Bookings

Details and Pricing | Venues | Audio Samples | Booking Instructions | Booking Contract (PDF)

Whether you are looking to give your event a touch of elegance with classical music, or liven it up with your favorite jazz standards, you will be able to find the information you need here. We are all highly trained musicians with degrees from major conservatories, but when it comes time to lay down a bassline and jam on it, we have that covered too!

Marcie has years of experience performing for weddings, parties, recordings, concerts, memorials and all kinds of events. She only plays with the finest musicians: high quality, professional performers, who are chosen not only for their superior musical ability, but also for their positive attitude. We love what we do! We are reliable, well groomed, organized and prepared. We will always plan a program in advance and have the music put together in specialized event binders to minimize excessive page turning and pausing during ceremonies.

We will do our best to play the program that you choose. If you are not sure what you want, that's okay too. We know lots of music and can always help to make appropriate selections for you. And, we can play all kinds of music, including classical favorites, jazz standards, and any special requests that you might have.

Below are listings of the groups that are available, and the instrumentation for each one. Each group has a different sound. Listen to the samples to decide which group is best for your needs. Marcie and her fellow performers can improvise, which makes them more flexible than most.

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Testimonials

"The( InStep Quartet) tracks sound fabulous...oooh la la..."
-Alex Stein, www.alexsteinmusic.com

"What a special touch it was to have Marcie Brown play at our recent wedding. Marcie's beautiful command of the cello combined with her broad range was exactly what I was searching for. If you're lucky, perhaps she'll even play one of her own compositions. She's as gifted a composer as she is an interpreter of the classic works for cello. My entire interaction with Marcie was not only exceptionally professional, but warm and supportive. Bravo, and thank you Marcie!"
-Steven Sprowls, groom, August, 2008

"Thanks so very much for your playing at our wedding. I heard nothing but raves about your violin and cello duo, both at the wedding and for the cocktail hour! Thank you for making it unforgettable!!!"
-Deborah Volkots, bride, September, 2008

"Thank you and the InStep string quartet for performing at our workshop banquet on such short notice. It was a pleasure to work with you through the whole process and I especially appreciate the professionalism and flexibility you showed to our requests about timing and music choice. The performance itself was wonderful and I have received many compliments from the workshop attendees."
-Dr. Chai Wah Wu General co-chair, IEEE International Workshop on Cellular Nanoscale Networks and their Applications, 2010

"Marcie Brown couldn't be easier to work with in the studio. She shows up with a great attitude, and an awesome sounding cello. Not only can she read anything you throw at her but is happy to imprivise and create brand new parts right on the spot!"
Jon Evans, owner and engineer - San Pablo Recorders, bass player -Tori Amos Band (www.sanpablorecorders.com)

"I'm telling you, the songs are going to sound so much more powerful and emotional now that you added cello to them. I'm so excited and very appreciative of your skills on the cello. The improvisation was perfect and you were so easy to work with it was a dream :) And I like working with artists who can hear something in the music and aren't afraid to suggest adding something here or there, because that's how great songs are born. Let's work together again, please!!!"
-Matthew Stewart of the San Francisco Ballet, May 28th, 2009

"Marcie Brown is a total delight to work with, highly professional, and very skilled. We had the shear honor to add her creative efforts to our CD, and through her genius we got way more than we bargained for. She literally oozes music. There's no one like her!"
-Cate Larsen of Liquid Girlfriend, March 29th, 2009

“As a record producer and studio engineer, I rely on the speed and professionalism from the talent that walks in the door. With Marcie, I know that the first take will satisfy even the most demanding of clients. Her uncanny ability to capture the feel of a piece is unsurpassed in my opinion. She's at the top of my "A" list.”
-B.Z. Lewis of Studio 132 www.studio132.com

"Marcie Brown was wonderful to work with. She's a highly professional, skilled and creative musician who created beautiful cello lines to enhance my songs. I would highly recommend hiring her for any event or recording project."
-Marianne Barlow cdbaby.com/cd/mariannebarlow

“Marcie was my first choice to add cello parts to an original song and a tune by Ivan Lins for my new CD, Whispers from the World Next Door. Her tone is luscious, she's a good reader, and a very good sport in the studio. I look forward to playing with her again in concert settings."
-Stephanie Bruce cdbaby.com/stephaniebruce

Marcie Brown performs solo, wonderful music all on her own.

Solo Cello

Marcie Brown plays lovely classical favorites on her cello as well as jazz standards. Ms. Brown has a Master's Degree from Manhattan School of Music. She has played in lots of great groups such as the Brooklyn Philharmonic, the Florida Symphony and the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. She performed over 600 shows with the Cirque du Soleil's "O" show in Las Vegas. She has played with many wonderful musicians such as Lucianno Pavarotti, Andreas Bocelli, Dizzy Gillespie and Ray Charles.

Since 2005, Ms. Brown has been in the bay area, performing for concerts, weddings and events. Venues she has played include the Palace of Fine Arts, Yoshi's Jazz and Supper Club, Chapel of the Chimes, Auberge du Soleil, the Del Dotto Wine Caves, V. Sattui Winery and the Silverado Country Club.

Printable Bio
Solo Cello Repertoire List
Sound Samples

InStep String Quartet

The InStep String Quartet is an exciting new ensemble that can play classical favorites as well as jazz standards. Members of the group have performed at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, Yoshi's Jazz and Supper Club, the Palace of Fine Arts, Chapel of the Chimes, Auberge du Soleil , Del Dotto Wine Caves and the Silverado Country Club. The group includes Benito Cortez and Julian Smedley on violins, Katrina Wreede on viola and Marcie Brown on cello. The InStep Quartet can set a beautiful romantic mood with classical ambiance or make the party swing with an upbeat and fun energy that is their trademark.

Printable Bio
InStep OneSheet
InStep Repertoire List
Sound Samples

Marcie Brown and Benito Cortez perform both classical and jazz together.

Classical Gypsy Duo

The Classical Gypsy Duo is Marcie Brown on cello and Benito Cortez on violin. This group is a smaller version of the string quartet but it still sounds sweet. Both classical favorites and jazz standards are available.

Classical Gypsy Duo Repertoire List
Sound Samples

Booking Instructions

If you want to book the group, just e-mail me at marcie[at]marciebrown.com to inquire about availablity and rates. If you decide that you would like us to reserve a date for you, you can download a contract, fill in whatever details that you know, sign it, and send it in the mail to me with the agreed upon deposit. It doesn't need to be completely filled out, as you might not know yet some of the details. But we definitely will need to know the date, time and location, and which group you are hiring. When we receive your contract, Marcie will sign it, send you a copy, and put you on our calendar!