St. Louis’ Best Musicians
Recently updated
This vendor updated their storefront within the last 15 days.
St. Louis Area
Service area
Johanna Ballou
OWNER
Typically responds within 24h
AWARD WINNER (5X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Discover the secret to creating a wedding experience your guests will remember for years to come. St. Louis’ most celebrated musicians will make your wedding unique and magical. Imagine the extra dimension live music will bring to your ceremony, cocktail hour, reception, welcome party, engagement party, rehearsal dinner, or shower. Musicians add ambience, elegance, and that elusive WOW factor! We work with you to create a live soundtrack for your special day that is as unique and full of personality as you are! We hire only the best musicians to make your vision a resounding success. Our musicians include members of the St. Louis Symphony, the Muny Orchestra, faculty from St. Louis University, Washington University, and accomplished independent touring artists. Check out our website to listen to audio, watch video, and read more about us!
Woman-owned Business
Details
Instruments
Cello
Fiddle
Flute
Guitar
Keyboard
Piano
Saxophone
Trombone
Trumpet
Viola
Violin
Vocals
Music Genres
Classical
Folk
Jazz
Pop
Rock
Music Services
Live Music
Wedding Activities
Rehearsals & Parties
After Party
Rehearsal Dinner
Welcome Party
Wedding
After Party
Ceremony
Cocktail Hour
Reception
Rehearsal Dinner
Awards and Affiliations
Any questions?
Meet the team
Johanna Ballou
Owner
Welcome to Gold Standard Musicians! Like all of my incredible colleagues here, I have been playing music and perfecting my craft from a very early age. I started playing the piano over 25 years ago, and my very first paid performance was a wedding when I was just 13 years old! Since then I have played for hundreds of weddings and special events as a piano soloist and as an ensemble musician. Music is both my livelihood and my passion, and I love sharing it with people like you! It’s an amazing privilege to be a part of so many people’s pivotal life events, and I hope to be a part of yours.
Reviews
5.0
out of 5.061 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help
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Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
Gold Standard Musicians delivered professional, punctual, and beautiful live music that many said elevated their ceremonies and cocktail hours. Reviewers praised clear communication, helpful planning, flexible ensembles (solo to duos/strings), and seamless logistics. Highly recommended.Review photos
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Zach M
5.0
1/06/2026
Johanna and her team are top tier musicians. They were timely, professional and always in constant communication. Book them for you wedding and you will have no worries!
Zach M.
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 01/07/2026
Thank you so much, Zach! It was great working with you, and I hope to see you at another c...
elebration sometime in the future!
Maggie W
5.0
11/11/2025
Easy to work with, great addition to the wedding celebration.
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 01/07/2026
Aww, thank you so much, Maggie!
Any questions?
Brittany G
5.0
11/05/2025
We highly recommend Gold Standard Musicians - they did a fantastic job at our wedding ceremony! Their professionalism and skill were evident! The music was lovely, and we were thri...
lled to hear from many guests that the performance was a beautiful and moving part of the ceremony. Thank you for helping to make our wedding day so memorable!
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 11/05/2025
Thank you so much, Brittany! It was really lovely meeting you and working together to plan...
all the musical details. Congrats again to the newlyweds!!
Katherine S
5.0
10/28/2025
Great communication leading up to the wedding, beautiful set!
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 10/29/2025
Thank you so much, Katherine! Many congrats to you and Theo. It was a pleasure meeting wit...
h you and planning the musical magic!
Jessica D
5.0
10/26/2025
We hired the cello/piano duo and it was excellent! Johanna was excellent to work with and had clear communication with us throughout the entire process. She helped make a wonderfu...
l arrangement for one of my favorite songs to walk down the aisle too, and I ended up wishing the aisle was longer so I could have more time to listen to the song. We highly recommend anyone wanting live music for their ceremony/cocktail hour to work with Johanna and her team.
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 10/27/2025
Thank you so much, Jessica. Congrats again to you and George, and it was so wonderful to b...
e a part of your BEAUTIFUL wedding day.
Brian M
5.0
9/14/2025
We booked a solo guitarist through Gold Standard Musicians for our wedding ceremony. Johanna was very easy to work with and made sure to answer all of our questions, so the plannin...
g process was straight forward and simple. Our guitarist, Ian, was absolutely incredible and we received so many compliments on the live music. We were so happy with our decision to add live music to our ceremony, and the team at Gold Standard Musicians made it a worry free part of our day. We would highly recommend working with them!
