Violinist

Michael Sullivan

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About Michael

I have always loved playing the violin and hope that you enjoy my unedited ipad recordings before making your booking.
Michael Sullivan's profile picture
Violinist
Chichester
Public liability insurance of £1 million
Verified profile

I have performed as a freelance violinist, including with the 'The Finishing Touch String Quartet' for over fifteen years. I have played at numerous weddings and social functions (including for the Royal Family), as well as regularly giving concert recitals both at home and abroad. Please read my reviews in respect of all aspects of my work. As a soloist I have hundreds of pieces with backing tracks for every occasion, including classical music, modern day hits, soul music, jigs and reels, jazz and blues and popular classics, including film music. I play both acoustic and electric violin, so offer a diverse range of experience. In addition to a successful freelance playing career, I am an experienced professional conductor. The videos that you hear are obviously unedited simple demonstrations of my playing as I believe it is import that you know exactly what you are hiring in a simple format.

Encore badges
Top 10 booked musician of 2022
Lightning fast responses
Average response time under 2 hours
75 gigs
Veteran: 75 bookings through Encore
Saved the day!
Booked for an Encore gig with less than 24 hours’ notice
6th Anniversary
This act has been working with Encore for over 6 years
Member of the Encore community forum
Musicianship
Genres:
Christmas, Classical, Baroque, Classical crossover, Contemporary classical, Early music, Medieval music, Renaissance, 1920s era music, 1930s era music, 1940s era music, 1950s era music, 1960s era music, 1970s era music, 1980s era music, 1990s era music, Folk, Easy listening, Originals, Covers, Light music, Jazz, Pop, Italian music, Scottish music, Blues, Ragtime
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Instruments:
See all instruments
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, Cruise, Birthday party, Christmas party, New Year's Eve
See all event types
Other skills:
Fluent sight-reader, Instrumental teaching, Examiner
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Michael's Song list

