A moment with ‘Adiamus String Quartet’
ABIA meets Simon Eastwood, director of this highly-accomplished Sunshine Coast wedding music ensemble
Phill Jackson Photography
While a string ensemble often conjures visions of classical music and scenes from the television series Bridgerton, Simon Eastwood of Adiamus String Quartet is quick to explain that he and his fellow wedding musicians offer couples an extensive musical repertoire.
“We love that one of our couples chose the can-can as a recessional song recently,” he explains as an example.
Of course, the Sunshine Coast-based string ensemble plays a broad range of classical songs, together with contemporary genres, like pop and rock, and welcomes the opportunity to learn and perform song requests that hold special meaning for their couples.
To find out more about Adiamus’s string duos, trios and quartet, ABIA spent some time with Simon chatting popular songs, past performances and current wedding trends.
Tell us about your business and wedding entertainment service.
Founded in 2014, Adiamus String Quartet is a group of four specifically-chosen, highly-skilled musicians. We perform string music for weddings and special events, across classical and contemporary genres including tangos, pop, rock and music that fits a Bridgerton vibe. We understand that every event is unique and have a wide repertoire to suit all ages and musical tastes.
Our greatest joy is performing music that makes events special and fondly remembered for years to come and our consistent approach and delivery allow us to stand out as wedding entertainers and musicians.
Where are you based and what locations do you service?
We’re based on the Sunshine Coast and also service Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Toowoomba and anywhere within about a three-hour driving radius.
How did you get started in the wedding industry?
Adiamus String Quartet was founded in 2014, driven by a clear vision to fill the gap on the Sunshine Coast for a truly professional string ensemble. From the beginning, the mission has been to deliver elegant, live music with meticulous attention to detail — ensuring every performance not only sounds beautiful but looks polished and refined.
I led a successful jazz band in London for 15 years, singing at weddings and corporate events across the United Kingdom, while also playing in orchestras and string quartets. Since relocating to Australia, I’ve embraced the vibrant music scene in Queensland, and combined my performance experience with a passion for client service and ensemble excellence.
Phill Jackson Photography
How did you come to play professionally?
I was born into a family of musicians and in my formative years was lucky to play and tour with musical groups including the London Schools Symphony Orchestra. After setting up my own jazz band, I sang on cruise ships and performed at many weddings and corporate events and I’ve recently finished a six year tenure as President and Principal Viola with the Sunshine Coast Symphony Orchestra. Performing is something I really enjoy, and hearing the lovely comments and reviews of our clients makes it all worthwhile.
What does your role as Director of the ensemble entail?
Being a professional musician goes far beyond technical skill. It’s about the full presentation, so I take care of details, like how the ensemble dresses, behaves, interacts with guests and venue staff, and the care taken in the appearance and sound of our instruments. Every element contributes to creating a seamless and memorable experience.
What types of wedding entertainment do you offer?
We offer a string quartet, string trio or string duo for weddings and can perform pre-ceremony, during the ceremony and during pre-dinner drinks prior to the reception. We can also plan a bespoke playlist, depending on our couple's preferences.
How far in advance do couples need to book a string ensemble?
We can take bookings anytime, from a week before the event and up to two years in advance. It's such a simple process — couples give us their date and if we're free we'll be there. Obviously, the sooner they can book the better, but essentially the details of song choices and timings don't need to be finalised until a few weeks before the wedding day.
Phill Jackson Photography
Which parts of a wedding day lend themselves best to ensemble music?
Pre-ceremony music sets the scene for guests on arrival, allowing them to relax and enjoy waiting for the proceedings to begin.
A string ensemble for the wedding ceremony then allows a couple to express everything they want to through any style of music, and usually includes a processional song for the walk down the aisle, a couple of songs during the registry signing, then a recessional song to exit.
Entertaining guests during drinks and canapés, prior to the reception while couples are having photographs taken, also sets the tone for the rest of the celebration.
What wedding trends are proving popular for ensemble music?
Couples are tending to prefer more intimate weddings, and there is a trend towards only having people there who truly mean something to the couple. An acoustic string quartet is perfect for those smaller, more intimate weddings, micro weddings and elopements, as the music is distinct, but not over-powering for the number of guests.
We’re also seeing couples choose more pieces of music meaningful to them, and we absolutely encourage asking us to learn and play special requests — we love learning something that's not on our set list, and it adds an extra special touch to the wedding day.
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What are the ensemble’s most common song and music requests?
The most common request we get is, “Can you play at our wedding too, please?”. Aside from that, Ed Sheeran seems to be a firm favourite, along with Stephen Sanchez's 'Until I Found You', but we love that one of our couples chose the can-can as a recessional song recently!
Why should couples consider a string quartet for their wedding day?
Hiring a string quartet sets a beautiful scene and mood for a couple and their guests. It's stylish and memorable. We can adjust for any vibe, be it classy and classical, sultry and sophisticated, contemporary and chilled or upbeat and exhilarating with a Bridgerton feel.
String music also provides a fantastic contrast to an evening's entertainment which may include a live band or deejay.
What makes your wedding entertainment unique?
Our aim is to make the process of booking wedding music as smooth and stress-free as possible. With years of experience and a reputation for excellence, we guarantee a professional and seamless service that gives complete peace of mind.
Our musicians are also among the finest in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, and we’re committed to delivering an exceptional standard of performance for every couple’s special day. We’re also very low-maintenance, with no food or refreshments required. We play onsite for 2.5 hours, over a 3-hour period, and our prices are very competitive, with no hidden extras in our quotes.
How would you describe the couples you connect with the most?
We know as soon as someone books us that they are our kind of people! We get so excited when a booking comes in as we know the couple have made a great choice and we can't wait to play for them and let them hear us in action. Sharing their special day with them is a privilege and an honour.
Phill Jackson Photography
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