The Leith Quartet has been playing right into the hearts of local brides for the past ten years. The four musicians use their expertise and rich string quartet sounds to set the stage for wedding ceremonies and receptions in the community. This tightly knit, well rehearsed and obviously talented quartet has their own way with weddings, and it looks like brides can hear the difference. Staff at The Ring sat down with Violinist and Quartet Representative, Bruce Skelton to find out more...

Personally speaking...

Based in Kitchener-Waterloo, The Leith Quartet is made up of four talented musicians of varied musical backgrounds. The group takes their name from the historic Leith Church in Leith, Ontario, where the group originally made their debut in 2001. Since then, they have been presenting inspirational performances at concerts in Leith and the Waterloo Region as well as playing close to thirty weddings per year from London to Scarborough, and Hamilton to Owen Sound.

Bruce took a few moments to introduce us to the calibre and talent of this group comprised of Martha Kalyniak, Rick Bond, Hector Vasquez and himself...

Martha has been a violin and viola player for over twenty-seven years. A member of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony viola section since 1982, she is also a teacher at the K-W Community String School. In 2001, she toured Japan with the Canadian Consort and today continues to play at several festivals throughout the country.

Alongside a career teaching physics, Rick has enjoyed an ongoing musical career playing violin with symphonies in Thunder Bay, Hamilton, and Kitchener. He currently plays in the Waterloo Chamber Players and the Stratford Symphony, and is the concertmaster of the K-W Community Orchestra.

Hector's career has taken him across the globe. Originally from Venezuela, he started his early cello training under the watchful eyes of Pablo Casals at the National Conservatory of Puerto Rico, and later with William Pleeth of England. A principal cellist for the Venezuelan Symphony & Bogota Philharmonic Orchestras, he is also an accomplished soloist, having performed in theatres in South America, Europe and the U.S..

Bruce studied at the University of Michigan where he obtained his Bachelor of Music in Performance, studying with Jacob Krachmalnick. In addition to his work playing and managing The Leith Quartet, he regularly freelances in the Kitchener-Waterloo area and leads a very active teaching career, both in private lessons as well as with the K-W Community String School.

An experienced sound

The Leith Quartet is a string quartet, featuring two violins, one viola, and one cello, and primarily plays Classical music. Each member plays with the goal of infusing his or her individual talents and personality into the quartet for a dynamic group sound. "We enjoy playing as a group above all else," says Bruce. "Because we rehearse together weekly, we have a polished and beautifully blended sound and we are able to 'read' each other very well." Bruce believes that this dedication and synchronicity is what truly results in a balanced, professional sound. "To have everyone working together is key. It helps us make sure our timing is great and our transitions are seamless."

Martha agreed wholeheartedly, having just finished playing as a substitute with another musical group at a wedding. "It was not nearly as much fun as with Leith. The more I play with other groups, the more I appreciate our group. Ours runs really smoothly and we just sound so much better. I think it's just being cohesive and Bruce runs it without us seeing any stress!"

Recent groom David hired The Leith Quartet for his April 30th, 2011wedding day. He says that it added a special element of romance to his wedding day, "The quartet along with the singer brought tears to my eyes with how beautiful they sounded.  Bruce provided us with a cd of the music played at our wedding and we can relive our special day over and over again. I would recommend Leith to any couple getting married. They would not regret the decision to hire these guys "

The right stuff

Beyond playing beautiful music with skill, a good quartet must be able to play the songs that are important to the wedding couple on their special day. Bruce says that they can provide the musical arrangements for just about any song from any genre, with at least two months notice. "We've done everything from U2 and Josh Groban to Tool and Nine Inch Nails," Bruce told us. They can also work with additional musicians to get the right blend and arrangement for the piece, or they can accompany a soloist if needed. They will rehearse with any other musicians for your wedding as much as is necessary to polish the sound and timing.

When Amanda Babensee first met with The Leith Quartet to discuss her September 2010 ceremony music, she said that they gave her pages of music options to choose from and told her that if there was any song not on the list, they would learn it for her wedding day. “I sent them music for the ‘Our Father’ that we sing at my church - they did a fantastic job, it sounded like they have been playing it for years,” she told us. “The music they had ranged from various classical composers to modern day string renditions. Their playlist is quite extensive and impressive. They also indicated for me which pieces would be great for the recessional, psalm, processional, etcetera. They made it very easy for me to choose the music.”

Dave and Angela Coe say that it was their attention to detail and wide range of materials that made The Leith Quartet a perfect choice for their October 1st, 2011 wedding day. "They were amazing.... they worked with us to set up times that were convenient for everyone. They spent over an hour going over and over songs until everyone was comfortable. And they were very accommodating,...whether it was Cannon in D for my entrance, an eagles song that my aunt and uncle sang to during the ceremony or an oasis song during the receiving line, their selection is amazing and their performance was truly beautiful."

