Sonja Whisman is a professionally very active violinist around Sedona and Verde Valley, regularly hosting concerts, performing, and teaching. She is a local who never tires of exploring the area. With her, you will have an experienced and knowledgeable resource. She is an organized, personable, and high quality musician who can provide a wide variety of music to fit your style(s). She will be "in the moment" for your day and loves to communicate through music, bringing you and your guests together, causing smiles, tears of joy, and delight to young and old alike.
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Her wedding package typically includes:
* Introductory phone call, music planning questionnaire, and prompt follow-ups and responses, as needed.
* Over 275 songs on music list to choose from, including classical, pop, jazz, movie music, Latin, Celtic/old-time fiddle, waltzes, country, and some Western swing. Will learn up to two new songs for $25 each.
* Amplification set-up (if needed)
* Early arrival (at least one hour) to set up and warm up
* Pre-ceremony music to set the mood while people are gathering and being seated (around 30 minutes, usually)
* Ceremony music
* Music during picture-taking (depending on time remaining after the ceremony)
She is often asked to provide an extra hour of cocktail hour and/or dinner music.
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A lifelong musician and lover of music from Bach to Hendrix, Sonja Whisman spent many years playing classical, Celtic, and old-time American tunes. Since moving to the Verde Valley, Arizona in 2012, she has become a popular local entertainer, wedding violinist (classical, jazz, pop), and Celtic contra dance fiddler. She has performed in the Bob Dylan Birthday concerts and at various venues in Sedona, Prescott, Cottonwood, Camp Verde, and in Red Earth Theater productions. She demonstrates a mind-melding ability to adapt to almost any musical genre or style. You can hear her play as well as sing (Spanish and English) at local ticketed performances, at her monthly acoustic concert at the Contemporary in Old Town that she hosts, as a solo performer at private events, and at open mics. Being bilingual and a lover of children, she also spends two days a week at Mountain View Preparatory, singing and playing with her happy K-2 students, where she teaches Spanish.
Page Springs June 2019Sonja WhismanAgave of Sedona 2/29Immaculate Conception ChurchLos Abrigados April 2018Los Abrigados April 2018Old Town Center for the ArtsSedona Golf Resort WeddingImmaculate Conception Church wedding in Cottonwood AZ Nov 2017At America's Got Talent in PhoenixVerde River Day in CottonwoodPlaying Celtic reels and jigs for a Contra DanceSonja WhismanGlendale Folk Festival performanceSedona Star Wars wedding on a trailhead near Coffeepot! Sept 2017Clarkdale 4-8 LoungeTlaquepaque 5/12/18Music in the Stacks, Camp Verde Public LibraryOpen mic in Camp VerdeLoose Change Folk EnsembleGlendale Folk FestivalMy back porch potluckFolk band Loose Change at the HUB in SedonaSmall wedding at Tlaquepaque chapel in Sedona 3/28/18At Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village in Sedona 4/7/18Banquet after wedding 4/7/18Bridal Expo in Scottsdale 5/18Dylan Birthday Concert 5/2018A dreamy-sweet rainy day wedding at L'Auberge6-16-18Omni Resort, Scottsdale 2018Taken by Jayde of JP PhotographyLos Abrigados April 2018Sky Ranch Lodge, SedonaCocktail Hour, Sky Ranch LodgeAgave of Sedona 2/19Binns Wildflower PavilionSecret Slickrock, SedonaOld Town Center for the ArtsSecret Slickrock, Sedona 10/18Pretty terrace wedding at TlaqPage Springs Cellars weddingPage Spring's nesting peacockPage Springs June 2019Page Springs June 2019Page Springs June 2019Sonja WhismanAgave of Sedona 2/29
Sonja was fantastic to work with. She made the process easy and she was super helpful! I would definitely recommend her to anyone looking for someone to play at your wedding. She sounded beautiful!
Sent on 12/28/2019
Sonja Whisman's reply:
Thank you Stephanie! Everything turned out so nicely in that little chapel! I loved being part of it! ❤️
Annabel
· Married on 10/17/2019
5.0
Quality of service:
5.0
Responsiveness:
5.0
Value:
5.0
Flexibility:
5.0
Professionalism:
5.0
We love Sonja!
Music was great, she was great! So happy we hired Sonja
Sent on 10/29/2019
Chastity Upchurch
· Married on 08/10/2019
5.0
Quality of service:
5.0
Responsiveness:
5.0
Value:
5.0
Flexibility:
5.0
Professionalism:
5.0
Amazing musician!
Sonja was a joy to have at my wedding! She has great communication prior to the event. Went over the songs I wanted her to play, even sent live examples of specific songs! She was excited with me doe my big day! She showed up promptly, didn’t need any direction and knew exactly where to go and what to do and made the music process a breeze! She did a fantastic job! Koran of compliments and I can’t say enough about how great of an experience it was with her. Thank you sooo much!
Sent on 08/24/2019
Sonja Whisman's reply:
Thank you Chastity. You were wonderful to work with. :) Here's to you, enjoying your new life together!!
I recently worked with Sonja at a wedding in Sedona. She was so sweet and relaxed. Her music was beautiful and a great addition to the wedding atmosphere!
Sonja is a gifted violinist with a variety of genres at the touch of her fingers. Listening to Sonja play touches one's heart. As a soloist, I highly recommend Sonja for your wedding ceremony.
I had the pleasure of working a booth across from Soja at the Sedona Bridal expo. Her music was so incredibly beautiful. I would highly recommend her to any couples looking to have a violinist at their ceremony!