SOLO VIOLIN (example repertoire)
POPULAR
Anyone of Us (Stupid Mistakes)
As It Was
Colourblind
Complicated
If You're Not the One
I'm Gonna Getcha Good
Love at First Sight
Round Round
The Tide Is High (Get the Feeling)
Unbreakable
Whenever, Wherever
Can You Feel The Love Tonight
Can't Help Falling In Love
Caught in the Middle
Emotion
Eternity
Evergreen
Footloose
Hero
If You Come Back
Queen of My Heart
Whole Again
You
What If
Green Onions
I Got The Sweetest Feeling
I Got You (I Feel Good)
I Say A Little Prayer
In The Midnight Hour
Let's Stay Together
Perfect
Pick Up The Pieces
Private Number
Respect
Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay
Soul Man
Stand By Me
Take Me To The River
Walkin' The Dog
Who's Making Love
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Candle In The Winds
Dust In The Wind
Every Breath You Take
Fire And Rain
Good Vibrations
Have I Told You Lately
Heaven
La Vie En Rose
Lean on Me
Shes Always A Woman
Tears In Heaven
With A Little Help From My Friends
All About Tonight
The A Team
Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall
Glad You Came
Grenade
Jar Of Hearts
Last Friday Night
Love Goes Down
Jealousy
My Way
Someone Like You
Time After Time
All Of Me
Heart's On Fire
How Long Will I Love You
Let Go For Tonight
Let It Go
Roar
Say Something
Sky Full Of Stars
Story Of My Life
To A Wild Rose
Wrecking Ball
22
Best Ever Song
Big When I Was Little
Falling Like The Stars
Hey Porsche
Just Give Me A Reason
Let Her Go
Panic Chord
Right Place Right Time
Stay
Stuck With U
Walks Like Rihanna
Fernando
Knowing Me, Knowing You
Mamma Mia
Dancing Queen
Money, Money, Money
Spirited Away
Super Trouper
Thank You for the Music
Take a Chance on Me
The Winner Takes It All
Unconditionally
Video Games
Viva La Viva
Waterloo
Wildest Dreams
Two words
What A Wonderful World
Higher And Higher
Easy On Me
Wake Me Up
To Life
Stepin’ Out
You’re Still The One
A Thousand Years
I Giorni
All You Need Is Love
Thinking Out Loud
Leave A Light On
A Whole New World
Rule The World
Patience
One More Gift
Due Tramonti
Time After Time
You’re Still The One
Moonlight
Stuck With You
Marry You
Calm Down
Falling Like The Stars
Levitating
I’m Yours
Someone Only we Know
God Only Knows
Schindler’s List Theme
I Ain’t Got Nobody
River Flows In You
Now We Are Free
In My Place
Nothing Else Matters
What A Wonderful World
Lettre A France
Burning Love
Married Life
Chi Mai
The Godfather Love Theme
Counting Stars
A Million Dreams
You’ll Be In My Heart
Jingle Bells
Bohemian Rhapsody
You’ve Got A Friend In Me
A Change Is Gonna Come
Stay With Me
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Forest Gump Theme
The Deerhunter
Viola
Say something
La Vie En Rose
Can’t Help Falling In Love
Can You Feel The Love Tonight
My Way
Over The Rainbow
Sometime
Braveheart
Titanic
In Dreams
Lara’s Theme (Dr Zhivago)
City Of Stars
Comme Toi
Let It Go
Your Still The One
Moonlight
Marry You
Wildest Dreams
Video Games
Calm Down
Footloose
Viva La Vida
As It Was
Unconditionally
Falling Like The Stars
Levitating
Im Yours
Somewhere Only We Know
God Only Knows
All You Need Is Love
Thinking Out Loud
Leave A Light On
A Whole New World
Rule The World
Patience
One More Gift
CLASSICAL
Morning
Nessun Dorma
Largo (New World)
Oh! Mio Babbino Caro
Pavane
Nimrod
Scheherezade
Pomp Amd Circumstance No 1
Romeo And Juliet
Vesti La Giubba
Radetsky March
Turkish Rondo
Barcarolle
The Blue Danube
Meditation
Adagio (From Sparticus)
Canon
Carmen (Overture)
Chanson De Matin
Chanson Boheme
Choral Symphony
Farandole
Dance Of The Hours
Gymnopedie No. 1
Jupiter
Spring
Ode To Joy
Canon In D
Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
Russian Dance
Air On The G String
Minuet In G
Fur Elise
Wiegenlied Brahm's Lullaby
Rondeau
Andante
Morning Mood
Habanera
Can Can
Dengoso
Odeon - Tango Brasileiro
Tango Habanera
Adagio - Albinoni
Concerto for Two Violins - Bach
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
String Quartet No 1 - Beethoven
Violin Concerto in A - Bach
Romance No 2 - Beethoven
Spring Sonata - Beethoven
Norma - Casta Diva
Adoration - Borowski
Liebeslieder - Brahms
Violin Sonata in G - Brahms
Ave Maria - Caccini
Etudes - Chopin
Christmas Concerto - Corelli
La Folia - Corelli
Arabesque - Debussy
The Girl With The Flaxen Hair - Debussy
Reverie - Debussy
The Flower Duet - Delibes
Beautiful Like An Angel - Donizetti
L'elisir d'amore - Donizetti
Sonatina in G - Dvorak
American Quartet - Dvorak
Chanson d Nuit - Elgar
Love's Greeting - Elgar
Sonata in A major - Franck
Por Una Cabeza - Gardel
Summertime - Gershwin
Royal Fireworks Music - Handel
The Arrival Of The Queen Of Sheba - Handel
GIGS AND REELS
Hunting The Hare
The Fairy Dance
Morpeth Rant
Constant Billy
The Keel Row
Country Gardens
The Staffordshire Hornpipe
The Girl I Left Behind Me
King Of The Fairies
The Trumpet Hornpipe
The Wind That Shakes The Barley
The Bridal
Danny Boy
The Peeler's Away With My Daughter
Red-Haired Boy
The Fox Hunter's Jig
Drowsy Maggie
Harvest Home
Carolan's Air
The Mason's Apron
The Bonny Lass Of Fyvie
Brochan Lom
Mrs Jamieson's Favourite
Lord MacDonald's Reel
The Flowers Of Edinburgh
Miss Sally Of Thurston
Mary, Young And Fair
The Gay Gordons
The Spey In Spate
Earl Grey
FILM
Beija-Flor
Believe (Polar Express)
Braveheart
Castle In The Sky
Chi Mai
Come So Far (Hairspray)
Dr. Zhivago - Lara's Theme
Game of Thrones
Gonna Fly Now (Rocky)
Hedwig's Theme (Harry Potter)
In Dreams (Lord Of The Rings)
James Bond Theme (Casino Royale)
Over The Rainbow (Wizard Of Oz)
Raider's March (Raiders Of The Lost Ark )
Pink Panther (The Pink Panther)
Spirited Away - One Summer's Day
The Godfather
The Wind Rises - Main Theme
Titanic - My Heart Will Go On
Twilight - New Moon
Way Back Into Love (Music And Lyrics)
Counting Stars
The Greatest Showman - A Million Dreams
Let it Go
The Lord of The Rings
RAGTIME
Good Morning Blues
Makin Whoopee
The Entertainer
Lullaby of Birdland
House of the Rising Song
Number Twelve Train
The Fascinator
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
Paragon Rag
Franky and Johnny
Tuxedo Junction
Take Five
Customer questions