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 09/15/2025
Hi Brian!
Thank you so much for your kind words. It's always a great feeling to know that...
our music enhanced a wedding day like yours!! Congrats to you and Tarryn, I'm so excited for you two. :)
Johanna
Rochelle M
5.0
8/25/2025
Gold Standard was excellent from start to finish. All communication was answered timely with all questions answered. The selection of music with Johanna was a pleasure and she he...
lped made the process easy with her suggestions and knowledge. Musicians arrived on time the night of the event. Music was professional and they played to perfection. Piano player for our cocktail hour was amazing and truly added to the ambiance. Would suggest to anyone to employ their services at any kind of event.
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 08/25/2025
Hi Rochelle! Thank you so much for your kind words. It was a pleasure working together wit...
h you to make Emily and Kevin’s day extra special. I hope to see you at some other special event in the future!
Kevin H
5.0
8/04/2025
Johanna and her team were fantastic- both in the preparation leading up to our wedding and on the day itself. GSM played our ceremony and cocktail hour, and our only regret is that...
we weren't able to sit down and enjoy more of it ourselves! They of course nailed the performance, but what we found most helpful was the time Johanna took to plan with us, feel out our taste, and the insight she offered in tailoring the "vibes" of each portion of the wedding. She was instrumental (pun intended) in crafting a playlist for both the ceremony and the cocktail hour that would match the feel we were going for in each case. Can't recommend GSM enough!
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 08/04/2025
Thank you so much, Kevin! It was a privilege to be part of your special day. I'm SO happy ...
that you were happy!
Allison B
5.0
7/08/2025
I loved having this team at my wedding. I had the gilded duo which included a violin and piano player, and they were beautiful from start to finish. Consulting with them was extrem...
ely easy and they listened to my needs and were able to come up with the perfect music for us. They are self sufficient and make for the most elegant beginning to your special day. They are fantastic!
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 07/10/2025
Thank you so much, Allison! It was a pleasure meeting you and contributing to making your ...
wedding extra special! Congratulations, and I hope we get to see you at some other happy event soon!
Crisana O
5.0
6/29/2025
Great musicians with some fantastic song selections that made our wedding all the more special! It helped everything come together and they were super easy to work with!
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 06/30/2025
Aww, thank you, Crisana! We had a great time at your wedding, thank you so much. And congr...
atulations!!!!
Megan H
5.0
6/13/2025
Johanna was great and easy to work with! Had several planning meetings, she showed up on time, and played wonderful piano during our ceremony. Very professional and knows what she ...
is doing.
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 06/16/2025
Thank you, Megan! It was a beautiful day! Congratulations again!!
Kirsten D
5.0
1/29/2025
Gold Standard Musicians were absolutely phenomenal on our wedding day! They played for both our ceremony and happy hour, and the music was breathtaking. Their performance brought s...
uch an elegant, Bridgerton-esque vibe that perfectly elevated the atmosphere.
Not only did they sound incredible, but they were also impeccably professional—arriving in attire that fit our black-tie dress code beautifully. They knew their cues perfectly and executed everything seamlessly, from set-up to performance to breakdown, without any disruptions. If there were any issues, I certainly never knew about them as the bride!
Johanna, the founder, was amazing to work with. She took all of our requests and incorporated them flawlessly, helping us structure the ceremony in a way that made sense musically for the processional and recessional. The entire group was incredibly talented, and I love that their company is all women.
If I could do it all over again, I would choose Gold Standard Musicians in a heartbeat. Their ethereal sound truly made our wedding day unforgettable!
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 01/30/2025
Hi Kirsten! Thank you so much. I'm so glad your wedding day went beautifully! We were so h...
onored to be a part of it. I hope we get to see you again at other special occasions in the future!
Aubrey M
5.0
11/11/2024
My husband and I had the Gilded Duo (piano and violin) for our full Catholic Mass and it was beautiful! I needed help finding a cantor and Johanna was more than helpful in referrin...
g me to somebody. She was able to work with the cantor to make the ceremony run as seamless as possible. It was such a joy to have them be a part of our day!
