dates with headliners Chromeo and Gary Sinese, respectively. This is another level of the variety we have all been enjoying, and we are very proud of our bandleaders.
4. As “Valerie Romanoff and the Vitamin V Band,” I am about to release a new original song called “Lets Choose Love” which you can sneak preview at http://www.studiolivesedona.com/artists/find-an-artist/valerie-romanoff/
5. Another of my original songs “Rachel’s Knoll” has been chosen to be in a feature film entitled “Sedona The Motion Picture.” The movie will preview at the Sedona Film festival next month. I will update information as I receive it.
6. I am putting finishing touches on a wonderful new project; music to accompany a book of poetry and guided meditations written by my dear friend, 92 year old Yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch called Reflections: The Yogic Journey of Life. In addition to scoring music for her words, I have included an 18 minute instrumental piece of music designed specifically to accompany Yoga asanas. I will be uploading this music to the Valrock Music website next week. My friend Tom Rossi is in the studio right now mastering the tracks, while I work on uploading new music to our various websites.
7. Our video editors are in their studios working with recent footage from events that our Starlight Orchestras have performed at. Hopefully we will soon have new clips that show off the hot new material we are offering.
8. Starlight has always enjoyed a reputation of presenting top notch live entertainment, and we stay at the top of our game by continuing to evolve, expand and introduce new ideas. There is always something new at Starlight, and this is a time of year where we develop talent and fresh concepts for our upcoming event season.
It is funny to me how some people have a misconception that Starlight is too hot, too energetic, too contemporary, too big. Other people have an opposite misconception that Starlight is too conservative, old school. And in there lies the truth. We are all of that, and we customize based on the party and the vision of our clients.
9. Lastly, Starlight was scheduled to perform at B.B. Kings for a blow-out “Starlight Experience Dance Party” this coming March, but due to our upcoming travel event schedule, we will be postponing this gig for a date to be determined.
So far this year of 2011 has a ton of energy; and there are many projects and new associations to dig into!
Thank for reading, and please feel free to leave a comment, let me know what you might want to hear us blog about.
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