The Cornwall Quartet
Brings the beautiful sound of string instruments to weddings and events.
Welcome
We’re a professional string quartet based in Cornwall, and we love bringing music to life. Our repertoire is wide and varied — from much-loved classical favourites to stylish arrangements of pop, rock, jazz, folk and film music — so there’s something to suit every atmosphere and every celebration.
We combine polished professionalism with a warm, expressive sound. Shaped by both technical precision and genuine musical sensitivity, our playing is there to complement those truly special moments that stay with you long after the final note has faded.
Each of our quartet members are highly trained, experienced musicians who have performed extensively across the UK and internationally. We share a passion for refined ensemble playing and believe deeply in music’s ability to communicate what words often cannot. As the saying goes, “Where words fail, music speaks.”
Whether we’re providing elegant background music or taking centre stage, each client is unique and musical tastes vary. We tailor our performances to each individual event. Our aim is always the same: to elevate your occasion in the way only live music can do.
Our Music
One of the wonderful qualities of a string quartet is its versatility. The combination of two violins, viola and cello allows music from many different genres to be reimagined with warmth, elegance and character.
Our repertoire is broad, adaptable and continually growing. It includes timeless classical works by composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Vivaldi, alongside much-loved wedding favourites like Pachelbel’s Canon in D.
We also love exploring music beyond the classical repertoire, performing creative arrangements of songs by artists such as Taylor Swift, AC/DC and many others. Hearing familiar songs transformed by the rich sound of a string quartet often brings a wonderful sense of surprise and joy to guests.
Recently, the popularity of Bridgerton has inspired many couples to include romantic, cinematic arrangements from the series. Pieces such as Spring 1 (Recomposed) and Wildest Dreams have become particularly popular choices.
We’re always delighted to share a copy of our full repertoire list on request, and if there’s a special piece you would love to include that isn’t currently listed, we’re very happy to source or create a bespoke arrangement to make your event even more personal.
Why Choose The Cornwall Quartet?
We understand the trust our clients place in us — often to provide the soundtrack to some of the most meaningful moments of their lives. Every performance is approached with care, attention to detail and a genuine commitment to creating something special.
With over twenty-five years of combined experience performing at weddings, celebrations and events, we bring both musical expertise and a calm, professional presence to every occasion. Our musicians live and work in Cornwall, and we’re continually inspired by the beauty that surrounds us. From dramatic coastal settings to elegant country estates, Cornwall’s venues naturally lend themselves to unforgettable celebrations.
As one of the county’s most established and experienced string quartets, we’re proud to have built trusted relationships with many of Cornwall’s most celebrated venues and planners, and to be recommended at beautiful locations such as Boconnoc Estate, Nancarrow Farm and Treseren.
Our Clients also value the flexibility of our repertoire, the quality of our arrangements, and the reassurance of working with experienced professional musicians who understand how to read a room and shape the atmosphere of an event.
Whether we’re accompanying you down the aisle, playing lively music as glasses are raised in celebration, or filling the space with sweeping, cinematic melodies, our aim is always the same — to tailor the music to your event and elevate each unique moment.
What You Can Expect
When you book The Cornwall Quartet, you can expect:
Professional presentation
We arrive punctually, dress elegantly, and interact warmly and respectfully with you and your guests.
Exceptional sound
A rich, polished quartet sound that enhances your setting without overwhelming it.
A tailored musical experience
From classical masterpieces and film favourites to contemporary songs and bespoke arrangements, we’ll work with you to create a programme that reflects your style and vision.
Flexible packages
Whether you’re looking for ceremony music, drinks reception ambience, or coverage for both, we offer packages to suit your day.
Clear and thoughtful communication
We’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable — with timely responses, careful planning and attention to detail every step of the way.
Booking & Enquiries
We’d love to hear about your plans.
To check availability and discuss repertoire options or pricing, please get in touch with your event date, location and the type of performance you’re looking for. We’ll work closely with you to create the perfect musical backdrop for your occasion.
The Cornwall Quartet — beautiful music, thoughtfully performed, for moments that matter.
Weddings
Wedding Ceremonies.
Tailoring the Music
We truly appreciate the thought and care that goes into choosing the individual details of a wedding ceremony. These personal touches reflect who you are as a couple, and the music you select can add a deeply meaningful and emotional dimension to the moment.
Musical taste is wonderfully personal, and choosing pieces that resonate with you allows your ceremony to feel authentic and uniquely yours.
A string quartet is incredibly versatile and adapts beautifully to a wide range of styles — from elegant Baroque classics to modern pop, film music and even heavy rock arrangements.
If you’d like a little guidance when making your selections, we’re always happy to help. With years of experience performing at weddings, we can suggest pieces that complement both your musical tastes and the atmosphere you’d like to create.
