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“We'd like to thank you for the excellent performance you gave at our event on the Quadrangle in Philadelphia. Thanks to you, it was a truly memorable day. You did a wonderful job at setting the tone and giving elegance and beauty to the occasion.”
Planning Committee

We are delighted to be on the recommended performers list at:
Greystone Hall
Drexelbrook
DuPont Country Club
Brantwyn
Joseph Ambler Inn
The Willows
Dulin-Kurtz
Appleford Manor
Merion Tribute House
Reading Country Club
Springton Manor
The Willows
Mendenhall Inn
The Curtis Institute

We belong to the following organizations:

West Chester
Chamber of Commerce

Greater Philadelphia
Better Business Bureau

National Association
of Catering Executives NACE

International Society
of Event Specialists
ISES

Prices

Prices

Please call Virginia at 610-696-3018 for all prices.
Our prices are based on the event and not on the exact time.
Prices are available in the following categories.

Quartets

Quartet for wedding ceremony
Quartet for cocktail hour
Quartet for wedding ceremony & cocktail hour
Quartet for wedding ceremony, cocktail and 1 hr dinner
Each additional hour

Trios

Trio for wedding ceremony
Trio for cocktail hour
Trio for wedding ceremony & cocktail hour
Trio for wedding ceremony, cocktail and 1 hr dinner
Each additional hour

Duos

Trio for wedding ceremony
Duo for cocktail hour
Duo for wedding ceremony & cocktail hour
Duo for wedding ceremony, cocktail and 1 hr dinner
Each additional hour

Harp, Solo Violin, Classical Guitar

Harp, solo violin or classical guitar for wedding ceremony
Harp, strolling violin or classical guitar for cocktail hour
Harp, solo violin or classical guitar for wedding ceremony
& cocktail hour
Harp, strolling violin or classical guitar for wedding ceremony, cocktail and 1 hr dinner
Each additional hour

Quartet and Harp

Quartet and Harp for wedding ceremony

Flute

Flute may be substituted for 1st violin in any combination or added to the harp.

There is an additional $200 charge for travel if the event is over 1 hour’s distance from West Chester, PA.

When you have decided to hire the Shaw Strings, fill in and sign the enclosed agreement and return it with a non-refundable deposit check in the amount of $200.00. The balance is due one week prior to your event. One month prior to the event, you should also return the repertoire list with your favorites checked or highlighted so that we can use it to make up your music program. If you decide not to hire the Shaw Strings, send me an e-mail stating that you have made other plans – however, please include your name, date, and site as we file all information in chronological order.

Please call me at 610-696-3018 or e-mail me at Shaw Strings@aol.com if you have any further questions.

Payments may be made as follows:
1 – $200 deposit with signed agreement with balance due 1 week before the wedding;
2 – $200 deposit with small payments paid until the balance has been paid 1 week prior to the wedding;
3 – $200 deposit with the balance paid via paypal.com using the schawassoc@aol.com account.

If you pay the entire amount via paypal.com within 5 days of submitting the form below or faxing us, you will receive a discount of $50.00.

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request Form

Request Form

Please fill in our online Registration Form so that we may begin to help you plan the music for your event.

Agreement Terms

Agreement and Terms

This text conveys the terms of our “Contract” which is a downloadable document. Please download the file, fill it in, print and sign it. Then fax the form to us at 610-429-5957.

For wedding term details, please read the information provided on the wedding page.

Virginia Schawacker will make all reasonable efforts to satisfy the purchaser's expectations regarding the content and manner of all music performed, including musical selections and volume levels.

If the Purchaser cancels an indoor or outdoor engagement, the Purchaser will pay the entire contracted price if written notice sent via certified mail is not received by Virginia Schawacker at least thirty (30) days in advance.

In the event the Purchaser reschedules an outdoor engagement due to inclement weather, Virginia Schawacker and the Shaw Strings will perform at the rescheduled time and date for no extra charge so long as it can reasonably provide an available quartet. In the event an outdoor engagement is rescheduled due to inclement weather and Virginia Schawacker and the Shaw Strings are unable to provide a quartet, Virginia Schawacker will refund the balance of the purchase price. The deposit will not be refunded. Once the Shaw Strings begin performing at an outdoor engagement in no event will purchase monies be refunded. Deposits for canceled dates are not refundable.

The starting and finishing times stated herein shall be adhered to. Announcements or incidental music will be provided during the agreed time period only. An agreement to advance the starting time will automatically advance the finishing time. Any time spent in moving equipment during the agreed time period shall be regarded as performance time, not as intermission time.

If the Shaw Strings are to accompany a singer, the singer must furnish the Shaw Strings with the accompaniments in string quartet form in the proper key no less than two weeks prior to the engagement.

Performance beyond the contracted time is at the discretion of Virginia Schawacker. Agreements to perform overtime must be finalized at least twenty (20) minutes prior to the contracted finishing time. Full payment for all overtime must be made immediately following the completion of the last overtime period.

Equipment needed for performance will not be set up more than thirty (30) minutes before the starting time, unless special provision is made herein to compensate for dead-time between the set-up period and the performance starting time.

The Purchaser will pay Virginia Schawacker a $30.00 penalty for each check returned for insufficient funds. This penalty will be paid within thirty (30) days of the engagement.

The Shaw Strings, Inc. will not be required to perform under the following conditions: (1) being seated in the direct sun, (2) temperatures under 65 degrees, (3) untented during light rain or drizzle.

All advertising or programs should list the musicians as “The Shaw Strings”.

The amount of liability for any performance will be equal to the amount of this agreement.

This agreement is subject to proved detention by sickness, accidents, acts of God, or any other conditions beyond the control of Virginia Schawacker or of the musicians scheduled to perform. In emergencies, Virginia Schawacker will be at liberty to replace musicians earlier scheduled.

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