Do you have different line-up options?

The Finishing Touch can perform as a solo violinist, string duo, trio or quartet. If you would like a small orchestra this can also be arranged through discussion and negotiation.

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

It is usually not a problem if your timings change slightly on the day of your event. Please let us know and we can discuss through your preferred arrangements.

How much time do you need to set up?

It will take us very little time to set up - a matter of minutes! All we need are chairs without arms so that we can bow comfortably, alongside a good level of light.

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

We have played as an ensemble for many years and play a balanced repertoire, however we totally understand that it is your day and you can choose from our repertoire list or even request a favourite piece. We will always try to accommodate the style of music you would like to hear.

Do you bring all the equipment you need to perform?

Apart from chairs we have everything we need!

Can you learn specific pieces before the event?

Given enough time before your event, we will arrange a special piece for you free of charge.

What do your clients love most about your performances?

Our clients are happy with the whole experience from booking to performance. We pride ourselves on efficiency from the first enquiry, to meeting the needs of the client in respect of repertoire and performance. Being conservatoire trained, we take the quality of our work very seriously, with the highest quality professional performance foremost in mind.

Which venues have you performed at in the past?

As well as performing for social functions as a string quartet we perform as professional freelance musicians and as such have performed in concert halls in London and around the world. The Royal Albert Hall, Barbican Centre and South Bank Centre are to name but a few.

Which artists have you been most influenced by?

We are very open minded when it comes to influences. We like performing all musical styles and appreciate the work and performances of countless musicians.

What is the most high profile gig you've performed?

In addition to performing for the Queen (November 2019), I have performed in person to an audience of over five thousand people at a classical music charity function. However, the most public views has been on-line where The Finishing Touch featured in a video which to date has had 24 million hits!

Michael's Prices

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

Standard Prices
Performance durationPrice
Short performance (up to 15 min)£160
Up to 1 hour£190
Up to 2 hours£210
Up to 3 hours£230
Packages
Wedding ceremony
This includes music before the service begins, music during the signing of the register, and music as guests leave.
£250
Michael
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5 out of 5
40 verified reviews
Satisfaction
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5.0
Professionalism
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5.0
Communication
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5.0
Punctuality
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5.0

Michael's Reviews

From Encore customers:

GB
Gemma B
1 month ago
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5 out of 5

A perfect performance and a genuinely nice guy. Highly recommend.

IE
Irham E
1 month ago
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5 out of 5

Amazing violinist. Went down so well with all the guests and made our day absolutely perfect. Michael is fantastic.

JM
Jolyon M
3 months ago
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5 out of 5

It was such a pleasure to meet Michael. He was was incredibly professional and, of course, very talented. He played beautifully for us while I proposed to my fiancée. Michael was really generous with his time, and even sourced some songs I requested. I can't thank him enough for being a part of our special day and I would highly recommend him without hesitation. Thanks again Michael!

KS
Kerry S
3 months ago
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5 out of 5

Cannot recommend Michael enough! Michael played the prelude to our wedding ceremony, the song my wife walked down the aisle to and finally throughout our wedding reception. It was a real talking point and Michael played everything faultlessly. Great communication prior to our special day and Michael delivered everything perfectly and as we’d hoped. A quite brilliant Musician.

Read all 39 reviews

From other customers:

GH
Gary H
2 years ago, for a Wedding in Portsmouth
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5 out of 5

Michael, You were amazing. I don’t think myself, Maria, or anyone else could of wished for better. Thank you so much for playing such lovely music, beautifully. Yours sincerely, Mr and Mrs Gary Higson.

AS
Andrea S
7 years ago

The Finishing Touch are a highly talented string quartet

Read all 9 reviews