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 11/11/2024
Hi Aubrey! Thank you so much. It was such an honor to work with Angela to create a beautif...
ul, meaningful ceremony for you. Congratulations on your marriage!!!
Linnea A
5.0
10/21/2024
They were amazing !! The music was perfect and they were so professional and sweet .
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 02/25/2025
Thank you, Linnea! It was so wonderful working with you and your awesome family to make yo...
ur wedding day extra special! I hope our paths cross at another special occasion some time soon!
Kim T
5.0
10/13/2024
We had a string duo for our October 5 wedding. They did an outstanding job…in my opinion, it wouldn’t have been the same without their music. My daughter had very specific reques...
ts, and they either knew how to play that piece, or made sure they did by the time for the wedding. We were late to the game to request their services and they made it so easy and communicated beautifully throughout the entire process. They come highly recommended by me, my daughter, and all of our guests/family that commented on how beautiful it was. Thank you Johanna and team! Cannot wait for our video to be able to listen again.
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 10/14/2024
Hi Kim! Thank you so much for your kind words. It was great working with you and your fami...
ly to make Paul and Olivia's day extra special. I'm glad it was a seamless process, and I hope you keep us in mind for future family celebrations! Congrats to the newlyweds!!
Lisa P
5.0
7/10/2024
I cannot express how amazing Gold Standard was to work with!!! As a musician myself, all of them were professional, easy to work with, and provided so many ideas to help us plan t...
he perfect wedding for us. EVERYONE complimented how beautifully they played and how every piece was absolutely perfect for our ceremony. The cocktail hour was just as lovely. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this group of professionals for any event!!!!
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 07/11/2024
Yay! Thank you so much, Lisa. It was really great playing for you all. Your message to the...
kids made me cry. 🥲 I hope we get to see you at another celebration in the future!
Alyssa K
5.0
6/19/2024
We loved working with Gold Standard Musicians for our intimate post-elopement ceremony and celebration! Johanna was incredibly easy to work with and our solo violinist at the event...
was incredible. I can't recommend them enough!
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 06/20/2024
Aww, thank you, Alyssa. It was a pleasure talking with you and planning your celebration m...
usic together! Congratulations!!
Nicole S
5.0
6/12/2024
Gold Standard played for our daughter’s ceremony and cocktail reception. They were so professional and their music was perfect! I highly recommend them for any special occasion....
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 06/12/2024
Hi Nicole. Thank you so much. And thanks for having us! It was a beautiful wedding in such...
a beautiful place. Congrats to Jordan and Matt!
Abbey W
5.0
5/31/2024
Johanna with Gold Standard Musicians was phenomenal (and the other musician)!! They played beautifully before, during, and after our ceremony. I only wish I (the bride) was able to...
hear more of it because they were so amazing (I tried peaking out as much as I could). They were so fabulous and classic. Johanna during the planning process was so prompt with her responses and even helped us out with the speakers/mic for our ceremony. She also had great recommendations for music choices as well. Thank you Johanna for your beautiful music!! I apologize for not saying THANK YOU in person!!
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 06/03/2024
Aww, thank you, Abbey. It was wonderful being a part your wedding day. Thanks so much for ...
having us play, and congrats to you and Bill!!
Haley M
5.0
5/29/2024
All I can say is wow. The Gold Standard Musicans were everything we anticipated and more! Johanna and her colleague truly conveyed the class, professionalism, and magic of music wi...
th their talent and brilliant musicality. Without them, our ceremony would not have been perfect! I would 110% book the Gold Standard Musicans again!
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 07/11/2024
Thank you so much, Haley! It was so fun being a part of your wedding day. I'm so happy for...
you two!
Brittany W
5.0
5/16/2024
10/10 reccomended! They had such an eclectic mix of songs for us to choose from, all of which were performed beautifully.
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 05/16/2024
Hi Brittany! Thank you so much for having us play, and congratulations to you and Benjamin...
!!
KAREN C
5.0
5/04/2024
Only one member of GSM played piano at my son's wedding. She is very talented. Beautiful music for reception mingling. Also the least complicated vendor I dealt with. She brings he...
r own keyboard and extension cords. Is very accommodating--as well as just a kind person. I highly recommend booking her for ANY event!
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 05/06/2024
Hi Karen!
