Not sure where to begin writing this review. There are truly no words big enough to describe how special Cello Joe was as our wedding DJ. He wasn't just a part of our wedding day, he made our wedding day. From the very first moment to the very last song, he gave us something so magical, so unforgettable, that it still makes us emotional to think about. He was literally the heartbeat of our day. He played live cello pre ceremony for all the guests to enjoy that was truly so beautiful. But the live cello as I walked down the aisle is a memory etched into our hearts forever. It was more than music. It felt like the soundtrack to our love story, and it was the most beautiful beginning to the rest of our lives. Then, during cocktail hour, he transformed the atmosphere with looping, beatboxing, and cello in a way that left every single guest completely captivated. People couldn't stop talking about it, and even now, they're still telling us it was the most unique and breathtaking performance they've ever experienced at a wedding from start to finish. And then there was the saxophonist he brought in during the dance party. pure magic. Together, they created an energy that was electric, soulful, and overflowing with joy. They didn't just entertain, they touched every heart in the room. Not only was he the most talented cello musician, he absolutely crushed the dance party and played non stop for 3:30 hours. Not one bad song or bad mix. It was absolutely incredible. But what truly sets him apart is how much heart he pours into what he does. Without us even knowing, he recorded our entire ceremony, our cocktail hour, our dance floor, and gifted us not just music, but memories. He allowed us to relive the most important day of our lives again and again. That level of thoughtfulness is beyond anything we could have imagined. Our wedding was perfect because of him. He exceeded every expectation and gave us more than we ever dreamed possible. He is, without question, the most talented, kind, and extraordinary musician and DJ we have ever met. If we could give him more than 5 stars, we would. To us, he isn't just the best wedding DJ in the world, he's someone we will forever be grateful for, someone who gave us the gift of a wedding day that truly felt like a dream. Cello Joe, thank you for all the moments you created throughout our weekend. You truly are one of the most talented people we've ever met and I will be recommending you to everybody I know!! read more

CelloJoe - Musicians Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

From the very beginning, Joey was such a pleasure to work with. I had reached out to inquire about his services, unsure if we could make it work with our budget--but he was so kind and understanding, and truly went above and beyond to help us find something that fit. Not only did he work with us on pricing, but he also offered audio engineering services, which was such a blessing since we hadn't yet figured that part out. Joey was always easy to reach and wonderful to communicate with. Every time we had a question or needed to connect, he was there--responsive, thoughtful, and incredibly professional. And when the big day came... wow. Hearing him play as I walked down the aisle brought tears to my eyes. His cello music was absolutely beautiful--it added such a romantic, emotional layer to the ceremony, and truly brought my vision to life. It was a dream come true. We couldn't have asked for a better musician to be part of our day. Joey's talent, kindness, and willingness to go the extra mile made such a lasting impression. We're so grateful and would recommend him a hundred times over. read more

CelloJoe - Joey - Musicians Near Me - Oakland, California

I work as the director of community life for the Aldersly Senior home in San Rafael. Our residents absolutely loved the performance. From the music to the crowd engagement, I absolutely recommend!!! We will be happy to have Joe return for future performances. Communication was easy as well. Thank you ! read more

Cello Joe was professional, patient, and knowledgeable in both preparations for the ceremony day as well as on the day of our wedding! He helped us to make up a dinner music playlist which guests enjoyed, impressed guests with live cello playing and looping, and was able to adjust for unexpected moments to have musical accompaniment which made the moments our guests were experiencing more magical. His DJing was professional and well timed to the energy of the crowd, and he knows his gear and equipment well. The fact that we had three different locations and need for wireless setups did not deter him, and he was prepared. Thanks Joey for taking care of all of our sound needs from ensuring voices were heard at the ceremony to closing out the night. read more

Talented, original and professional all describe why I hired Joey to entertain at our annual conference dinner. His professional approach and follow through was very appreciated and his equipment was top notch. His unique entertainment was just what I wanted to create the memory stamp of this event. Everyone was unaware of their "bopping" while enjoying dinner. At one point, a group hijacked the microphone and began free styling giving the night a hilarious ending. He's a One & Only! read more

CelloJoe - Performing in the Capital View Ballroom, Hyatt Regency, Sacramento - Musicians Near Me - Oakland, California