Danielle Goreski-Hopps wanted modern music for her September 2010 ceremony and cocktail hour, and says that Bruce and The Leith Quartet pulled it off. “There really isn't anything that Bruce can't arrange - from classical to modern - the choices are endless,” she adds. “Each member of the team was well represented and their music is tight. They will work with your musical needs. It’s a very talented group of musicians.” So talented, that during Danielle’s procession down the aisle, she had a singer sing while The Leith Quartet played and they hadn’t met or practiced before the wedding day, but Danielle says it went off without any problems. “That is the sign of a true professional and someone who really knows what they are doing.”

Kate Dudek had The Leith Quartet play for her wedding ceremony and she told us that they were very professional and could be any style that they need to be to suit the occasion. For her, The Quartet even subcontracted a trumpet player and arranged a pre-ceremony rehearsal with Kate’s family who were singing an anthem in choir-like fashion. “They provided a complete experience for me,” she says.

Walking you through a Leith ceremony

The Leith Quartet understands the importance of the ceremony to the bride. It's the moment she's dreamed of all her life. So, if it's the most elegant of ceremonies you desire, The Leith Quartet wants to help you make it happen.

Your wedding day music will begin with Leith playing prelude music for approximately thirty minutes before the start of your ceremony. They will gradually transition to shorter pieces as the ceremony start time gets closer; the quartet can then easily stop the prelude music when everyone is ready to begin. Your wedding processional music will then begin when the quartet receives their cues from the officiant and/or their logistics coordinator, all of which is pre-arranged at the wedding rehearsal.

During the ceremony, the quartet plays all of the music you've selected, including during the signing of the register. Then, after you've been announced husband and wife, Leith plays your recessional, which is usually three to four minutes depending on the size of the wedding party and the number of guests. If more music is required at this point, they're prepared. "We are very flexible if something comes up on the fly, such as a longer processional or recessional, or if extra time is needed during the signing. We're sure to mark and organize our binders before the wedding so we aren't causing a distraction by leafing through pages and looking for songs."

Shauna Grey wanted live music for her December 2011 ceremony and cocktail hour, and says that Bruce and The Leith Quartet were incredible. “What's better than live music?!  It gives such an elegant touch and creates the perfect ambiance and mood that sets the stage for the whole wedding. The music was just so beautifully played and I will never forget when they started playing Pachabel's Canon when my dad and I walked in. It brought tears to my eyes and everyone in the room.  All of our guests came up to us after and talked about how great the music for the ceremony and cocktail hour was and said it was a really nice touch that we had live music playing."

Teresa Stern says she couldn't believe how far above and beyond The Leith Quartet went in making sure that her ceremony music was perfect for her July 2011 wedding day, "Bruce was absolutely amazing! I love working with Bruce because even before picking and finalizing songs, he already knew the type of style and genre I was going for. He really understands his clients and always makes sure the bride and groom are happy with what his team plays. My favourite part was hearing the special piece Bruce edited for me for my wedding day. I could not believe my ears, it sounded exactly how I wanted to and more!"

One of our absolute favourite services offered by The Leith Quartet is the option of recording and keeping the music that was played at your wedding. It's a fantastic keepsake that couples can cherish and play for years to come (how romantic would it be to play your wedding music each year on your anniversary?!)

The perfect accompaniment to a perfect day

While The Leith Quartet is most often called upon to play at wedding ceremonies, they pride themselves on being able to give your entire wedding day an unforgettable musical ambiance from beginning to end.

From your walk down the aisle to cocktails or a fabulous dinner affair, Bruce told staff at The Ring that they can do it all. "We love to play after the ceremony as well; we'll entertain the guests while photos are being taken during cocktail hour, and we can provide an amazing musical backdrop during dinner."

Couples can even rent a speaker system with a wireless microphone and headset to use during the ceremony, for speeches during the reception or for an outdoor wedding where speakers are often not readily available.

Shannon Howanyk hired Leith Quartet for her November 12th, 2011 wedding day. She says their musical ability, coordination skills, and reasonable pricing makes them uniquely qualified to handle any wedding day with ease, "String Quartets add a classy element that takes wedding ceremonies to the next level.  The ability to meet with the Leith Quartet in person, and hear demo-music and have free consultations added certainty to a hectic day. The Leith Quartet has a library of music, including new songs that past couples have had the quartet arrange.  You feel like you’re not missing out on any great pieces when you have a library of popular content to review."

Quartet + one

The fifth person to be added to the Leith team is their Logistics Coordinator, Bruce's son, Christopher. "He works as our eyes and ears on the day of the wedding," Bruce told us. The L.C. stays at the back of the ceremony site so that he can signal the quartet when the wedding party is there and ready to enter. Christopher also attends the wedding rehearsal so that the bridal party can meet him, and so that all musical cues are clearly determined. As Bruce says, "It's really important for us to know who, for example, the mother of the bride is if we have to play a certain piece when she walks in. Plus, every wedding is unique, so having Christopher let us know what's happening really helps."