Aww, thank you. I'm very happy that booking was a low-hassle event (that's the ...
goal!), and thanks so much for having me play at the Forest Park Golf Course! It was a pleasure meeting you all, and congrats to your son and new daughter-in-law!
Jacquelyn S
5.0
4/05/2024
Very easy to work with and incredibly responsive. Our venue had a piano in the cocktail area, and we are very glad we hired Gold Star Musicians, specifically Johanna, to play. High...
ly recommend!
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 04/09/2024
Thank you, Jacquelyn!! I so appreciate you having me play, and congrats to you and Brian!
Leah H
5.0
3/16/2024
Absolutely amazing! I am so disappointed that I did not get a chance to chat with our musicians the day of the wedding, but they were ready to go and we could not have asked for an...
ything better! So many options for instruments and songs. Absolutely recommend them for your wedding or any event really!
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 03/18/2024
Hi Leah! Thank you so much for having us play for you. Ranya and I had a great time playin...
g for your wedding day!
Mary Kate T
5.0
1/03/2024
Johanna was hands down the best decision for us. She played beautifully and was so attentive to what we wanted. Our pre-wedding meeting was so thorough I didn’t have any concerns b...
ecause I knew she’d kill it!
Thank you so much for making our ceremony even more beautiful with your talent, I had so many guests remark on the music. It was a hit!
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 07/13/2024
Aww, thank you, Mary Kate! It was so wonderful being a part of your wedding day!! Thanks s...
o much for having us. 🥰
Eric R
5.0
12/15/2023
Gold Standard Musicians couldn't have been easier to work with, and the music they provided for our wedding ceremony was just perfect. If you are looking for someone to provide ele...
gant music for your wedding, look no further than Gold Standard Musicians.
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 12/18/2023
Thank you so much, Eric. It was a joy to work with you and Krystal on your wedding plans. ...
I'm so glad you enjoyed the music, and congratulations to you two! ❤️
Michele R
5.0
10/27/2023
Easily 5 stars! I decided to have a guitarist at my wedding ceremony about 6 weeks before the event and Johanna was able to fit us in.
Matt played the guitar at our wedding her ...
he was amazing!
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 10/30/2023
Thank you so much, Michele! I'm so glad we got to play for your wedding day!
Catherine S
5.0
10/16/2023
Easy 5 Stars! The best review I can give is the text I sent to Johanna the day after my wedding…
“Hi! I have to let you know… the processional of A Little Chaos was PERFECT. I can...
’t even begin to tell you the excitement and peace that brought me. When I heard it looked at my dad and couldn’t help but quote the movie “it’s music from the heavens”… it was literally perfect. You made my dream come true and I am forever grateful. The investment to have your music there was one of the best I made. Thank you thank you thank you ❤️”
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 10/17/2023
Thank you so much, Catherine! It's so wonderful to hear when the arrangements I send out i...
nto the world hit their mark. Yay! I'm so glad you liked it and it helped make your wedding extra special. Congratulations, and thank you for having us play for you. ❤️
Courtney R
5.0
5/23/2023
Johanna was fantastic to work with ahead of the wedding and really helped us curate a beautiful playlist for our ceremony. When I had a special request for my bridal entrance, they...
made it happen. The strings duo put such a classy touch on such a sweet, heartfelt ceremony. I only wish we had booked the quartet for the event and had them stick around for cocktail hour. Thanks for being part of our special day!
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 05/23/2023
Thank you so much, Courtney. It was so lovely to work with you on the planning! I'm glad y...
ou had a BEAUTIFUL wedding day, and congrats again!
Eileen H
5.0
4/29/2023
We hired the duo of a pianist and violinist for our wedding ceremony and cocktail hour and couldn’t be more thrilled.
Guests were raving about the music and they were able to acc...
ommodate our requests for a custom processional and recessional song.
Johanna and team are professional, timely, and kind. Sadly, due to taking pics during cocktail hour we didn’t get to enjoy the music as a couple as much as we would have liked but family members and guests loved them so much. Before walking down the aisle, the music playing was enough to bring my husband to tears! Highly recommend if you’re looking for live musicians for your wedding day
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 05/02/2023
Thank you so much, Eileen. Tova and I had a great time playing for you and your guests. Yo...
ur vows were SO sweet and meaningful. I love playing for weddings that are so thoughtfully and lovingly planned. Also, your guests were a blast at cocktail hour. We were jamming out together. Thanks so much for having us!
