ABOUT US
Synchronicity Strings is a collective of virtuosic musicians, proudly delivering exceptional live performances across Northern California since 2005. Known for our vibrant sound, we’ve become the go-to choice for weddings, corporate events, and social gatherings seeking a modern, elegant touch. Whether it's a lavish wedding in Napa Valley, a chic celebration in Carmel, or an intimate gathering in San Francisco, our renowned string quartet is the preferred choice of award-winning planners throughout the region.
Our unique style blends the beauty of classical music with contemporary energy. Specializing in pop covers with a Bridgerton-inspired twist, we offer an eclectic repertoire: everything from movie soundtracks and video game themes to Bollywood hits, K-pop, American standards, The Beatles, pop, rock & beyond. We craft a customized set list for each event and are happy to perform special requests - always fresh, always exciting.
Featured in Vogue, People Magazine, and on Four Weddings TV show, Synchronicity Strings has a reputation for delivering performances that consistently impress. With musicians who have trained and performed around the globe, we bring a level of expertise and artistry that guarantees your event will sound as amazing as it looks.
Our goal is simple: to provide exceptional performances paired with friendly, professional service. Flexibility is our hallmark, and we tailor each performance to match the vision of your event, no matter the size or budget.
FRESH BEATS. VIRTUOSIC STRINGS
OUR CLIENTS
Top event PLANNERS trust us.
We regularly partner with:
Jennifer Stone @ La Grande Fête
amongst others...
Synchronicity Strings is a PREFERRED VENDOR for top venues
in Napa and Sonoma Wine Country:
OUR STORY
Rachel Turner Houk -
founder and manager of Synchronicity Strings
In January 2005 I landed in Oakland, California as a seasoned cellist with no work and no friends. Having moved from Germany and previously lived in New York (I was studying for my MMus with the prominent cellist Zara Nelsova) and London (my home town), I had no musical contacts in the area. With a passion for chamber music that started in college and grew while touring in Germany, I had the vision to create a string quartet to play exciting arrangements of pop tunes written by me. This would give me the perfect excuse to cold call other string players and introduce myself as the new girl in town with a fun new musical project. Maybe people wouldn’t hang up but instead would be intrigued, want to get involved and meet to make music? I began calling and immediately hit the jackpot.
Fast forward a few weeks. It was Saturday lunch time and I got a random call from an agent. He had a client from Texas staying at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. Could I put together a string quartet to perform for him and his family? The performance would be that evening, starting at 9pm, playing for the family while they enjoyed dessert in the penthouse suite. “Yes, of course” I confidently responded. I got off the phone, and immediately started calling my new violin and viola friends exclaiming “I have a booking for us, are you free tonight? Let’s do it!!!!”
The miracle of musician calendars happened: no orchestra concerts that evening and the quartet was available! We met in the lobby of the hotel, were shown up to the penthouse suite, unpacked and waited. And waited. Finally at 11pm the client arrived back from dinner and we began our performance. Playing a mix of classical and pop tunes the family were blown away! The quartet sounded amazing and the client raved: “You made my dream come true!”
As the clock struck one, our music ended, and Synchronicity Strings was born.
We haven’t looked back since! Over the past 20 years, musicians have come and gone, children have been born, and addresses have changed. We've weathered the storm of Covid lockdowns with cancellations aplenty, yet through it all, we’ve maintained a core collective of exceptional musicians. Being a collective allows us to balance the irregular schedules of freelance musicians while maximizing our Synchronicity Strings performances. We all share a love for performing together, carpooling together, and - most importantly - honoring the privilege of being part of our clients’ most memorable life moments.