I have been attending Pro Arte concerts for over 25years. I am part of a core group of loyal…read morefollowers of this GEM of an orchestra. My husband and I had our first date at a Pro Arte concert and we are still sitting beside the same couple we did that day. There is a real sense of the Pro Arte "family." I enjoy seeing the regulars, and I am excited to see new faces joining in, both as players on stage and audience members. For 34 years, Pro Arte has been New England's only cooperative orchestra, made up of some of the top free-lancers in the region, and performing in intimate Sanders Theatre. The quality of the performances is superb and ticket prices are reasonable, making Pro Arte concerts a great bang for the buck. From its inception, Pro Arte has been a vanguard of the "new" model of orchestras that work to connect with their communities and make their music accessible to those who might not otherwise attend. We were drawn to Pro Arte initially because we were intrigued by this unusual cooperative model, which empowers the musicians to select their repertoire, and even their conductors and trustees. This is very different from traditional orchestras, where administrators and trustees makes such decisions and the players arrive and play what is put before them on their music stands. I can't help but believe that the quality of the performances is inspired by the players' sense of ownership. The Pro Arte players select the repertoire, which includes a mix of classical favorites, less familiar but beautiful pieces uniquely written for chamber orchestra, and at times modern or commissioned works. The group has a history of attracting very fine soloists (e.g., YoYo Ma, Mark O'Connor, Fenwick Smith, Ann Hobson Pilot) and guest conductors (e.g. the famed Gunther Schuller of the New England Conservatory, and Joel Smirnov of Juilliard and now Cleveland Institute). I leave concerts feeling both comforted and stretched...and always wow-ed. This will be Pro Arte's 2nd season with Music Director Kevin Rhodes, who brings a new energy and excitement, while maintaining the high standard of musicianship to which we are accustomed. Based upon audience response, I am not alone in enjoying his cheerful and charismatic style. My husband and I attend 4 or 5 classical concerts a month. There are many fine music-making organizations in Boston. But, we think Pro Arte is special and we're hooked!

Brian Sparhawk was our wedding DJ, and made our reception unforgettable! After searching high and…read morelow for DJs who didn't think of themselves as celebrities, I remembered that friends of mine had gotten married in the Boston area, and they told me about Brian. His pricing is fair and he really made us feel at ease from the moment we met him; he was always willing to meet us close to our home, and was very available over email/phone. Brian's equipment worked seamlessly with our reception site (and he arrived early to make sure it would); he also adhered to extremely long "Do Not Play" and "Please Play" lists we gave him just a few days before the reception. Our dance floor was packed until the last song, and many of our friends commented on how good the DJ was (and that they liked that he wore a suit! :)) I can't imagine having hired anyone else.

We recently had Brian Sparhawk DJ our wedding at the Mt. Washington Hotel and we could not have…read moreasked for a better DJ. He arrived early to set up and his equipment worked great. He played the perfect music all night from the dinner all the way to the last dance. We had people dancing all night long but no one had to shout over loud music during dinner. His style was perfect for our wedding. He made all the appropriate announcements but didn't steal the show. He took requests but made sure to check with us that we were happy with what was being played and made sure there was nothing he wasn't playing that we wanted to hear. At one point the hotel staff had told him a timeline that differed from the one we discussed and he immediately checked with me to make sure he knew which way I wanted it done. He spoke with us about a week before the wedding to go over our music choices, the timeline and make sure he knew how to pronounce everyone's names. His price was reasonable and he was very easy to work with. I would absolutely recommend him to anyone looking for a DJ

I am a 48 year old amateur singer who has been singing since age 23 at private parties and events…read more I thought that 25 years would put me in a position of feeling like I knew something about vocalizing but one lesson with Bulent has demonstrated to me how much about singing I still don't know. I finally feel that I have someone who can bring out the best in my voice and help me understand my instrument and how to use it in the correct manner for optimal consistency and quality. Bulent Guneralp voice studio has a very welcoming feel that puts students and anyone passionate about singing in the correct frame of mind to learn. I highly recommend it. Sincerely, Luciano S. Russo

I've been with Bulent for many years, and he continues to help progress my voice! He is the most…read moreknowledgeable instructor I have ever worked with (and I've worked with many!) I highly recommend Bulent to anyone at any level, as he puts in so my effort and passion to every student.

The Ward Eights were truly spectacular and everything we could ask for in a wedding band…read more Professional, helpful in making sure we thought of everything for the big day, and most importantly - put on an amazing performance! So many guests came up to us afterwards and told us they were the best band they've seen at a wedding. They managed to get nearly everyone on the dance floor. We are so happy we picked them for our special day. They made sure the entire reception went perfectly from cocktail hour to send off. Can't recommend enough!