Rebecca B
5.0
4/25/2023
We had the Aurum duo play for our wedding ceremony, and it was everything I had dreamed of! They were on-time, incredibly professional, and most importantly, fantastic musicians. W...
e gave them free reign on the prelude music, and it was one of the highlights of the day for my mom, as they played several of her favorite pieces. We are so glad we chose to have them play for our ceremony!
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 04/25/2023
Aww, thank you so much, Rebecca! It was such a pleasure to play for your wedding day. You ...
put together such a beautiful, thoughtful ceremony. Thanks for the review. Big congratulations to you both, I'm so excited for your future together! ❤️
Ellen D
5.0
12/29/2022
Johanna and her partner were excellent performers at my wedding! I had a few particular pieces that I wanted to be performed at my wedding and Johanna was very accommodating to my ...
requests. I would recommend her and her team to anyone who wants live performers in their celebrations!
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 12/30/2022
Thank you, Ellen! You introduced us to some beautiful music, and we really loved playing i...
t for you!
Victoria B
5.0
12/22/2022
As a wedding planner, I don't hesitate to recommend Gold Standard Musicians to my couples. Johanna and her group of talented musicians never disappoint - they are professional, eas...
y to work with, and create an incredible atmosphere of celebration. The various combos and solo performers provide options for every taste and budget. They are always a perfect fit every time!
Laura L
5.0
12/21/2022
They were amazing! Imagine having a mini-symphony at your wedding -- that's what it was like. The quality was top-notch, and the musicians were punctual and professional.
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 12/30/2022
Thank you, Laura. I'm so glad we got to play for you. Tova and Shannon really enjoyed play...
ing for you and your guests!
Jordan M
5.0
12/21/2022
Only 5 stars? Johanna and her Gold Standard Musicians assisted in creating the best night of my wife's and my life! I had a mountain of a task ahead of me when I was searching for...
an ensemble that could not only elevate our wedding ceremony, but also meet my very high expectations for our ceremony soundtrack. I am in a few musical ensembles and was picky about not wanting our ceremony to sound like every other. I wanted unique, meaningful, and memorable music, and the Gold Standard Musicians blew everyone away! We were provided recommendations by wedding planners, venues, etc. and their selections were "meh." Gold Standard Musicians should be the only ensembles considered for any special event. Their unique arrangements were absolutely moving. With the whirlwind of walking down the aisle/getting married, the emotion of that momentous experience was amplified because of the music. So many couples don't hear the music because of everything else going on. Because of the gorgeous music and talents, the music shone through! If it hasn't been evident already, they far exceeded my expectations, and I'm so happy we were able to book them for our wedding.
Johanna is a breeze to work with, confident in her recommendations for song selection, and offers several different ensemble combinations to match any vision. We booked a piano/violin/cello trio and their orchestrations were perfect for our black tie wedding. We also hired them to play the cocktail hour, and they provided the best mix of upbeat, jazzy, fun music to kick off our party.
Gold Standard Musicians are the best of the best!
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 12/21/2022
Wow, thank you, Jordan! Grace, Carolina and I had a wonderful time playing for you and Dia...
na. It was a truly memorable night filled with such love! Thank you so much for having us play for you, and congratulations on your marriage!!
Hailey M
5.0
12/21/2022
Gold standard was just that - a gold standard. They played beautifully for our ceremony. They were super easy to work with. Leading up to the ceremony I wasn’t stressed about my mu...
sic.
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 12/21/2022
Thank you, Hailey! Tova and I had such a fun time playing for you! Congratulations on your...
marriage!! 🥰
Allison H
5.0
8/14/2022
We hired Gold Standard Musicians, specifically The Alchemy Trio for our July 30th wedding. From start to finish, this was an amazing company to hire! I am a big Pride & Prejudice f...
an and wanted my processional song to be a less common song from the original BBC P&P adaptation. Johanna and her team absolutely blew me away with their rendition that they personally transcribed (since the music wasn't available to purchase). I got multiple compliments from my guests on the live music during our cocktail hour as well. Johanna was communicative, thorough and timely. I can't wait until my wedding video comes out so I can listen to it again! Thank you so much to Johanna, Gold Standard and the Alchemy Trio for making my day classically-inspired and incredible!
