NJ Violins Classical Duo from Parsippany, NJ

Add a touch of class to your event with music played by NJ Violins. From Vivaldi to Sinatra to main titles from such classics as The Sound of Music to more modern repertoire including Broadway hits and 80s rock, NJ Violins enjoys making clients smile by playing the music memories are made of. NJ Violins is a New Jersey based violin duo made up of Karl Schlegel and Tommy MacKinnon who are both classically trained but enjoy branching out into other genres. Karl is a member of hip-hop reggae band, Universal Rebel, while Tommy plays with a baroque orchestra that he co-founded. Events the duo have played for range from cocktail hours to weddings (including one at the US Military Academy at West Point) to Sunday Masses where the duo have even composed music. NJ Violins was also recently asked to record a track on an artist's album. Be it a private reception, an open house, a fundraiser, a surprise birthday party, a bridal shower, a wedding, a fashion show, or just because, NJ Violins will help you kick off your special event by creating an atmosphere that is fun with the right amount of energy. About Karl Schlegel Karl is a classically trained violinist whose passion for music has led him to explore many styles and cultures. Karl has played for weddings, fundraisers, private parties, corporate and non-profit events, and the dedication of the Stirling Public Library in Karl's hometown of Stirling, NJ. Karl began studying the violin under Marissa McLeod of the Anderson String Quartet. When the Anderson String Quartet began to gain prominence, Karl moved on to study with Dorothy Kuhn and later with Leslie Webster of Madison, NJ. For a time, Karl was a member of the Delbarton Youth Orchestra and taught privately. He also participated in the Four Strings Music Program and was a scholarship recipient for the Drew Summer Music Program at Drew University. Feeling the desire to explore other types of music while using his classical training as a base, Karl became a founding member of Christian Rock band, Sole Identity which played for youth groups in the tri-state area and had several tracks featured on a compilation CD produced by Spirit Filled Productions. Karl has guest-starred with various artists including Akasa, award winning song-writer, and producer, Cassandra Kubinski, Dan Ferrari, Jenna Marotta, Tim Margiotta, Blindman, and others. Karl played accompaniment violin on the title track of a CD produced by Lilian Topdjian entitled, Dreams of My Brother, and has recorded with a number of artists. Even though the drive to explore music remains strong, Karl has never forgotten his classical roots and is fascinated by the way that music in general can always be tied back to its classical foundation. Karl also had the opportunity to meet renowned Ud and microtonal violin player Simon Shaheen while studying at Rutgers College. Currently a member of Universal Rebel, a high-energy hip-hop reggae band, Karl has shared the stage with artists including Slightly Stoopid, Israel Vibration, and Al Anderson's Original Wailers. Karl and Tommy met at St. Paul Inside the Walls where Karl directs a church choir. About Tommy MacKinnon Tommy MacKinnon is a classically trained violinist from Morristown, NJ with a long performance history both as part of traditional orchestras as well as a soloist and in show orchestras. Growing up in a Celtic family, learning Irish and Scottish jigs and reels was a must and was played at many a large family gathering. Tommy is a former member of the Delbarton Abbey Orchestra, the Stevens Quartet at Stevens Institute of Technology, was a founding member of the Stevens Institute of Technology Orchestra, and is a current member of the MCAW Baroque Orchestra. He has always been a part of his church's choir as an instrumentalist and met Karl playing at St Paul Inside the Walls in Madison, NJ. When not playing the violin, he enjoys watching baseball, reading literary classics, and hiking through the numerous trails in NJ. He is committed to making your event special and making it one you remember forever.