The Ward Eights played our wedding reception last September, and they were absolutely fantastic…read morefrom start to finish. Some highlights: -- Bill & Chris were very easy to work with booking the band and handling all the logistics. -- They were super flexible the day of the wedding (we started late, had to move their setup, and had them plugged into an old gas-powered generator). -- They played an epically-long (nearly 2-hour) set without taking a break. -- They had the entire place dancing like crazy people. I've had so many friends & relatives tell me how "awesome your band was" after the fact -- I would definitely recommend them to anyone who is looking for an incredible band for the wedding/event.

Review for Groove Authority - Rockstars in Formalwear…read more Let's get one thing straight: Groove Authority didn't just play our wedding--they torched the stage and left the tent in a cloud of confetti and happy tears. We hired their full 8-piece band and held our reception under a circus tent in South Dartmouth. But don't let the quaint coastal vibes fool you--this was an arena-worthy, genre-blending musical blowout. They opened with our first dance: "Fly Me to the Moon" by Frank Sinatra--smooth, classic, and romantic enough to make the moon blush. Then the band took off like a rocket. Their emcee? Electric. Dude was running the show like a late-night host meets soul singer--getting the crowd hyped, guiding the flow, and belting out tunes like he was born holding a mic. Let's talk setlist. They delivered funk, soul, pop, R&B, and rock with the precision of a Swiss watch and the sass of a dance floor icon. And when they leaned into rock--honey, they leaned all the way in. Guitars blazing, drums thunderous, and a badass drum solo that had everyone losing it like they were at Led Zeppelin concert in a tux. And then--the voice. Their female lead vocalist? Pipes like Tina, soul like Aretha, and stage presence like Beyoncé on a mission. She didn't just sing--she slayed. Every note was a sermon. Every high belt was a spiritual experience. She had guests fanning themselves, grabbing their chests, and yelling "YES MA'AM!" after each verse. She didn't come to play--she came to bring the house down. We knew we were witnessing something special when dozens of guests and multiple vendors came up to us asking, "Where did you find this band?!" The buzz was real. Based on that reaction alone, we knew we had hit the jackpot. We even saw relatives dancing we've never seen dance before--the shy ones, the quiet cousins, even the stoic uncles. Old and young alike were on that dance floor like they'd just been blessed by the funk gods. At one point, it felt like we were back in 1981, when you popped in a cassette, fluffed your hair, and sang into your hairbrush like your life depended on it. And then--our finale: "Don't Stop Believin'." Our handpicked closer. And they delivered it like it was the last song Earth would ever hear. The tent erupted. Phones were out, hands were up, voices were hoarse. We were one big joyful, Journey-singing family. If you're looking for a wedding band that doesn't just "perform" but serves up a soul-scorching, guitar-blasting, rock 'n' roll revival in formalwear, Groove Authority is it. Book them. Wear comfy shoes. Prepare to dance like you mean it. And thank us later!

I recently had a chance to catch these guys at a local bar in Plymouth and they are tremendous…read more They did a little bit of everything and have lots of voices and personality to lend. Definitely one of the best bands in the greater Boston area.

I had Evan perform at a birthday party with about 20 adults. People are still talking about it,…read morethey loved the slight of hand he performed within the crowd and the group performance as well. He is wonderful to work with and just adds a special touch to your celebration!

Wow! A delightful entertainer. Performs authentic magic. Great presence, engaging and reads the…read moreroom. Evan has the ability to connect with people of all ages. He remembered many of our guests names and included a lot of different people in his performances. We hired him for an hour and a half show and the time flew by. Earnest with a big heart. We would hire him again any time. Thank you Evan!

We hired Peter for an intimate client event and he was even better than we imagined. Seamlessly…read moreinteracting with all of our guests and making a point to engage with everyone at one point in the night (even the tough ones!). Everyone was raving about his tricks, he truly worked the room! But in a very discrete, sophisticated way - which is exactly what we were looking for when we hired him for "strolling" magic. We even had clients inquire for his contact details after the event. 10/10 all around!

Peter came to our company picnic and entertained our tough crowd for about an hour. He was early…read morewith no pressure for us to get started, he had great energy and from the moment we shook hands I knew I made a good choice. He has a great demeanor and was really able to make our toughest nuts crack. Very different than what I had originally imagined or expected, which was entirely OK because his show exceeded my imagination. He included humor, thoughtful insight, and sincerity into the show. If you are second-guessing or wondering if you should book him: DO IT! It is well worth it! I highly recommend him!

Fantastic company! Shattered dreams was an amazing double bill of Puccini and Bernstein -two…read moretotally different productions in one night! Very talented casts, incredible orchestra and conductor and innovative staging in both. Brava tutti!

MetroWest Opera opens its fall 2011 season with Mozart's Don Giovanni opera at 7:30 Friday Nov. 11…read moreand Saturday in Weston, MA, and then at 3:00 on Sunday.