Cassandra J
5.0
4/06/2022
Johanna was amazing! She provided wonderful music and atmosphere for our wedding cocktail hour. She was great to work with before and made it so easy day of. We would highly recomm...
end her to play at your next event!
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 04/06/2022
Thanks so much, Cassie! It was a pleasure to play for your wedding day. Congratulations to...
you and Wes!!!
Maggie H
5.0
10/10/2021
Mat was incredible! He made our silly wedding song beautiful, honestly made me cry harder standing next to my beautiful wife lol. He was so professional and so nice. Honestly would...
recommend him for anything, he was just so incredible!
The entire process of finding the company, meeting with Joanna and being paired up with Mat was so easy! We did everything over email as well! They were all so nice and didn't even bat an eye at where our venue was! We got married pretty far out in the mountains and they were so ready.
Would 100% recommend them to anyone who understands how horribly hard it is to find musicians!
Kimberly S
5.0
8/25/2021
Johanna and her team were an absolute joy to work with! Johanna is so talented and has such a beautiful spirit. She worked with us through song selections and down to smaller detai...
ls like tempo preferences and so forth. When COVID wreaked havoc in our family and we had to reschedule our ceremony, Johanna so kindly worked with us to schedule a trio of outstanding musicians to perfectly accommodate us on the new date. Our guests were blown away by how beautiful the music was. The musicians didn't miss a beat and were on top of every cue. They were the perfect touch to our very special day. I would not hesitate to hire Gold Standard Musicians again! Thank you, Johanna and team!
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 08/25/2021
Thank you so much for your kind words, Kim. I'm so glad we got to be a part of your weddin...
g day, roll with the punches, and ultimately pull off an awesome day! Huge congratulations to you and Tim!!
Thomas P
5.0
8/23/2021
I don’t think any amount of words I type can ever hope to do justice to just how simply incredible these musicians were. We hired Gold Standard (specifically the Electric Gold qua...
rtet) to play our wedding ceremony on 21 Aug 2021, and they blew my already sky-high expectations into another universe. Johanna was a pleasure to work with, and was extremely professional and accommodating, with fantastic communication. She has built an incredible company with some of the most talented musicians I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to. They were able to bring to life a specific vision we had for our wedding that I’ve been dreaming about since I proposed, and to call it “perfect” would be an understatement. They flawlessly performed ever single piece we requested, even including custom arrangements of pieces not already in the repertoire. You will not do better than Gold Standard.
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 08/23/2021
Tom,
It was SO great working on the music with you. Your enthusiasm and excitement is con...
tagious, and I think all of us had a wonderful time planning, arranging, and playing for your special day. It was special for all of us! Thank you so much for having us as a part of your plans and letting us share our music with you.
Ashley C
5.0
8/22/2021
The ceremony music was the #1 part of my wedding day that I was most looking forward to and the Gilded Duo did not disappoint. Johanna was amazing and included everything that I as...
ked for! I would 100% recommend to anyone. Thank you so so much!
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 08/23/2021
Hi Ashley!
We had such a great time playing at your wedding! It was such a beautiful cer...
emony in such a beautiful place, and you and your guests were so kind. It was a pleasure to be part of your celebration. (And always fun to play "The Greatest Showman," too!!) Congratulations to the newlyweds!!! ❤️❤️
Emily M
5.0
8/10/2021
Such a great choice! I was a bit of a micro-manager on the music, but Johanna was so patient with me and explained the process and put my mind at ease. I booked Gold Standard very ...
last minute and we're so happy we did! Mat & Tova (guitar/vocalist + violin) were absolutely perfect. They supplied a mic/stand/speaker for our officiant, and learned a new song for our walk down the aisle. They made it every bit of what I had dreamed. No fuss to book or communicate with, and played perfectly! Our venue had good things to say about them as well! Highly recommend.
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 08/11/2021
Thanks so much for your kind words, Emily. It was great meeting you and planning the music...
together! I’ll pass along your message to Tova and Mat. Thanks so much for having us, and congratulations!!
