One of the biggest decisions you’ll have to make when planning your big day is about wedding music. Wedding music is not just about choosing your first dance song. It’s also about what will be played as you walk down the aisle.
Whether it’s Pachelbel’s “Canon in D” or Christina Perri’s “A Thousand Years,” you may have dreamed of walking down the aisle to a particular song. The question now is how it will be played. Will you play a recording of the song or have an instrumentalist perform it? If you’ve picked the latter, cellist Linsay Setzer just might be the musician for you!
Based in New Jersey, Linsay can travel anywhere in North and Central Jersey. She offers all of the traditional wedding songs, such as the “Bridal March” and “Trumpet Voluntary,” and can play any special requests you may have, granted you provide her with a recording or video. Linsay typically plays before the ceremony as guests are getting seated, while the wedding party processes down the aisle, and while the newly married couple exits the ceremony venue; however, she would be more than happy to play during other parts of the ceremony as well.
Having an ear for musicality and phrasing, Linsay always performs with great confidence and passion. She especially loves to interpret beautiful melodic lines and infuse emotion into them. When Linsay played in the musical Into the Woods, Musical Director Mike G. was impressed by her outstanding musicianship:
“Linsay’s sound is warm and expressive. She is an excellent sight-reader and has the versatility to create rich and beautiful tone across all types of music.”
Linsay started playing cello at the age of 10, having developed a deep appreciation for music through her family. She was drawn to the warm, lower tones of the cello and how the tone connected seamlessly with the qualities of her own voice. In high school, Linsay was a member of the Central Jersey Youth Symphony and the Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra. She then attended Montclair State University, where she participated in the university’s symphony and received a B.Mus. in Music Education with a concentration in cello.
Since 2009, Linsay has been freelancing for weddings, church and holiday services, CD demos, and recording studios. Her favorite gigs are musicals, having played in numerous pit orchestras and over 25 musical titles. From 2013 to 2016, Linsay was the Director of High School and Middle School Orchestras in Nutley, NJ as well as the Cello Teaching Specialist for the Paterson Music Project. In addition, she has taught private lessons in cello, violin, piano, and voice. To learn more about Linsay, check out her Facebook page!
If the sound of her cello warmed your heart (how could it not?), contact Linsay today and make your wedding day truly spectacular.