Music for Each Moment of Your Ceremony
Live music can gently shape the atmosphere throughout your ceremony, highlighting each important moment and adding a sense of occasion as the day unfolds. A string quartet creates a beautiful, elegant backdrop that enhances the emotion of the ceremony without ever feeling overwhelming.
Guest Arrival
As guests arrive and take their seats, we can perform a relaxed selection of music to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere. This helps set the tone for the ceremony and allows guests to settle in while enjoying the sound of live music.
Entrance / Walking Down the Aisle
One of the most memorable moments of the ceremony. Whether you choose a traditional piece, a favourite song or something more contemporary, we perform it with sensitivity and care to accompany your walk down the aisle.
Signing of the Register
During the signing, we usually perform two or three pieces while guests relax and enjoy the music. This is often a lovely opportunity to include songs that are meaningful to you both.
The Exit
As the ceremony concludes, we perform a joyful and uplifting piece as you walk back down the aisle together, marking the start of your celebrations.
If there are particular pieces that are special to you but not currently in our repertoire, we are often able to prepare bespoke arrangements to make your ceremony even more personal.
Popular Ceremony Choices
Over the years we’ve performed at many beautiful weddings and have seen certain pieces become favourites for key moments of the ceremony. While every couple’s taste is unique, the selections below are wonderful starting points if you’re looking for inspiration.
Walking Down the Aisle
Canon in D – Johann Pachelbel
A Thousand Years – Christina Perri
Wildest Dreams – Taylor Swift
Can’t Help Falling in Love – Elvis Presley
Hoppipolla - Sigur Ros
Love Story - Taylor Swift
Signing of the Register
Spring 1 (Recomposed) – Max Richter
Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles
All You Need Is Love – The Beatles
At Last - Etta James
Walking Back Down the Aisle
Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours) – Stevie Wonder
Viva La Vida – Coldplay
Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Queen
Of course, these are just a few suggestions. Many couples enjoy choosing music that reflects their own story, favourite artists or shared memories. If you have something special in mind, we’d be delighted to help create the perfect musical moments for your ceremony.
Drinks Reception & Wedding Breakfast
There’s something truly special about the atmosphere that live music creates. As your celebrations begin, we can provide lively, uplifting background music during your drinks reception, helping guests relax, mingle and enjoy the moment.
As the day continues into your wedding breakfast, the quartet can provide a warm and elegant musical backdrop, adding to the sense of occasion while allowing conversation and laughter to flow naturally.
Our programmes are carefully curated and varied, featuring a blend of well-known classical pieces alongside stylish arrangements of pop, jazz, film and contemporary favourites — ensuring there is something for guests of all ages to recognise and enjoy.
How the Booking Process Works
Planning your wedding music should feel enjoyable and straightforward. We aim to make the process simple, relaxed and well organised from the very first enquiry.
1. Get in Touch
Send us a message with your wedding date, venue and the type of music you’re interested in (for example, ceremony music, drinks reception or both). We’ll confirm our availability and send you our package options and pricing.
2. Secure Your Date
Once you decide to book, we’ll send a booking agreement and request a deposit to secure the date. At this stage you can relax knowing your music is taken care of.
3. Choosing Your Music
Closer to the wedding, we’ll help you finalise your music choices for each moment of the ceremony. You’re welcome to choose from our repertoire list, and if there are special pieces you’d love to include, we’re often able to arrange them for string quartet.
4. Final Details
In the weeks leading up to the wedding, we’ll confirm the schedule, performance timings and any venue details to ensure everything runs smoothly on the day. The remaining balance is payable anytime up to two weeks before the wedding.
5. Your Wedding Day
On the day itself, we arrive in plenty of time to set up and coordinate with your venue or planner. All you need to do is enjoy the moment while we provide the soundtrack to your celebration.
If you have any questions at any stage, we’re always happy to help. Our goal is to make the experience as easy and enjoyable as possible, while creating beautiful music for one of the most meaningful days of your life.
FAQ’s
Can we choose all the music for our wedding ceremony?
Yes, you are very welcome to choose your ceremony music from our repertoire list, and we are always happy to offer guidance if you would like help with your selections.
We typically perform around seven pieces of background music while guests are arriving and taking their seats. You are welcome to select these pieces yourself, or if you prefer, you can simply leave the choices to us and we will create a beautiful, relaxed atmosphere for the start of your ceremony.
Can we choose all the music for our drinks reception?
For drinks receptions, we usually recommend that couples choose up to ten favourite pieces that they would particularly love to hear. From there, we are happy to curate the rest of the programme, ensuring the music flows naturally and suits the atmosphere of the celebration.
Can you perform music that isn’t on your repertoire list?
Yes. If there is a piece you would love to include that isn’t currently on our repertoire list, please do get in touch — we can often accommodate special requests.