Cello Joe is the best. 110% recommend him for any event. We encountered Cello Joe's talents at the Shakespeare Theater in Orinda, and then hired him for a backyard birthday party for my wife. His unique music fits every vibe, was a source of lots of conversations, and he was the highlight of the party. The kids and adults were dancing and everyone had a great time. Joey himself was fantastic to work with - he's super-well organized and we had all the details dialed in together far in advance. He was flexible when the schedule shifted a bit, showed up punctually, and was totally self-sufficient. He went above and beyond with the extensive gear he brought (the table of percussion toys was impressive on its own!), and he even set up lighting that made our backyard look nicer than it ever has. Thank you Joey, and I hope we get to see you perform again soon! read more

Cello Joe was an amazing addition to our wedding! He was organized, communicated well leading up to the wedding, encouraging and fun. His cello playing was so beautiful during our ceremony and many people liked the cello-looping during cocktail hour! He then transformed into our MC and DJ- setting everything up in a very short time frame! (Not to mention he drove across California with all of his things!) He insisted on bringing lights to make the dancing more fun and I'm so glad he did. Overall, he set the mood of our wedding and it was really beautiful. Thanks Joey! read more

We got married on 10/08/2023 and booked Joey for both live entertainment and DJ. We selected him because he's a beatboxing cellist/DJ which we thought was totally awesome, and he did not disappoint. He was incredible and so much fun to work with! Our vision was pretty quirky; our venue was a funky brewery in an old airplane hangar, our attire was Art Deco-style, we didn't want any tradition "wedding" music, and had a tasteful ode to Batman incorporated into our theme. Joey took our vision and ran with it. He had so many creative ideas and input throughout the whole planning process. Beginning with the ceremony, he played cello versions of non-traditional 80s, pop, and rock songs, which were beautifully interpreted and set the perfect mood for the perfect moment. During "Beer Hour", he shifted to playing the cello while beatboxing and singing to more non-traditional songs. I have to say we were not expecting him to sing, but were pleasantly surprised by his beautiful voice! We and our guests were thoroughly impressed by his talent and charisma. When we transitioned to the reception, Joey switched gears to DJ/MC mode. He and his wife who was assisting him were seriously the life of the party. We requested that our grand entrance song be the Batman Forever theme song, and he came up with a minute-long "movie trailer" intro for us. It was epic and hilarious, and the perfect way to set the tone for the entire evening. Throughout the night, he played both songs we requested as well as other songs that fit our vibe perfectly. We were on the dance floor all night (other than when my husband left when the Niners game started haha). He and his wife were also rocking out with us at the DJ booth. It's easy to see that Joey loves what he does. His passion for music and creativity shines, and we can't thank him enough for making our wedding day "the most fun wedding we've ever been to" according to every single one of our guests. It was the most amazing wedding ever and the best day of our lives. Thank you Joey!!! read more

CelloJoe is professional and did an amazing job at our wedding. My wife and I received wonderful feedback from our guests. We also asked him to intermittently play the cello during the background music at our reception, and it was a nice touch to add to our wedding. Thank you Joe! read more

We had Cello Joe play at our concert on 6.1.24. He was on a side stage and delivered an amazing show. His music is entertaining, people loved it. He also is easy to work with. He brings all his own sound system so all you have to provide is power. He is polite, kind, and professional and I use him whenever I can. Gratefully, Luna read more

Joey was one of the best decisions we made for our wedding! Our ceremony was out in a meadow and the guests absolutely loved his cello playing before the ceremony. It set such a beautiful scene for the location we chose. During our cocktail hour he played more cello but also included some beat boxing and looping, which my guests raved about and thought was so unique. Sadly, as the bride I missed both of these, but when it came to his DJ skills I can attest that he had the party going all night. He listened to what we wanted and mixed up the playlist so that people were on the dance floor until the very end. He was extremely professional to work with and always listened to our wants. If you want an awesome DJ/cellist/beatboxer to make your wedding stand out and keep you guests talking then hire Joey! read more

Outstanding! Joe played several hours of original music at our wedding and provided the perfect vibe - classy, fun, beautiful. He also MCed for us and went above and beyond in the planning and coordination that went on in the weeks leading up to the wedding. Our wedding wouldn't have been the same without him. read more

We hired Joe to DJ and play cello at our wedding in May. Joe was everything we could have asked for. As a DJ, he was professional and kept the party going and the energy high. His cello performances during the cocktail hour and ceremony were exactly what we were looking for! In the planning phase, Joe guided us to figure out what we wanted and made it really easy for us to put together a plan. He was incredibly helpful along the way and we are so grateful! We would highly recommend Joe to anyone looking for a DJ and/or cellist at their wedding. 10/10 rating, would definitely book Joe again! read more

