|
September 3, 2010
Happy Sigh from Valerie! It was another amazing event, another night where I look around and see people joyful, smiling, dancing, celebrating, being exuberant, loving life, letting loose, going wild! And next to me I see the world’s best performers and musicians with the most astounding charisma, passion, talent; the energy rising in swirls, tangible and enlightening, enlivening. The thing that is so hard to describe, to get across to people, is that there is TRULY NOTHING LIKE THIS PRODUCT IN THE WHOLE WORLD OF ENTERTAINMENT! Where can you find a performance so exciting, so polished and sharp and yet still organic and flexible, THAT IS COMPLETELY GEARED FOR PRIVATE EVENTS? Talent of this magnitude is usually reserved for touring headline acts; Rod Stewart or Diana Krall doing cool jazz standards with a stage full of trumpets, trombones and saxes; Black Eyed Peas with their different characters presenting their “positive hip-hop” dance hits; Lady Gaga or Madonna whose shows include awesome backup singers/dancers; Bon Jovi rocking out their old and new, Beyonce, Jay-Zee, Alicia Keys, whose shows feature the best of their material with strong backline support and many guest surprises; and the always favorite Earth, Wind and Fire who energize the stage and dazzle crowds with their heartfelt song and expressive dance. You can find those acts on arena stages throughout the world, but what you can’t find anywhere is an ensemble that delivers all of that music AND MORE, performed in a similar style with the same kind of STAR POWER, but that will customize the repertoire for each and every event; can down-play, up-play, down-size, can segueway seamlessly like the best DJ, gliding between genres in a unprecedented way; reading the crowd and switching gears, intuitively designing the play-list IN MOTION to deliver the material that is perfect for this audience, this night, in this moment. No filler songs, no monologues, just song after song, energy building and mounting, all within the parameters of music for a private party. Not a show, not a concert, just truly the World’s Best Party Band, The Starlight Experience. Once you have seen this live, it all makes sense. But words cannot describe it, videos will not capture it, testimonials do not do it justice. The comments might make it sound like it is “too much,” or “over the top,” or “a show not a band…” but people who have actually experienced this product NEVER say that! It is just the Best of the Best, time and time again.I am gratified when we are in different cities and we work with various producers, event planners, booking agents, and people always say, “There is really nothing like this product anywhere!” It is so true, and I am excited for even more people to know this; Starlight has created an entertainment concept that is unparalleled and unrivaled, bridging the worlds of Live Music for Private Events and Headline Entertainment. It is for those discerning clients that want to present something astounding, within the parameters of what is sensible and appropriate for a private event.“Hi Starlight! There are no words to explain the night – NO WORDS – because I listened to Valerie’s suggestions, the music (other than the bride and groom), was talked about the most! You will absolutely be getting calls, but what they won’t realize is that all the extras made it more than “just a band” and therefore, over the top, in the best way!! Clintons will never know what they missed – Greenbergs will never forget what they had!! Thank u so much!With Love,Lorie Greenberg”BACK TO HOME PAGEJuly 19, 2010
Some letters move us to tears! These clients knocked our socks off by the way that they “got” what we do, by recognizing the heart and soul and invisible artistry that goes into making each party a smashing success. Read on!Rebecca,We never dreamed how thankless your job is. Lalyn and I have been receiving letters, e-mails and text messages RAVING about the party, which, of course, we accept unabashedly. However, both Lalyn and I understand, deep in the darkest recesses of our minds, that YOU AND THE STARLIGHT ORCHESTRA rocked everyone’s world Saturday and we are merely the happy recipients of the glory. Below are just a few of the comments we have heard:Anya – “Most parties are like a soap bubble. ‘Pop’ and they are gone. But this one, with all its joy, will live forever.”Liz – “I think that there’s an alchemical reaction that happens occasionally at the tennis house at night: really fun people + plentiful drinks + amazing music + the right lighting = pure gold. It was chic, rocking with energy, and so freakin’ fun…”Dorothy – “Best ever!! Band was incredible – desserts were great – your dress was fab and Norman doesn’t look a day over forty (had to keep that in)”RJ – “I have one word for you guys! EPIC!”And the hits just keep on coming. Lalyn and I cannot thank you enough for the professionalism, enthusiasm and raw energy you and your fellow band members brought to the party. My God, we haven’t seen that many old, white WASPS rocking that hard…well…ever!Thank you for making our 50th birthday such a memorable occasion on so many levels. We hope that we can find a way to rock with Rebecca Blake and the Starlight Orchestra time and again.BACK TO HOME PAGEJune 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,
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 May 3, 2010
The Starlight Experience was invited to perform in Houston, Texas at the Rice University campus last Saturday night when former Secretary of State James A. Baker III celebrated his 80th birthday with a fundraiser benefiting the Baker Institute for Public Policy. The evening included salutes and toasts by fans and friends including President George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush. Over $3 million was raised. That night , after the event, I received the following email from Susan Criner of Gulf Coast Entertainment: “Dear Valerie, You guys were great! Having to start late and do a dinner set, and then build your set but quickly, You are true pros and we all appreciate the job you did. Fun crazy dance set, everyone of all ages was out on the dance floor and having the best time, thanks to you. Much Love, Susie” In attendance were many of the city’s leading families, and Isabel Stude Lummis, Courtney Lanier Sarofim and Aliyya Kombargi Stude chaired the event that drew a crowd of 650. Courtney Sarofim is one of Starlight’s biggest fans, and she has called on us for many other events including the gala for Houston’s Alley Theatre, in years past. You can visit the following websites to read more about this event and see a photo gallery of the guests: and January 6, 2010