The Quartet’s incredible talent and professionalism was something that Kendra felt other musicians didn’t have. “In addition to that, they have Christopher, Bruce’s son, who keeps The Quartet informed of the timing of everything,” she adds of what sets them apart. “Both Bruce and Christopher came to our rehearsal and were a great help in getting people to understand their roles and how the music would work. It was extremely helpful.”

Kate thought it was brilliant for The Leith Quartet to have a Logistic Coordinator and loved that it was included in the price of their services and it made Kate’s day so much more relaxed. “Plus, it made it easier for The Quartet to be sure they knew what was going on as well.”

Bruce also brings recordings of your selected processional music to the rehearsal to help everyone in the bridal party with pacing during the processional. "Anyone who is part of the processional feels much more comfortable at the ceremony when they've heard the music at the rehearsal," adds Bruce.

Sounds like love?

Once you've fallen for the sounds of The Leith Quartet, it's Bruce that you'll be meeting with in person and talking to throughout the wedding planning process. You'll discuss musical choices, the order of service, special requests, and location. Bruce says he's committed to seeing that no musical detail goes overlooked and that you are completely satisfied. "We're here for the bride and groom."

Bruce will remain in contact by phone and/or email with you during the entire process. Since he knows how busy brides are, he says that he tries to respond to all emails and telephone calls as quickly as possible, "usually right away, but no later than twenty-four hours later."

“Bruce and his team were wonderful,” Kendra told us. “They were by far one of my favourite vendors from my wedding. Bruce is very detail-oriented and proactive about getting in touch with you to figure out the details for the wedding.”

Out of all of the quartets Hannah looked into, she says that The Leith Quartet impressed her the most with their friendliness and responsiveness to her inquiries. “They were all really friendly,” she adds. “I mainly corresponded with Bruce, who was always really prompt at responding to my many questions and was very flexible in making it all work within our budget.”

Because of demand, Bruce suggests booking the quartet at least six months in advance. They limit the number of events they take on each weekend depending on time and location, so call ahead to make sure you get exactly what you need from The Leith Quartet.

From her first meeting with The Leith Quartet, Amanda says they helped her by giving her a detailed list of the music options. “We sat in Bruce's home and he played recordings of the pieces we were thinking of using so we could get an idea of what it sounded like when they were playing,” she told us. “If we were unsure, Bruce helped us by suggesting pieces that fit our personalities and the setting we were trying to create on our special day.” The Leith Quartet even offered to make her a CD of the music they played on her wedding, which she thought was amazing. “Now I can pop in the CD and go back to our wedding day.”

Pricing the sounds of strings

A non-refundable deposit of a minimum of $125 books your wedding ceremony with Leith, and your balance is due thirty days or more before the wedding day. The Leith Quartet's ceremony and cocktail and reception packages include straight forward pricing that we know brides and grooms will love. All taxes are included in all price quotes, and additional fees are required for travel beyond the Region of Waterloo.

“The Leith Quartet’s prices were more than fair,” says Kendra. “They are such a talented group and really enhanced our wedding ceremony. I would have paid more.”

Only the Ceremony
fee: $515 (includes consultations & rehearsal)
deposit: $125

Only Cocktails & Reception
fee: $440 (first hour), $220 (next hour), $220 (final hour)
deposit: $125

Ceremony, Cocktails & Reception Combinations
Ask Bruce for a customized quote!

Hannah felt that The Leith Quartet’s prices were very reasonable, “especially for the services provided and in comparison to other quartets we looked in to.” Danielle certainly agreed, saying that “Bruce and his team exceeded our expectations. Price point is in line with industry standards; but what they can pull off is priceless. There wasn’t a thing I would have changed.”

Details, details, details

• For the best availability options, book The Leith Quartet at least 6 months ahead of your special day.
• In order to save your date, it's a minimum non-refundable deposit of $125.
• Your balance is due 30 days before the wedding day.

In other words...

“We used The Quartet for our ceremony and cocktail hour. I would absolutely recommend The Leith Quartet to any couple getting married. They made our ceremony and cocktail hour beyond memorable. The mood they created for the whole ceremony was beautifully romantic; a CD could never create what they did. Their Prices were GREAT! They had several options to choose from, making it easy to stay within any budget. They were well worth it!! Bruce and his team were great to have with us on our wedding day. They were beyond professional and they played beautifully.” - Nichole Stranz, married August 28, 2010

“I actually ordered a duo because that was all I could afford for my daughter at that time and The Leith Quartet was good enough to make it a trio for me. It was two violins and a cello. They were two young men and a young female. They came in quietly, (it was during our cocktail hour) set-up quickly and played a variety of music for everyone's taste. They were great. I had a lot of comments and all positive. They played non-stop for an hour. They were priced fair, I thought… comparable or a little cheaper than others I saw on the internet… They were dressed professionally in suits, played for an hour and left without being noticed. Good music, fair price, and very easy to work with.” - Lori McDougall