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How can I contact you?

Please call Vicki, our cellist and business coordinator, at (303)444-6765, or Kathy, our second violinist, at (303)666-9573.  You may also email Vicki at PtarmiganStringQuartet@comcast.net or Kathy at kathstay@aol.com.

How much do you charge?

Our rates vary and are negotiable.  Please contact us for an estimate for your event. We only charge for the time we are required to be at your event. We don't charge for our set-up time or time it takes to travel to your venue. Generally, our fee is approximately $650 for the first hour minimum in the Denver/Boulder metro area. Check with us for specific rates for your event. Our rates may change from time to time. As you compare the fees charged by various groups of musicians, remember that groups that charge less are often not as experienced. For your wedding or event, you deserve to have professional, reliable musicians like Ptarmigan String Quartet! We can provide the perfect music for your Wedding or other special event.   Weddings usually involve about 1 to 2 hours total time  for the pre-ceremony, ceremony, and receiving line or cocktail hour. We perform music for dinner receptions too. The fees for this are extra. We have pops, tangos, waltz' and other music that is perfect for your dinner-reception! 

What do you play?

We have an extensive list of music from many genres of music such as classical, pops, rock, jazz, Broadway musicals, and the movies. For a list of our Wedding Music, go to our page entitled "Planning a Musical Wedding." Then click on "Wedding Music List." This is a Word document that you can print or download for future reference. For a general music list, please see our Music List page. This list includes the titles of most, but not all, of the music we play.  We will work with you to come up with the perfect selections for your occasion.

What about Special Requests?

We enjoy performing special requests and your favorite song if you can give us at least 60 days notice. For more than one special request, there may be a small fee charged for the work required to arrange a song for string quartet. The earlier you can give us notice, the greater the chances that we'll be able to play your favorite music.

I'm not familiar with all the music.  Can you help us decide what to select?

We will be happy to help you select your music.  Also, to help you decide, you can listen to wedding music CD's at music stores and/or do searches on the Web for sound clips.

What about speakers and microphones - Do you use them? 

Normally we perform acoustically without amplification. However, we know there are times when it's helpful to be amplified such as when performing at a large reception where there are lots of guests. When we perform at outdoor concerts we are amplified. If you want us to be amplified, please make arrangements with us ahead of time. We normally charge a $25 set up fee for our speakers and microphones. If we are performing outdoors in really windy conditions or where there is a lot of background noise such as highway traffic, water falls, etc., we can't guarantee the best quality sound. For excellent acoustics, performing inside a building is the best. If rented equipment or equipment owned and operated by the facility is used, we can't guarantee the quality of the amplified sound. We don't have control over site conditions, such as high wind, the quality or sufficiency of the equipment, or the experience level of the people operating the equipment. 

Do you have a demo CD?

We are in the process on making a demo CD. We also currently have several clips available on the Sound and Video Clips page, so check there first!

May we attend one of your rehearsals?

Yes.  Toward the end of our rehearsal cycle for your event, we can make possible arrangements for you to attend one of our rehearsals.

Are you willing to come to our Wedding rehearsal?

Unless schedules conflict, we make a point of having one of our members present at the rehearsal for every wedding we perform in.  Even though we will be familiar with your detailed ceremony plan and music selection, it is also extremely important for us to observe your rehearsal for timing issues and learn exactly what you want from us during the course of your wedding. Our attendance at your rehearsal also gives you the flexibility to make any necessary changes at the last minute knowing that we will be right on track with your revised ceremony. Of course, if you decide at your rehearsal dinner to make more changes, please let us know before your ceremony begins so we are all on the same page. The music is designed to accompany the various parts of your ceremony, so we count on you to keep us informed about any changes to your ceremony, however minor the changes might seem. This is especially important for parts of the ceremony that cue the musicians to start playing a piece of music.

Where are you located?

We are based in the Denver-Boulder area of Colorado, but we travel as far as 150 miles from Boulder to play for weddings and special events.  We have played music for people all over the Front Range and into the mountains.  However, if we are required to travel more than 35 miles from Boulder, we may charge $0.40 per mile (or the current corporate/government mileage rate) for round trip miles.

Are you willing to play outside?