On New Year’s Eve, 700 guests experienced an ultra-exclusive night of entertainment hosted by Glenn Smith at the Hilton Americas-Houston. The glitzy 1940’s Hollywood themed soiree featured a five star themed menu, towering ice sculptures and five hours of live music. I’m proud to announce that our flagship ensemble, The Starlight Experience, opened the stunning party with two hours of live dance music. Shelby Hodge, society columnist for Culturemap Houston, raved, “The sizzling Starlight Experience from New York ruled with two hours of drop dead fabulous dance music.” Our dynamic live band set the stage for an evening of headline entertainment featuring Frankie Valli and a surprise midnight performance by the Eagles! In a ballroom topped with luxurious, dazzling swaths of black and white silk, guests enjoyed a five star menu with everything from Russian caviar to juicy prime rib. After the 90-minute performance by the Eagles, The Starlight Experience continued to wow guests until nearly 3 am. The party buzzed well into the evening, closing with a luxurious breakfast buffet. The Starlight Experience was honored to help ring in 2010 with style at one of the country’s most exclusive New Year’s Eve parties. We have played alongside many exciting headliners, but this magical evening of entertainment was particularly thrilling to be part of and such a wonderful way to begin the New Year. It took nearly a year to plan and organize the incredible event, and our respect and admiration goes out to the entire staff who made the night possible. Special thanks to Lisa Newburn and John Wilbanks of Prosound in Houston. For pictures of the stunning celebration, visit On the Town Houston’s Facebook coverage and Culturemap Houston’s lovely write up and slideshow.
Here is a thank you letter we received from the event planner the following day. Hey Valerie - 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 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. 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 GorskyAnd by the way…your corn muffins are wonderful as well!!! LOLNovember 7, 2009
Before Mrs. Reuben began looking for a venue and selecting a date for her daughter’s wedding, she wanted to weigh the pros and cons of having a wedding planner. If she decided to have one, then the best time would be now so she could have that person’s input when choosing a location, which is one of the most important decisions. Mrs. Reuben decided not to hire a wedding planner, but rather to play that role herself, and to assemble a team of vendors that she felt would be able to guide her through all of her decisions. She already knew which band she wanted (us! Starlight!) and her daughter thought she wanted to get married at their country club in Westchester. She asked me to suggest some New York City venues as well, ones that would be good for her sized crowd, which would be about 275 guests. I happily made some recommendations, and they went off looking. They came back to me and said they flipped over the Hotel Pierre, it was everything they were looking for; old world elegance, spacious, a beautiful room for the wedding ceremony, and a generously sized ballroom (with the perfect space for a band such as mine!). They chose a date that both the venue and the band were available, so now we were ready to execute a contract. Mrs. Reuben told me that she wanted me to do what I do best, and that she would take her cues from me regarding size of band and instrumentation. We agreed that I would provide a 7 piece ensemble for the ceremony (which includes music for guest arrivals, pre-ceremony, processional and recessional, cocktail hour. The group would consist of harp, 3 violins, upright bass, a woodwind player (who can double on sax, flute and clarinet) and oboe. The harpist could also play piano for parts of the wedding ceremony as well as the cocktail hour and we would have the mobility of the harp for the “arrival” portion and pre-ceremony music. For the dinner , she wanted the band that she had seen before, which was the Valerie Romanoff Starlight Orchestra at 16 pieces (9 musicians and 7 singers.) Done! With the band and the venue completed, she would continue assembling her team in the weeks ahead. Stay tuned for “A Dreamy Wedding- Part 3” coming soon. October 22, 2009
“What are some good choices for our first dance?” Brides and grooms ask that question all the time, looking for guidance and suggestions. The first dance is a very special moment, and the song selection can be based on many different things. Special song: some couples remember a particular song from either their first date, when they fell in love, or some other specific memory (first baseball game?). The song has become “theirs” and is symbolic of their relationship Special dance- some couples want to do a particular kind of dance or choreography, so they will look for songs to fit a style or genre. (For example; one couple enjoyed ballroom dancing and were quite good, so they chose a romantic waltz. Another couple wanted to really make a splash, so they chose “More Than a Woman” from “Saturday Night fever” and did the Hustle! Still Searching- I find that most couples do not have one special song, are not planning a special dance, and want to find something that they both like and feel comfortable with. There are many genres of love songs to choose from. You can find love songs from movies or shows (i.e. “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” from Lion King), pop ballads on the radio (by Alicia Keys or Anita Baker), rock ballads (by Eric Clapton or Bryan Adams), jazz standards (by Frank Sinatra.) There are contemporary ballads (by Ben Harper), classic soul ballads (by Marvin Gaye or remakes by Boyz II To Men), and modern power ballads (by U-2.) Some people like the tried and true. Other people want to find something completely unique. Some couples are traditional. Others want something trendy or edgy, and there are musical choices to suit everyone. Since we are often asked for song ideas, we have created several lists of suggestions for first dances, which you can find on the SONGLIST tab, at the top of this website. We have so much fun researching and finding both new and old song ideas to share with our clients. We will be compiling and adding new lists frequently, and we will periodically post these as articles. For now, you can view our most popular first dance song lists: |
||
|
© 2009 Starlight Orchestras - All Rights Reserved. |
||