Scored for Strings: The Cocktail Hour
Effortless elegance. Seamless flow.
Cocktail hour is where the atmosphere begins to unfold. Live string music adds warmth, movement, and quiet sophistication while allowing conversation and celebration to flow naturally.
Parkwest Strings provides luxury live string music for wedding cocktail hours, corporate receptions, and private events throughout Chicago and the North Shore. Our string quartet, trio, and duo performances blend classical favorites, cinematic themes, and modern songs reimagined for strings with refinement and balance.
Sample Cocktail Hour Playlists
Rock & Indie
Atmospheric favorites, nostalgic anthems, and a little edge.
- Dreams — Fleetwood Mac
- Somewhere Only We Know — Keane
- Electric Love — BØRNS
- Video Games — Lana Del Rey
- Iris — Goo Goo Dolls
- Hoppípolla — Sigur Rós
- Into the Mystic — Van Morrison
- Somebody Told Me — The Killers
- Landslide — Fleetwood Mac
- Sweet Child O’ Mine — Guns N’ Roses
- Accidentally in Love — Counting Crows
- Hide and Seek — Imogen Heap
- This Love — Maroon 5
- Dream On — Aerosmith
- A Sky Full of Stars — Coldplay
A Little of Everything
Classical, pop, soul, Broadway, and rock in one eclectic mix.
- Eine kleine Nachtmusik, Allegro — Mozart
- Married Life — from Up
- How Sweet It Is — James Taylor
- You Belong With Me — Taylor Swift
- The Girl with the Flaxen Hair — Debussy
- Love on Top — Beyoncé
- Somewhere Only We Know — Keane
- New York, New York — Frank Sinatra
- Beyond the Sea — Bobby Darin
- All I Ask of You — from The Phantom of the Opera
- True Colors — Cyndi Lauper
- Sweet Child O’ Mine — Guns N’ Roses
- September — Earth, Wind & Fire
- This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) — Natalie Cole
- A Sky Full of Stars — Coldplay
Bridgerton Inspired
Romantic pop favorites with the elegance of strings.
- Wildest Dreams — Taylor Swift
- Diamonds — Rihanna
- Yellow — Coldplay
- Material Girl — Madonna
- Dancing on My Own — Robyn
- Give Me Everything — Pitbull
- Wrecking Ball — Miley Cyrus
- Girls Like You — Maroon 5
- In My Blood — Shawn Mendes
- Thank U, Next — Ariana Grande
- You Belong With Me — Taylor Swift
- Video Games — Lana Del Rey
- Somewhere Only We Know — Keane
- Can’t Help Falling in Love — Elvis Presley
- A Sky Full of Stars — Coldplay
Ensemble Options
String Duo • String Trio • String Quartet • String Quintet
Each ensemble offers a distinct presence, scaled to your space and vision. We’re happy to guide you toward the option that feels right for your guest count, venue, and overall flow.
Repertoire
Popular choices include:
- Modern love songs reimagined for strings
- Romantic classics and light classical works
- Film and cinematic selections with warmth and clarity
- Elegant pop and crossover favorites guests recognize instantly
Professional Sound
We coordinate closely with planners, venues, and DJs to ensure timing, volume, and placement feel natural. From entrances to toasts to transitions between moments, everything is handled with discretion and care.
Garfield Park Conservatory Wedding Cocktail Hour Music
Featured Selections Included:
● Spring — Antonio Vivaldi
● Air on the G String — Johann Sebastian Bach
● Ave Maria — Franz Schubert
● Flower Duet — Léo Delibes
● Clair de Lune — Claude Debussy
● Meditation from Thaïs — Jules Massenet
● Canon in D — Johann Pachelbel
● Largo from Winter — Antonio Vivaldi
● Salut d’Amour — Edward Elgar
● Intermezzo — Pietro Mascagni
● Ode to Joy — Ludwig van Beethoven