Yes, we are prepared to play outside so long as the temperature is not lower than about 60 degres.  We'll need you or the facility to set up a 10' x 10' canopy to protect our instruments from sun and possible rain. We are pretty flexible.  However, keep the unpredictable Colorado weather in mind when planning an outdoor event, particularly the early snow in the fall and the afternoon rain in the summer - especially in the mountains! For the best sound projection, it helps it we sit on a hard surface such as a deck, concrete patio, or even a temporary plywood platform. When sitting on grass, the sound gets absorbed and does not project as well. For peace of mind, it's best to also reserve an indoor location at the venue for your Plan B in case the weather does not cooperate.

Do you have references?

By request, we can provide you with references.  Also, you can read comments from some of our past customers.

What do you wear?

What we wear is up to you (within reason, of course).  The most classy atire is dressy concert black. Typical dress includes anything from formal concert black, traditional white and black, dressy colors (we try to coordinate with your wedding colors), or casual.

Are you experienced?

Yes we're very experienced. We have all been playing our instruments for many years, and have had ample opportunities to perform in various settings.  We are active members of symphony orchestras and, as a quartet, have played for many weddings, receptions, art show openings, parties, and civic events for more than a decade.

Where have you performed?

Below is a list of Venues where we have performed music for Weddings and other special events.

Adams Mark Hotel, Denver, Co
Arrowhead Golf Course, Littleton, Co
Assumption Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Denver, Co
Ave Maria Catholic Church, Parker, Co
Boettcher Mansion, Golden, Co
Boulderado Hotel, Boulder, Co
Brown Palace Hotel, Denver, Co
Buffalo Run Gold Course, Commerce City, Co
Châteaux at Fox Meadows, Broomfield, Co
Chautauqua Park Greens, Boulder, Co
Colorado State University Ammons Hall, Ft. Collins, Co
Courtney Hill Chapel, Vail, Co
Crag's Lodge, Estes Park, Co.
Denver Botanical Gardens, Denver, Co
Denver University Chapel, Denver, Co
Devils Thumb Ranch, Tabernash, Co
Evergreen Christian Church, Evergreen, Co
First Congregational Church, Boulder, Co
First Presbyterian Church, Littleton, Co
First United Presbyterian Church, Greeley, Co
Flagstaff House, Boulder, Co
Foss Chapel, Indian Hills, Co
Grand Lake Lodge, Grand Lake, Co
Grant Humphreys Mansion, Denver, Co
Greenbriar Inn, Boulder, Co
Historic Hoverhome, Longmont, Co
Hudson Gardens, Littleton, Co
Hyatt Regency DTC, Denver, Co
IBM, Boulder, Co
Inverness Hotel & Golf Club, Englewood,Co
Iron Horse Resort, Winter Park, Co
Karen's in the Country, Louisville, Co
Lake Shore Lodge, Estes Park, Co
Lionscrest Manor, Lyons, Co
Lodge and Spa at Breckenridge, Breckenridge, Co
Louisville Center for the Arts, Louisville, Co
Louisville Methodist Church, Louisville, Co
Meadow Creek Bed and Breakfast Inn, Pine, Co
Magnolia Hotel, Denver, Co
New Creation Church, Longmont, Co
Omni Interlocken Resort, Broomfield, Co
Peaceful Valley Chapel, Lyons, Co
Peaceful Valley Ranch, Lyons, Co
Pelican Lakes Country Club, Windsor, Co
Phipps Mansion, Denver, Co
Ptarmigan Country Club, Windsor, Co
Ramada Plaza, Northglenn, Co
Ranch Country Club, Westminster, Co
Red Rocks Trading Post, Morrison, Co
Rockland Community Church, Golden, Co
Ryssby Church, Boulder, Co
Sanctuary Golf Course, Sedalia, Co
Sapphire Point - Swan Mountain, Breckenridge, Co
St. Anne's Catholic Church, Arvada, Co
St. Julien Hotel, Boulder, Co
St. Malo Retreat, Allenspark, Co
St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Burlington, Co
St. Rita's Catholic Church, Nederland, Co
Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Co
Sunrise Amphitheater Flagstaff Mountain, Boulder, Co
Tallyn's Reach Club House, Aurora, Co
Ten Mile Station - Ski Resort, Breckenridge, Co
United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Co
University of Colorado Mary Rippon Theater, Boulder, Co
UCAR, Boulder, Co
Wallace Park - Prospect, Longmont, Co
Whatley Chapel, Denver, Co
Wedding Deck Vail Mt., Vail, Co
Wild Basin Lodge, Allenspark, Co
Wildfire Community Arts Center, Berthoud, Co
Willow Run, Broomfield, Co
Word of Life Christian Center, Lone Tree, Co

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