Cello Joe proved to be the perfect DJ/MC for our wedding, and we enthusiastically recommend him. From the beginning, he was responsive and took charge of the planning process to ensure our day unfolded exactly as we envisioned. His creative ideas helped maintain a smooth and engaging atmosphere throughout the evening. Not only did he adeptly adjust the energy levels to suit the mood, but his skills as a cellist and his unique personality added an extra layer of charm. He even accommodated outfit changes between sets as requested! From entertaining the youngest guests to delighting the older relatives, he effortlessly catered to all ages. Our 18-month-old niece and 3-year-old nephew even held hands and danced to his music together! Despite initial doubts from our families about bringing in an artist that we discovered the weekend that we met at a music festival, they are now singing his praises. Cello Joe exceeded all expectations, from his classical cello performance during guest entrance to his cello covers during cocktail hour, and finally, his DJ/MC duties and original music at the after-party. If we could change one thing, it would be to have extended his captivating original set longer into the after-party--it was simply outstanding. Here's to Cello Joe for making our wedding unforgettable and gaining new fans along the way. No one else could have done it like him--truly perfect! read more

Cello Joe made a suprise valentine celebration unforgettable! He collaborated with me regarding lyrics and song tune. After he put everything together it became a wonderful memory never to be forgotten. My partner cried after watching the personalized video because of how amazed they were. Thank you cello Joe for such an impactful performance that poignantly strung together beautiful memories of a relationship. read more

Joe was exactly what we wanted for our wedding. He was easy to work with, great communication, punctual, well dressed, and most importantly sounded great! We had a custom request of "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran and he took the time to learn it for us and turned out exactly as we hoped. HIGHLY recommend CelloJoe! read more

Joey was the DJ and live Cello musician at our Wedding in July 2023 at the UC Berkeley Botanical gardens, and it was the stuff dreams are made out of. Joey rocked it. He came through 150%. His suit. 11/10. His cello playing skills 11/10, His ability to get the dance floor JUMPING 11/10. We had the best time with Joey. Couldnt be more grateful. Absolute legend. read more

I'm done with DJs and bands! Thank god I found celloJoe! We hired him for a VIP reception and he impressed all of us! His entertainment is unique, mesmerizing and groovy! I can't wait to book him again. read more

Cello Joe was absolutely amazing when he played at my niece's wedding on 4/24 in Naples FL. His music is incredible and unique and perfect for an elegant and classy wedding or other venue. He is also both personable and professional. I highly recommend him. read more

Cello Joe's performance at our wedding was outstanding. All of our guests were very impressed with his unique beat boxing cello performance. And he was a great emcee. He scheduled appointments with us prior to the event to make sure every detail was ironed out so that our big day went super smooth. Highly recommend! read more

Joey does not disappoint! He played the cello live for my wedding as well as DJ the dance music. I wanted the music personalized to our cultures and he did just that. Joey went so far as wearing traditional hats that represented both our cultures when he played the music on the cello. He also did a great job bringing people to the dance floor and brought the hype! 100% recommend Joey. read more

CelloJoe - Joey playing the cello to Mariachi music. He was able to represent the bride and groom's cultures! - Musicians Near Me - Oakland, California

Any extraordinary artist ! Our audiences loved every minute of his set. Thank you for sharing your talents with our community!

I recently had the pleasure of booking Cello Joe to perform at my wedding and what a special experience it was!!! Joey is a true professional on all levels! From start to finish, communication was effortless and always on point. He even assisted us with setting up and dialing in the sound system. Now on to the important stuff... Cello Joe's performance bridged the spectrum of family and friends present for our wedding. It was such a magical experience seeing so many loved ones getting down to veggie maniac, bike girl and so much love :). Cello Joe delivered a performance that brought joy and smiles to everyone's experience. Overall I rate our experience 11/11. It was an honor to have such a talented musician perform and such a fun character to hang out with the rest of the event. Cello Joe's set was the musical highlight of our wedding. We're extraordinarily grateful that Cello Joe made the trip up to Portland and very much look forward to seeing this musical genius again in the near future! read more

