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Weddings

About

Looking to add a touch of elegance and sophistication to your special occasion in Birmingham, AL? Look no further than BirminghamViolin! We are a highly esteemed musical ensemble offering a range of exquisite services, including the enchanting sounds of violin, cello, accordion, and jazz violin.


With an unmatched reputation in the industry, BirminghamViolin and our talented musician Karen McDowell were honored with the prestigious "WeddingWire Couples Choice Awards 2020 for Best Wedding Ceremony Musician.” But don't let the accolades fool you - we're all about having a blast while creating an unforgettable experience.

Our team at BirminghamViolin is dedicated to infusing your event with a playful and magical atmosphere. From solo violin performances that leave you breathless to energizing string duos, trios, and quartets that have you tapping your feet, we have the flexibility to customize your occasion to perfection. Immerse yourself in the timeless beauty of classical music or delight in the lively melodies of Celtic fiddle and popular songs. Our extensive repertoire includes masterpieces by Beethoven, Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart, as well as contemporary favorites from icons like Ed Sheeran, Elvis Presley, John Legend, Christina Perry among others.

When it comes to song selection, the power is in your hands. You can choose from our extensive list of preferred tunes or let our experienced music planner and organizer, Karen McDowell, curate the perfect playlist for your special day. With her extensive academic background and years of performing with prestigious orchestras, she knows how to set the stage for a one-of-a-kind experience.

With over two decades of experience, BirminghamViolin has graced countless weddings and special events throughout the Birmingham area, and we're ready to make your gathering extraordinary. Whether it's an indoor or outdoor wedding ceremony, a lively cocktail hour, a heartfelt funeral, or a corporate event that needs some pizzazz, our live performances will elevate the ambiance to new heights.

Karen McDowell, music planner and organizer, studied violin with Ivan Galamian of the Juilliard school of Music, holds a Bachelor and Master's Degree in Music Performance, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics and Natural Science and an OD doctor degree from UAB.

Don't settle for ordinary when you can indulge in extraordinary musical artistry with BirminghamViolin. Contact us today to book our services and let us set the stage for an unforgettable occasion in Birmingham, AL and beyond! Your guests will be talking about this celebration for years to come.

  • Woman-owned
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Frequently asked questions

Which of the following are included in the price of your most popular wedding package?

Ceremony Music

What ceremony music arrangements can you provide?

Acapella
Instrumental - Solo
Instrumental - Duo
Instrumental - Trio
String - Trio
String - Quartet
String - Quintet
Soloist / Vocalist

How many musicians are in your band(s)?

1 - 3
4 - 6

What instruments does your group play?

Cello
Drums
Guitar
Harp
Piano
Trumpet
Viola
Violin

What services do you provide?

Ceremony Music
Cocktail Hour Music
Instrumentals
Learn New Songs
Music During Breaks
Reception Music
Rehearsal Dinner Music
Sound/PA System

Reviews of Birmingham Violin

This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

Review summary

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Karen of Birmingham Violins is highly praised by multiple reviewers for her exceptional talent, professionalism, and easy communication. Reviewers were thrilled with her performance at weddings and events, noting her punctuality, responsiveness, and ability to play a wide selection of music beautifully. Guests were highly complimentary of the magical touch she added to special occasions, making her a highly recommended choice for anyone seeking a truly special addition to their event.

Review summary

Powered by AI
This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

Karen of Birmingham Violins is highly praised by multiple reviewers for her exceptional talent, professionalism, and easy communication. Reviewers were thrilled with her performance at weddings and events, noting her punctuality, responsiveness, and ability to play a wide selection of music beautifully. Guests were highly complimentary of the magical touch she added to special occasions, making her a highly recommended choice for anyone seeking a truly special addition to their event.

A
Amy Sent on 06/22/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Lovely music 🎶!

Karen was fantastic! She is lovely and so easy to work with! She and her cellist played my fav music along with different styles of music that all the guests enjoyed.
M
Maia Sent on 11/13/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Fabulous music for my ceremony

Karen was just great, from the communication texting and helping with music choices. She is easy to work with and very professional. Highly recommend.
J
Jose Sent on 10/17/2024
5 out of 5 rating

professional and talented

We were absolutely thrilled with the performance at our wedding. Karen was exceptional - both in talent and professionalism. Every note was beautifully played, adding a magical touch to our special day. From our initial communication to the final performance she was punctual, responsive and easy to work with. Our guests were highly complimentary to the beautiful music. We would highly recommend her for a truly special addition to your event!
L
Lauren Sent on 07/05/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Lovely addition to our ceremony

Karen and her cellist was wonderful! WOW! They sounded like a recording! Will hire again!
C
Cheryl Sent on 12/20/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Fabulous violinist!

Karen was great! We hired her for our wedding ceremony. My wife and I could not have been happier. Moon River was perfectly played as my soon to be wife walked in. Karen provided excellent communication prior, early arrival at and attention to detail during.
S
Sara Sent on 12/20/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Wonderful violin duo

Our Christmas party dinner would not have been complete without Karen and Kevin violin duet. They play beautifully and we absolutely loved the selection of music they brought to our Christmas dinner. We highly recommend! And Thank you Karen for your talents!
T
Tanya Sent on 12/19/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing Violinist!

Karen of Birmingham Violins played for my son's wedding ceremony this past weekend and it was absolutely lovely! And SHE is lovely! Karen was responsive and easy to work with, which was important as planning an out-of-state wedding can be challenging. She offered a wide selection of music (classical, contemporary, etc.) and was even helpful in making suggestions. With so much to do with wedding planning it was nice to just say "play what you like" and have it all turn out and sound beautiful. Karen was prompt and very reasonable with her rates. I cannot overstate how highly I recommend Karen of Birmingham Violins.
J
Jewels Sent on 03/27/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Fantastic cello + violin duo!

Kevin and Karen were fantastic to work with and did an amazing job performing during our ceremony and cocktail hour! They are talented musicians and provided the perfect vibe for us. We highly recommend this group!
Z
Zac B. Sent on 12/31/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Beautiful Violin Duo

Karen's duo set the mood for our wedding ceremony. Karen was professional from the start to the finish. She has a ton of experience and is so familiar with song choices. The music planning she provided was fantastic. And the duo was so romantic!
J
Julie Sent on 12/31/2022
5 out of 5 rating

they were PERFECT!

Karen was amazing and exceeded my expectations by helping select the perfect Christmastime music to go with my favorite song. She was easy to get in touch with and answered all my questions. We had a lot of comments on how the music made our ceremony. I Couldn't have done it without her beautiful violin and the fab cello accompanist.
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Awards

29
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2020 Winner

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