Book London Strings, String duo in London

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From£300

1 hour

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London Strings Promo Video

Piazzolla - Le Grand Tango

Por Una Cabeza by London Strings

About London Strings

Are you looking for top-class musicians to provide entertainment and elegance for your special event? You've come to the right place!

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String duo

London

Public liability insurance of £10 million

London Strings is based in London, available to hire for events both in the UK and internationally. Hailing from New Zealand and Turkey, Lucy Gijsbers (cello) and Arda Karakaya (violin) formed their string duo in 2017. Both top graduates from the Royal College of Music in London, they regularly perform together and are available to play for weddings and special events. As versatile performers, they play both classical and popular music so please let them know if you have any particular musical requests for your event. They have performed extensively as soloists, chamber artists and orchestral musicians with orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic and London Philharmonic, and in venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Southbank Centre, and Cadogan Hall. PLEASE NOTE we also perform as a string trio and quartet, and regularly collaborate with pianists. Please let us know if you wish to hire us as an alternative ensemble, and we will take care of it all for you! London Strings is available to book for all types of events - weddings, corporate functions, cocktail and birthday parties, proposals, Christmas parties, concerts, recordings and even funerals.

Performance details

We can perform outdoors

We can perform with backing tracks

Encore awards

1st Encoreversary

Musicianship

Genres:

Classical, Christmas, Traditional church music, Contemporary Christian, Military, Baroque, Early music, Contemporary classical, Film / TV music, Renaissance, Musical theatre, Fanfare, Classical crossover, Medieval music, Opera, 1920s era music, 1930s era music, 1940s era music, 1950s era music, 1990s era music, 1980s era music, 1970s era music, 1960s era music, Folk, Easy listening, Avant garde, World music, Tango, Spanish music, Russian music, Klezmer, Polka, Salsa, Jewish music, Italian music, Scottish music, Flamenco, French music, German music, Australian music, Asian music, Armenian, Pop, Covers, Light music, Acoustic, Ambient pop, Classic rock

See all genres

Types:

String duo, Classical duo, Pop duo, Acoustic duo

See all types

Event types:

Wedding, Wedding proposal, Funeral / Memorial service, Church service, Hotel / Restaurant event, Bar / Club / Venue event, Private event, Corporate event, Charity event, Concert, Recording session, Theatre / Show, Cruise, Burns night, Birthday party, Christmas party, New Year's Eve, Virtual event

See all event types

Song list

-----Classical-----

Bach, Air

Bach, Arioso

Bach, Jesu Man’s Desiring

Beethoven, Ode to Joy

Bocherini, Minuet

Brahms, Lullaby

Brahms, Hungarian Dances 1 and 5

Charpentier, Te Deum

Clarke, Trumpet Tune

Clarke, Trumpet Voluntary

Dvorak, Humoresque

Elgar, Chanson de Matin

Elgar, Salut d’Amour

Faure, Apres un Reve

Greensleeves

Handel, Air in D

Handel, Air in F

Handel, Bourree in F

Handel, Hornpipe from Water Music

Handel, Hornpipe in D

Handel, Hornpipe in F

Handel, La Paix

Handel, La Rejouissance

Handel, Minuet in D

Handel, Minuet in D Minor

Handel, Minuet in G Minor

Handel, Queen of Sheba

Handel, Rejoussance

Handel, Water Music

Mascagni, Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana

Mendelssohn, Wedding March

Mouret, Rondeau

Mozart, Romance

Mozart, Rondo Alla Turca

Pachelbel, Canon

Puccini, O Mio

Saint Saens, The Swan

Schubert, Ave Maria

Tchaikovsky, Romeo and Juliet Love Theme

Thais, Meditation

Vivaldi, Largo from Winter

Wagner, Wedding March

-----Pop-----

Adele:

Someone like you

Rolling in the Deep

Hello

Skyfall

Set Fire to the Rain

Ed Sheeran:

Shape of You

Perfect

Castle on the Hill

Sing

Photograph

Queen:

Bohemian Rhapsody

We Will Rock You

Killer Queen

Love of My Life

Somebody to Love

You're my Best Friend

Black bird

The Beatles:

Yesterday

Here Comes the Sun

Let It Be

Hey Jude

I want to Hold Your Hand

Bon Jovi:

Living on a Prayer

It's My Life

Michael Jackson:

Thriller

Smooth Criminal

Beat It

BTS:

