Event & Wedding Performance Solo Violin, Duos, Trios, Ensembles
The perfect celebration requires more than just beautiful notes - it demands a flawless, musical atmosphere tailored to the unique energy of your event. Since 1998, I have crafted sweet, spirited, and soulful live soundtracks for thousands of events across the California Central Coast and Bay Area, and beyond - from the coastal cliffs of Big Sur, to the sprawling vineyards of Napa and Carmel Valley, the secret gardens of San Francisco, and the luxury hotels of Monterey and San Jose. By performing exclusively with a dedicated circle of my dearest friends and musical colleagues - including a rare, nearly telepathic chemistry and creative partnership with my husband - we bypass the impersonal rosters of event agencies to deliver a warm, deeply intuitive performance your guests will be talking about for years to come.
Whether designing an intimate, haute-couture solo violin performance for a surprise proposal, or conducting a rich, multi-dimensional live ensemble for a grand reception, I marry decades of concert-level mastery with a sophisticated booking experience. Trusted by discerning couples, luxury wedding planners, and elite global organizations - including Apple, Citi Bank, Hitachi, and the APEC Conference - I elevate your milestone moments into treasured memories.
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I take pride in "finding the voice of the violin" across a range of styles, including Classical, Pop, Rock, Jazz, and diverse global roots. My expansive event music repertoire allows me to shape the atmosphere of your celebration, pivoting from poised, elegant classics to vibrant, high-energy favorites as your event unfolds.
However, exceptional live music is about much more than just the notes played; it's about the atmosphere created. With nearly 30 years of professional experience, I combine seasoned artistry with a poised, intuitive presence, ensuring an unforgettable and effortless experience from start to finish.
With exemplary reviews across major industry platforms and a comprehensive $2 million liability insurance policy, I bring peace of mind to every event. From our initial consultation to my final note, my performance packages ensure a seamless, world-class experience so you can focus on celebrating.
However, exceptional live music is about much more than just the notes played; it's about the atmosphere created. With nearly 30 years of professional experience, I combine seasoned artistry with a poised, intuitive presence, ensuring an unforgettable and effortless experience from start to finish.
With exemplary reviews across major industry platforms and a comprehensive $2 million liability insurance policy, I bring peace of mind to every event. From our initial consultation to my final note, my performance packages ensure a seamless, world-class experience so you can focus on celebrating.
Choosing Ensemble Type: A Music First Approach
Breathtaking live music feels effortless, but is never an afterthought; it is designed with the ears of a composer. Rather than booking an arbitrary combination of instruments and scrambling later to force your favorite songs into a poor arrangement, I collaborate with clients from the start. By identifying your desired genres, artists, and key song requests upfront, my "music first” approach ensures the instrumentation booked offers the optimal blend of musical roles and musician skill-sets required to bring your vision to life.
Please click a topic to learn more.
The Planning Experience: What to Expect
Tailoring Your Soundtrack: Whether you have a long list of dream songs you hope to feature, or just an overall vibe in mind, we will collaborate to curate the perfect setlist and poised to adapt to the flow if the mood shifts. As a rule of thumb, each hour of continuous music features 10 - 12 beautifully paced songs.
If your heart is set on a song outside our repertoire, we can arrange and learn custom requests given sufficient advance notice. Whether it's transforming a contemporary favorite into a string arrangement, or commissioning Laurel to compose an original instrumental for your walk down the aisle, your music will be entirely unique.
Concert-Level Audio, without the Clutter: While acoustic performance can be warm and intimate in acoustically resonant indoor settings, open-air venues often require a bit of support so your guests don't miss a single note. Expansive vineyard lawns, towering redwood groves, and breezy coastal cliffs can easily swallow acoustic sound. Together, we will determine the perfect acoustic or amplified approach based on your venue layout, guest count, and timeline requirements.
For settings that need support, pro-tier, low-profile sound reinforcement is automatically included. We utilize premium instrument microphones and pickups, and compact, battery-powered audio systems that allow us to set up anywhere - placing zero demands on your venue and leaving your space free of unsightly excess cables. If your venue is a historic chapel or a local zone that mandates 100% unamplified sound, we will execute a traditional acoustic performance and adapt our playing technique to best maximize the natural resonance of the space.