Morgan C
5.0
7/13/2021
We had Mat perform at our ceremony and cocktail hour and it was truly special. He is incredibly talented guitarist and he accommodated our special song requests with ease and prof...
essionalism. Hire Gold Standard for all your musical needs, you will not be disappointed! :)
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 07/13/2021
Thanks so much, Morgan! It was great meeting with you to plan everything, and I’m so glad ...
you loved Mat’s playing!! ❤️
Noah H
5.0
6/30/2021
Johanna was helpful throughout the planning process. She's got a huge repertoire under her belt which made finding the songs we wanted easy! We were also able to request a couple s...
pecial songs just for us! The music was beautiful and completed our perfect day
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 06/30/2021
Thanks so much, Noah! It was a pleasure playing for you and Annie. It was such an idyllic,...
sweet ceremony. We loved being a part of it!
Jill A
5.0
6/06/2021
Johanna and Ranya we’re very professional! Johanna had everything very organized so that I didn’t have to worry about the music for our ceremony!
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 06/06/2021
Thanks, Jill! You and Hunter had such a thoughtful, poignant ceremony. It was an honor to ...
play for you!
Shelleney D
5.0
5/25/2021
I contacted Gold Standard Musicians on a short notice and was surprised they were able to accomadate me for my ceremony and cocktail hour. Johanna was more than a pleasure to work ...
with. She responded quickly and helped put the music together for the ceremony. I had the keyboard and violin for my ceremony and cocktail hour. I have to say, the live music was really a nice touch and sets up the ambiance and one of the best decisions I made for my wedding. I received compliments on their talents and music chosen as soon as I was able to talk to my guests.
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 05/25/2021
Thank you so much for having us be a part of your beautiful day, Shelleney. It was such a ...
pleasure meeting you and Carolina had a blast playing for you!
Amira F
5.0
11/25/2020
Choosing Gold Standard Musicians was one of the best choices my husband and I made for our wedding day. Like many other couples our wedding was affected by Covid-19, but Johannah w...
as the definition of accommodating. When we decided to have a minimony instead of our originally planned wedding she worked with our photographer to make sure that the sound quality on our livestream would be perfect. She was so dedicated to helping our dream wedding come to life that she was even able to bring microphones and speakers on short notice to help with the sound for the videographer and live stream.
For our wedding, we had the duo with keyboard and violin, and the music was nothing short of breathtaking. We got so many comments from our friends and family watching the livestream commenting on how beautiful the music was. Johannah was also very accommodating with music choice. I am a musician myself and had a couple of unique music choice requests that she happily met and made come to life. My father was able to request a few songs that were personal to him as well, and they knocked those out of the park too. I simply can not say enough wonderful things about Gold Standard Musicians and would heartily recommend them to anyone looking for fantastic live music. When we decide to have our vow renewal and reception when it’s safe to do so, I know with zero hesitation that we will be booking Gold Standard Musicians again.
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 11/25/2020
Wow, Amira! Thank you so much. We had such a great time playing for you and your sweet fam...
ilies. It was such a beautiful, meaningful ceremony and I’m so glad we got to be a part of it. And I’m very pleased it sounded good in the livestream, that’s excellent!! Can’t wait for the vow renewal, it’d be wonderful to see you all again.
Kathleen H
5.0
11/18/2020
Johanna is an amazing pianist and I’m so glad we chose her to play for our wedding! She also learned a new piece to play while I walked down the aisle! I really wanted a specific s...
ong that is very special to my husband and me played and she was more than willing to learn it. It was so great knowing that the music would be perfect and that our guests would have beautiful music to listen to as they waited for the ceremony to being I would definitely recommend Gold Standard Musicians for any event you might be having!
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 11/18/2020
Thank you so much, Kathleen. It was so fun playing for you two. Those vows had me in tears...
. Congratulations, and I hope you have a great Holiday season!!
Hanah K
5.0
11/02/2020
I am so happy that I found Gold Standard Musicians for my wedding! Johanna was so easy to work with and helped me pick all of the music for the ceremony. I ended up hiring her for ...
the rehearsal dinner also and was overly impressed that she took the time to learn some of my favorite Pride and prejudice pieces. We highly recommend her!
Response from Gold Standard Musicians on 11/02/2020
Thank you so much, Hanah. It was so wonderful getting to meet your family and be part of y...
our wedding. Thanks for having me there, and congratulations!
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Gold Standard Musicians
Johanna Ballou
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Gold Standard Musicians
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