Blood, Sweat and Tears

Boy with Luv

Despacito-Luis Fonsi

Elvis Presley - Can't Help Falling in Love with You

Sting - Fields of Gold

Michael Buble - Everything

Cohen - Hallelujah

La Vie En Rose

Over the Rainbow

Iosif ivanovici:-Waves of Danube

Edith Piaf: Padam Padam

Consuelo Velázquez-Besame Mucho

Eduardo di Capua- O Sole Mio

C. Fernandez -Cielito Lindo

Astor Piazzolla -Libertango

Carlos Eleta Almaran-Historia de un Amor

Loreena McKennitt -Tango to Evora

Rolf Lovland- Song from a Secret Garden

Carlos Eleta Almaran - Historia de un Amor

Dean Martin - Sway

Ben King- Stand by Me

Beyonce - Ave Maria

A thousand years - Christina Perri

Addicted to you - Avicii

Adore you - Miley Cyrus

All about that bass - Meghan Trainor

All my life - Kc and Jojo

All my love - Led Zeppelin

All of me - John Legend

Animals - Mattew Garrix

Applause - Lady Gaga

At last -Beyonce/Etta James

Atlas - Coldplay

Best day of my life - American Authors

Birthday - Katy Perry

Blurred lines - Robin Thicke

Burn - Ellie Goulding

Bury a Friend-Billie Eilish

Can you feel the love tonight - Elton John

Chandelier - Sia

Counting stars - One Republic

Dangerous - David Guetta

Dance Monkey- Tones and I

Dark horse - Katy Perry

Demons - Imagine Dragons

Do you realize? - The Flaming Lips

Dust clears - Clean Bandit

Future- Mask Off

God put a smile upon your face - Coldplay

Going under - Evanescence

Happy - Pharrell Williams

Hero - Mariah Carey

Hey Brother - Avicii

Home - Philip Philips

I believe I can fly - R. Kelly

I believe in you and me - Whitney Houston

I was made for lovinʼ you - Kiss

Iʼm yours - Jason Mraz

Karma police - Radiohead

Kissing you - Desʼree

Let her go - Passenger

Let me go - Avril Lavigne

Letʼs get it on - Marvin Gaye

Locked out of heaven - Bruno Mars

Love runs out - One Republic

Lovers in Japan - Coldplay

My Way-Frank Sinatra

Once upon a dream - Lana Del Rey

Other side - Red Hot Chili Peppers

Pompeii - Bastille

Problem - Ariana Grande

Radioactive - Imagine Dragons

Rasputin-Boney M

Ribbon in the shy - Stevie Wonder

River flows in you - Yiruma

Royals - Lorde

Rude - Magic!

Safe and sound - Capital Cities

Sail - Awolnation

Say something - A great bid world

Shade of cool - Lana Del Rey

Shake it off - Taylor Swift

Sheʼs a rainbow - Rolling Stones

Smells like teen spirit - Nirvana

Smile - Uncle Kracker

Somebody that I used to know - Gotye

Song for Sienna - Brian Crain

Stairway to heaven - Led Zeppelin

Stay - Rihanna

Stay with me - Sam Smith

Summer - Calvin Harris

Summertime sadness - Lana Del Rey

Sweeter than fiction - Taylor Swift

Titanium-David Guetta

Thank you - Led Zeppelin

The Fox - Ylvis

The Walking Dead main title

The way - Ariana Grande

The wedding song - Danny Elfman

Toxic - Britney Spears

Unconditionally - Katy Perry

Venus - Lady Gaga

Wake me up - Avicii

We can't stop - Miley Cyrus

What now - Rihanna

White dress - Ben Rector

Wrecking ball - Miley Cirus

-----Movie soundtracks-----

Game of Thrones

Fiddler on the Roof, If I Were a Rich Man

Fiddler on the Roof, Sunrise Sunset

Scent of a Woman, Por uno Cabeza

James Bond

Titanic (My Heart Will Go On)

Frozen (Let It Go)

Frozen (Into the Unknown)

Survivor: Eye of The Tiger

-----Christmas Music-----

Away in a Manger

Deck The Halls

I’ll be home for Christmas

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Good King Wenceslas

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Jingle Bells

Joy to the World

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

O’ Come All Ye Faithful

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Silent Night

Sleigh Ride

The Christmas Waltz

The First Noel

The Little Drummer Boy

The Snowman

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

We Three Kings

Winter Wonderland

Customer questions

What do your clients love most about your performances?

Our clients appreciate our professionalism, reliability, flexibility, and most importantly the high standard of our performances.

Which venues have you performed at in the past?

We have performed in high-profile venues such as the Royal Albert Hall and Southbank Centre, but all of our performance bookings through Encore and as London Strings have been for weddings and corporate events in various churches, halls, hotels and other such venues in the UK.

Do you have different line-up options?

Yes. We primarily perform as a string duo but we also regularly perform with a pianist and as a string quartet or trio.

What if my timings change after I've booked you?

We always try our best to be flexible to help ensure your event runs as smoothly as possible. If timings change slightly in the run up to the event just let us know.

How much time do you need to set up?

We usually arrive at the venue at least 30 minutes prior to the commencement of our performance.

Can I pick the pieces you play from the set list?

Yes of course!

Do you bring all the equipment you need to perform?

Yes, absolutely! However, we will need to have chairs provided and covering or shade if we perform outdoors.

Can you learn specific pieces before the event?

Yes of course, if you have any requests please let us know. We need 7 days notice of any requests not on our songlist prior to your event.

Prices

Note: prices may vary based on travel distance. For an exact quote, click “Check availability”.

Performance duration	Price
Up to 1 hour	£300
Up to 2 hours	£450
Up to 3 hours	£600

Wedding ceremony2 musicians

This includes music before the service begins, music during the signing of the register, and music as guests leave.

£300

Drinks reception2 musicians

Two performances of up to 45 mins each during your drinks reception

£450

Wedding ceremony + Drinks reception + Dinner2 musicians

- Music before the service begins, music during the signing of the register, and music as guests leave. - 2 x 45 min performances at the drinks reception. - 2 x 45 min performances as dinner is being served.

£750

Reviews

4 verified reviews

Verified

Hannah P, 2 months ago

Thank you Lucy and Arda for playing in our wedding ceremony. The music was absolutely beautiful. Thank you also for filling in last minute!! Wonderful communication and punctuality, you saved the day!

Verified

Alaister B, 2 months ago

Lucy and Arda played for my company's back-to-the-office work party. We wanted to start the evening with some classiness and their choice of music and presentation was perfect. They are versatile performers and were happy to play outdoors. I highly recommend this duo.