CelloJoe - Musicians Near Me - Oakland, California

Joey Chang was instrumental in conducting our wedding ceremony and our wedding reception. He brought the highest level of musicianship, ceremony, and professionalism to our special day, making it sing! Joey played classical cello music before our ceremony, for the processional, and during our ceremony. Each music piece was selected for its contribution to the orchestration of the whole nuptial service and brought out and accompanied the feeling of the moment. Joey also played both classical and contemporary live cello (many of his original pieces) at our reception during dinner, creating a warm, welcoming, and nuanced atmosphere. Additionally, offering his multitalented presence, Joey served as our master of ceremonies for the reception. His timing and transitions and delivery were as deft at the microphone as they were at the cello, never missing a beat. Not only that but he also served as DJ for our wedding reception dance party. Working with our established playlist, he brought out the playful and reflective moments of the night, providing music to accompany the entrance, the first dance, the father daughter and mother son dance, and the bouquet toss. He worked magic! Our wedding and its celebration were a work of art, and Joey Chang was a principal artist in its creation. Joey was reliable and dependable in all of our preparations every step along the way; not only was he punctual and prepared, he helped to adapt to the changes in the moment on our special day, capably and flexibly responding to the schedule as it evolved throughout the five and a half hour reception. Joey Chang is a multi talented musician and artist who brought style and poise as well as containment and sheer beauty to our wedding day with his presence at the cello, at the microphone, and at the DJ table. read more

Joey played the cello at our Chinese wedding banquet and did a spectacular job! He played a mix of classics and pop covers, did both live performances and some DJ-ing. He wowed me and my husband as well as all our guests. Additionally he set up the sound system, speakers, and mics - everything worked seamlessly. He was great at communicating and so easy to work with. We had to reschedule due to COVID (the week of!) and he was kind, incredibly understanding, and flexible when we were stressed out. He has both style and impeccable professionalism. Would recommend him and his original music as well in a heartbeat! He made our wedding so special and is an extraordinary talent. read more

Joey was an incredible DJ for a recent wedding I coordinated. He was professional, prompt and made the ceremony and night flow seamlessly. I am so grateful he was a part of our vendor team. You will not regret hiring him for your event! read more

Joey stepped in to cover our DJ and MC activities a month before our wedding, and although we were nervous at the time for such a late change, we are SO happy to have had him cover our big day. From the beginning, he worked tirelessly with us to understand the flow of the day (which was a complex multi ceremony, multi tea/coffee/cocktail hour, with dinner and dancing type of day) and to define the exact time, location and music for each event. On the day, he blended seamlessly into the fabric of the events, successfully coordinating our Indian (Tamil) ceremony which had specific cues for music, a gorgeous live cello performance leading into our western ceremony, and an absolutely lit, fun dance party. Our guests had an amazing time and we are so grateful to Joey for his support and making our day so special. Thank you!!! read more

outstanding! easy to schedule on time great musician read more

Cello Joe's unique and pleasing sound sets him apart from the rest of the acts that I could have booked for my event. Everyone loved his music and really appreciated having an act that does things a bit differently (how many beatboxing cellists have you heard of?). The booking process was easy, and Cello Joe provided a great sound system and just the right ambiance lighting. Very responsive and professional communication. I highly recommend that you book Cello Joe for your next event! read more

We asked Joey to play for our company holiday week and his show was fantastic and I would highly recommend him for your performance needs. His show and style was really special to share with our 70+ employees. Thank you so much for helping make this holiday season a bit brighter!! read more

Cello Joe is so talented! His playlist for the Celebration-of Life event for our son was perfect. In addition, it rained and rained that day and as a true professional would, Joe remained flexible as he changed his venue from outside to inside with just enough room for his cello and equipment. Thank you, Joe, for your beautiful gift of music and for being with our family and friends on such a difficult day. read more

When I first got engaged, I knew immediately that I wanted Cello Joe to play at our wedding. Little did I know that in addition to his amazing cello set, he also DJs! He also has various equipment that you can rent for very reasonable fee - wireless mic, speakers, etc. Leading up to the event, he was great with the planning. His booking process was very organized and clear. He was flexible allowing us to submit any playlists and/or songs that we wanted and even familiarized himself with the songs beforehand. Our wedding day schedule was very complicated, but he did not miss a beat!! Because he was on top of the timing, our day was able to run smoothly and on time. He cued everything right on time and worked closely with our wedding coordinator to remain flexible throughout the day/night. His cello performance was... amazing. Our guest loved his set and were thoroughly entertained. His DJing was equally on par. He was able to read the crowd and kept them dancing all night. He accommodated song requests from our guests too. All in all, I could not be more grateful that we had him there on our special day. He made it magical and easy with his professionalism and talent. Highly recommended!! read more

My husband and I were very lucky to have CelloJoe at our wedding recently. Joey played during our ceremony and he set the most magical tone for that really special and intimate moment. He followed by entertaining our guests with more contemporary songs during cocktail hour, completely mesmerizing everyone. He was even kind enough to take requests from some guests. We could not have asked for a better musician/person to help create such a warm, elegant and fun atmosphere. Not only is Joey incredibly talented, he is also wonderfully personable and professional. He answered ALL my questions quickly, patiently and thoroughly. He made this element of the planning process very easy during an overwhelmingly busy time. As our wedding approached, we were completely confident he would deliver and he did so beyond our expectations. He was even very cool to stick around and hang with us afterwards. We were grateful to have Joey at our wedding and can't express enough what an extraordinary and unique addition he was to a memorable night. read more