For settings that need support, pro-tier, low-profile sound reinforcement is automatically included. We utilize premium instrument microphones and pickups, and compact, battery-powered audio systems that allow us to set up anywhere - placing zero demands on your venue and leaving your space free of unsightly excess cables. If your venue is a historic chapel or a local zone that mandates 100% unamplified sound, we will execute a traditional acoustic performance and adapt our playing technique to best maximize the natural resonance of the space.
Seamless Logistics & Coordination: Whether you're hiring a full-service planning team or coordinating your event yourself, once you share your timeline details and coordinator contact, if applicable, we are entirely self-sufficient to map out our physical layouts, arrival windows, and sound checks. Aside from a simple cue for the start of the processional music in the case of a wedding ceremony, our music unfolds effortlessly without the need for any help or direction on the day of your event.
Acoustic & Environmental Requirements for Successful Events
Having soundtracked celebrations across the California Central Coast and beyond since 1998, we've gained expertise navigating the unique microclimates of the region.
To ensure the music remains incredible, no matter the elements, sensitive wooden instruments do come with some requirements. For outdoor bookings, a solid flat surface and overhead protection from sun or precipitation (canopy/umbrella) must be present. For venues where clients cannot provide infrastructure, we will supply our own robust shades and battery-powered amplification and collaborate with your planner and venue to ensure optimal amplification and aesthetic integration.
Global Destination Booking
Our live music offerings know no borders. While Laurel and her ensembles are based on the California Central Coast, they are available for destination weddings, celebrations, and corporate retreats across the globe.
From the vineyards of Napa Valley and the desert oases of Palm Springs, to the villas of Tuscany, the tropical estates of Hawaii, and private islands in the Caribbean - we handle all our travel logistics and gear transport.
All destination booking packages include:
• Passport-Ready Artistry: Every core musician maintains active international travel credentials, allowing for rapid-response bookings worldwide.
• Autonomous Logistics: We manage our own airline, hotel bookings, and local transport, ensuring zero administrative burden on your planning team.
• Global Equipment Adaptability: For long-distance air travel, we modify our performance footprints to utilize specialized, ultra-light high-fidelity travel amplification systems and coordinate directly with your local destination AV team to ensure ideal sonic distribution, regardless of the venue's layout and unique natural or architectural features.
All destination bookings require an all-inclusive customized proposal covering flight logistics, artist accommodations, and per diems. Contact Laurel directly to discuss your global itinerary.
Ready to Reach Out?
Our Seamless 3-Step Booking Process:
1. Inquire: Reach out via our secure contact form below with your event date, venue, and any dream song requests.
2. Consult & Quote: We will review your details together to suggest the perfect ensemble fit and provide a tailored, flat-rate proposal.
3. Secure Your Date: Returning a signed event agreement and a 50% deposit officially locks in your date.
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I would love to learn more about your celebration! To help me tailor the musical experience to your day, please include your event date, venue (and whether our performance will be indoors or out), the estimated booking timeframe, and any key song requests or an overall musical style you'd like to feature. I look forward to connecting!
Laurel ThomsenViolin, Viola, Vocals
Performance, Instruction, Recording
Based in Santa Cruz, California
Have questions? I'd love to hear from you!
Please click here to send me a secure message.
"After the Fire" - released January 21, 2022!
We began recording this album in late July 2020, under California’s Covid–19 stay-at-home order, in Dan’s Bonny Doon home studio, The Shed. We were wrapping up by mid-August, but then a heatwave and extremely unusual lightning storm sparked a fast-moving forest fire. Completed after our evacuation to the safe haven of a friend’s home, After the Fire marks the end of an era and a fresh start; Dan’s little studio burned the morning after he’d rescued the rough tracks, studio equipment, and a range of instruments we play, yet rarely have the space to bring with us on the road. Highlighting them on this album helped us feel the joy of performing again and to know that despite the setbacks of the past year, our music will thrive in new ways.
Each song portrays a facet of the journey from setback to reclaimed hope - finding faith in the possibility of LOVE in “Make Me Come Alive,” HOME in “Beale Street,” COMMUNITY in “Together Again” and “Money Shouldn’t Talk That Strong,” and one’s own STRENGTH and FORTITUDE in “If A Wave” and “Hey, It’ll Be OK.”
Each song portrays a facet of the journey from setback to reclaimed hope - finding faith in the possibility of LOVE in “Make Me Come Alive,” HOME in “Beale Street,” COMMUNITY in “Together Again” and “Money Shouldn’t Talk That Strong,” and one’s own STRENGTH and FORTITUDE in “If A Wave” and “Hey, It’ll Be OK.”