If an existing string quartet arrangement is available, the only additional cost would normally be the purchase of the sheet music (typically around £15–£20). If a new arrangement needs to be created, a composer’s fee would apply, usually around £70.
What happens if one of the musicians is ill or unavailable on the day?
We work closely with a trusted network of outstanding professional musicians, all of whom are highly experienced in performing with string quartets. In the unlikely event that one of our members is unavailable due to illness or unforeseen circumstances, we will arrange a suitable professional replacement to ensure everything goes ahead smoothly.Can we choose all the music for our wedding ceremony?
Yes, you are very welcome to choose your ceremony music from our repertoire list, and we are happy to offer guidance if you would like assistance. We typically play around seven pieces of background music while guests are taking their seats. You may select these pieces yourself, or, if you prefer, you can leave the selection to us.
Do you need electricity to perform?
No. As a traditional acoustic string quartet, we do not require electricity or amplification to perform. This allows us to play in a wide variety of locations, including outdoor settings such as gardens, courtyards and marquees.
Can you perform outdoors?
Yes, we are very happy to perform outdoors when weather conditions allow. However, as our instruments are delicate and sensitive to temperature and moisture, we do require suitable shelter from direct sunlight, wind and rain.
How long do you usually perform for?
Our performances are typically arranged in sets of around 45 minutes, with short breaks in between. For weddings, the exact timing will depend on the part of the day we are performing for — for example, guest arrival, the ceremony itself, or the drinks reception.
When do you arrive to set up?
We usually arrive around 30–45 minutes before we are due to begin playing. This allows plenty of time to set up, tune our instruments and coordinate with the venue or wedding coordinator so that everything runs smoothly.
What do you wear when performing?
We dress formally and elegantly to complement the style of your event. For weddings and formal occasions this is typically classic black concert attire, although we are happy to adapt if your event has a particular theme or dress code.
Do you liaise with the venue or wedding planner?
Yes. We are very happy to coordinate directly with your venue, wedding planner or coordinator to ensure everything runs smoothly on the day. We have extensive experience performing at weddings and events, and we understand how important timing and organisation are.
We will confirm performance times, arrival details and any practical requirements in advance, allowing the day to flow seamlessly so that you can simply relax and enjoy the celebration.
Corporate Events
and Functions
Corporate Events and Functions
Live music has the power to transform the atmosphere of an event. The sound of a string quartet immediately creates a sense of elegance and occasion, offering a refined and welcoming backdrop for corporate gatherings, receptions and celebrations.
The Cornwall Quartet provides sophisticated live music for corporate events, functions and private parties. Whether you are hosting a drinks reception, awards ceremony, networking event, product launch or company celebration, our music enhances the atmosphere while allowing guests to relax, converse and enjoy the occasion.
Our music enhances the ambience of an event without dominating the space, allowing guests to relax, converse and enjoy the occasion while experiencing the unique warmth of live performance. With a versatile repertoire that ranges from classical favourites to stylish arrangements of contemporary songs, we can tailor the music to suit the tone and style of your event.
We are experienced in working with event organisers, venues and production teams to ensure everything runs smoothly. Whether providing discreet background music during a reception or a more engaging performance for guests, we bring professionalism, flexibility and attention to detail to every booking.
If you are considering booking us, please do not hesitate to get in touch to check our availability. When requesting a quote, it is helpful to include the event date, venue address and approximate performance duration so we can provide the most accurate information.
Our members have performed in a wide variety of prestigious venues and events, including the Royal Albert Hall, O2 Arena, Barbican Centre, Birmingham Symphony Hall, National Gallery, British Library, Victoria and Albert Museum and the Eden Project, as well as major events such as the BBC Proms, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Mardi Gras. Members of the quartet have also performed at international venues including the Yacht Club de Monaco.
Professionalism & Reliability
We understand the importance of professionalism at corporate events. We arrive punctually, present ourselves formally, and work seamlessly with event planners and venue staff to ensure the music integrates smoothly with the schedule of the event.
Flexible Repertoire
Our versatile repertoire allows us to tailor the musical atmosphere to suit the character of your event — from refined classical music to stylish arrangements of well-known contemporary songs.
Simple Setup
As an acoustic ensemble, we require minimal setup and no amplification, making it easy for us to perform in a wide variety of venues and event spaces.
If you are planning an event and would like to include live music, we would be delighted to discuss how the quartet can help create a memorable atmosphere for your guests.
“We were recommended Quartet Cornwall by my oldest friend who owns Wed Magazine - we were confident as she has vast experience and knowledge of all wedding professionals across the South West.
We were incredibly pleased with how talented, friendly and professional these musicians were. One of the poor lads even played for us on his 30th birthday!
Our requests were happily accommodated by Danielle and she contacted us regularly to ensure that we had all the information and advice we needed - neither of us being classical music buffs.
I cannot recommend Quartet Cornwall enough.”