Cello Joe is awesome! I first heard Joey's music at a yoga festival, and loved it, and realized that he would be perfect for my fiance's and I's wedding. Pretty much my favorite music ever is Cello/Viola/Violin looped over electronic (so that part was pretty obvious), and I also wanted something that wasn't too "wedding-ish" yet at the same time would please the more traditional family members while still being interesting for my friends. Plus, I really wanted my wedding to be a very personal experience, and Joey seemed like somebody I would want to be part of the inner circle, and not just a hired musician. I finally got up the nerve to ask Joey if he would consider, and, lucky for us, he was keen and the date worked! Besides the totally amazing music, Joey was super easy to work with. Joey was very good about asking exactly what we wanted, what times we wanted, etc., so I imagine that if you had a structured wedding plan, he would provide exactly what you wanted at an exact time. I, however, am not a good planner. I think my only instructions were "something wedding-ish that isn't the actual wedding song" and gave him a "schedule" that of course was only vaguely reflective of the actual timing of events. As if by magic, Joey started and stopped at all the exact right times. He went right along with the day as it unfolded without prompting, which was a godsend because if he had needed structured instructions, it wouldn't have happened. If there needed to be music, Cello Joe was playing, and if it was a part of the wedding where there needed to be silence, the music just stopped. Cello Joe definitely played a part in making it all happen. Everybody LOVED the music, from my closest friends to most distant relatives. And it was nice just having Joe there as a part of the wedding. Plus now whenever I see Cello Joe's name as part of the line up at a festival or party, I get a little giddy thinking "Yup, he was at our wedding. We're cool like that." We had the option of having a DJ for an hour that played with Cello Joe, and that was really cool too. Basically, we had Cello Joe play by himself for the outside processional, and then him and the DJ play together during the first part of the reception. I can't recommend Cello Joe enough. Thanks for some wonderful music! read more

Saw him playing at Amnesia, in the Mission. Loved his music, considering asking him to play at event

I booked Joey for my birthday party and he was absolutely fantastic and would recommend to anyone! The service from start to finish was uncomplicated, organised and professional. Joey was so friendly, interacted with the guests and we all agreed he was the highlight of the evening ! Thanks again Joey for making my day even more special! read more

Cello Joe was great to work with throughout the entire process--from coordinating prior to the event to setting up and performing on the day. I originally reached out to Cello Joe to have him entertain my party with his amazing cello skills, but ended up hiring him to DJ due to my restricted budget. When my schedule went a little awry, he graciously kept the party going past our agreed-upon time and even busted out his cello to elevate the atmosphere while asking nothing in return. When you hire Cello Joe, you not only get a professional entertainer, you also get a solid event-coordinating teammate. Do not hesitate to hire Cello Joe for your event. read more

CelloJoe is so much fun! LOVE the music, vibes and talent!

CelloJoe played at our company holiday party (more than 500 guests attended). He wowed the crowd with an eclectic mix of innovative, funky music and vocal percussion. We heard great feedback from several guests. I highly recommend CelloJoe for any gathering where a cool vibe is desired! read more

Wow, where to start! CelloJoe performed at our wedding last weekend and was AMAZING. When I started planning I asked my friends on Facebook for recommendations for Ceremony musicians. My research pulled up only extraordinarily expensive, not really my style , ie string quartets and Spanish guitar. Not that there's anything wrong with that but I was looking for something different! We went to check him out at a local bar in Berkeley and decided we liked him on the spot, he was friendly and professional and really prompt with communicating back and forth on email and phone, especially considering he was leaving/ left for a one month long bike journey thru Australia before our wedding. I was nervous about what selections he would play ( I don't know cello music very well) so he had some great suggestions. He was supportive up to the end when I was so concerned with timing ( ie when the party should walk, cues to start the bridal march, etc...) When he showed up he looked great in a very professional black suit and tie ( great for our Kohl Mansion venue). We stuck to the traditional classical stuff for the ceremony ( he's great at that too) and he pulled out the funkier beatboxing style at the cocktail hour. He even took requests - Nirvana and the Beatles on the cello. It was perfect and my guests could not stop RAVING about what a great find he was. I wish that I had had more time to just sit and listen to him but considering it was my wedding I had to mingle more :) I can't wait to check out some more of his local gigs when I get back from my honeymoon! read more