personalized wedding and event music
As Southwest Michigan's premier wedding and event musicians, the KalHaven strings provide the perfect personal touch to your special occasion. Serving Kalamazoo, South Haven, Grand Rapids, St. Joseph, Benton Harbor, Northern Michigan, South Bend, Northern Indiana, Detroit, Chicagoland, and more!
Now Booking January 2024-December 2025
client testimonials
KalHaven performed the ceremony and cocktail hour music for our August 2022 wedding. We could not have been happier with them! Megan was a dream to work with. Had a lot of good advice, and just went with the flow every time I changed my mind…which was a lot. I had some unconventional requests for our ceremony music, and they made it happen! Very professional, easy to talk to, and promptly replied to all of my emails. So easy to work with. If you are undecided about hiring, do yourself a favor and go for it. You will not be disappointed! We have gotten so many compliments from our guests. Hands down, one of my most favorite elements of our wedding. So happy we hired KalHaven, you will be too!
-Va'nek B.
01/07/23
01/07/23
Superb musicianship, delightful personalities! As a retired orchestra director and educator it fell to me to arrange for music at my son's wedding. As the ceremony was to be in Holland, Michigan, and I live in Wisconsin, arrangements would necessarily be made 'long distance.' After doing an online search of wedding musicians in western Michigan, and reviewing their backgrounds, I contacted Megan Healy, manager of KalHaven Strings. Megan is a world class violinist as evidenced in the recital performances available on her personal website and on YouTube. The KalHaven Strings website also has samples of the wedding quartet that Megan leads. Working through the details of the quartet's performance was a pleasure. Communications with Megan were detailed, precise, and very prompt. The quartet played for the ceremony, cocktail reception, and dinner hour, suiting their repertoire to each segment of the afternoon. Musically, their intonation, phrasing, and ensemble blend were impeccable. Our guests loved their playing and I was asked many times how I found this quartet. You will delight in hearing them!
Paul Thorgaard
08/12/21
08/12/21
Absolutely perfect! Megan was so kind and easy to work with. She guided us through what was needed and helped out when we had questions. She truly made our wedding ceremony so special.
Taylor Packet
09/24/21
09/24/21
Couldn't be happier! I am SO glad that I found Megan while searching for a violinist to play during my wedding ceremony and cocktail hour. I was set on having specific music playing (from a few different movies and some Lindsey Stirling songs). Megan was more than happy to play all of my requests, and at an extremely reasonable price. She played everything flawlessly, and really contributed to making my wedding unique and more perfect than I could have
imagined!
Valerie Short
06/07/20
06/07/20
The violinist was the perfect touch! Our son and his bride had a small, personal beautiful wedding at The Sunrise Amphitheater in Boulder, CO. They didn't want a lot of fuss and wanted to keep it very intimate. Megan Healy was the perfect addition as a solo violinist. She had us organized and on track regarding her part of their wedding. She made the process seamless for choosing the music and meeting the deadlines. I would highly recommend her for any social event. She and her violin were the cherry on top of our family's special occasion.
Patty McKendry
09/10/19
09/10/19
Best wedding musician! Working with Megan was excellent. She was very easy to work with and her arrangements were flawlessly executed, making our ceremony personal and special. 100% recommend!
Veronica Schwartz
09/07/19
09/07/19
Prompt, great communication and easy to work with. Megan did a great job!
Emily Hinkle
08/09/19
08/09/19
popular Packages
ceremony
Includes musicians arriving 60 minutes before the ceremony start time, approximately 30 minutes of background prelude music, any music desired for the ceremony, and two postlude background music selections as guests transition from ceremony to reception. View complete package details here.
- Violin and Cello Duo starting from $600
- String Trio starting from $800
- String Quartet starting from $1,000
Additional Fees apply to venues located over 60 miles from Kalamazoo, MI
CEREMONY + COCKTAIL HOUR
Includes one hour of background music from the genre of your choice. View complete package details here.
- Violin and Cello Duo starting from $800
- String Trio starting from $1,100
- String Quartet starting from $1,400
Additional Fees apply to venues located over 60 miles from Kalamazoo, MI
diamond wedding package
Combines our ceremony and cocktail hour packages with two hours of reception music. When you book the Diamond Package, you essentially pay for the Ceremony and two hours of Reception music and get the Cocktail Hour and one Special Request free! View complete package details here.
- Violin and Cello Duo starting from $1,200
- String Trio starting from $1,700
- String Quartet starting from $2,200
Additional Fees apply to venues located over 60 miles from Kalamazoo, MI
special event music
Christmas parties, birthday parties, anniversaries, engagements, and more! View complete package details here.
- Violin and Cello Duo $500 for the first hour, $300/hour for each additional hour.
- String Trio $650 for the first hour, $450/hour for each additional hour.
- String Quartet $800 for the first hour, $600/hour for each additional hour.
Additional Fees apply to venues located over 60 miles from Kalamazoo, MI
SEE US in concert!
February 28, 2024
Candlelight: A Tribute to Queen
Grand Rapids, MI
Tickets
March 21, 2024
Candlelight: A Tribute to Adele
Grand Rapids, MI
Tickets
March 30, 2024
Candlelight: A Tribute to Coldplay
Grand Rapids, MI
Tickets
March 30, 2024
Candlelight: A Tribute to Taylor Swift
Grand Rapids, MI
Tickets
May 22, 2024
Candlelight: A Tribute to Adele
Grand Rapids, MI
Tickets
May 23, 2024
Candlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer
Grand Rapids, MI
Tickets
June 27, 2024
Candlelight: A Tribute to Beyonce
Grand Rapids, MI
Tickets
June 27, 2024
Candlelight: A Tribute to Coldplay
Grand Rapids, MI
Tickets
July 13, 2024
Candlelight: A Tribute to Taylor Swift
Kalamazoo, MI
Tickets
August 24, 2024
Candlelight: A Tribute to Coldplay
Kalamazoo, MI
Tickets
July 26, 2024
The Series at Lavender Hill Farm
Boyne City, MI
Tickets
Candlelight: A Tribute to Queen
Grand Rapids, MI
Tickets
March 21, 2024
Candlelight: A Tribute to Adele
Grand Rapids, MI
Tickets
March 30, 2024
Candlelight: A Tribute to Coldplay
Grand Rapids, MI
Tickets
March 30, 2024
Candlelight: A Tribute to Taylor Swift
Grand Rapids, MI
Tickets
May 22, 2024
Candlelight: A Tribute to Adele
Grand Rapids, MI
Tickets
May 23, 2024
Candlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer
Grand Rapids, MI
Tickets
June 27, 2024
Candlelight: A Tribute to Beyonce
Grand Rapids, MI
Tickets
June 27, 2024
Candlelight: A Tribute to Coldplay
Grand Rapids, MI
Tickets
July 13, 2024
Candlelight: A Tribute to Taylor Swift
Kalamazoo, MI
Tickets
August 24, 2024
Candlelight: A Tribute to Coldplay
Kalamazoo, MI
Tickets
July 26, 2024
The Series at Lavender Hill Farm
Boyne City, MI
Tickets
about us
The KalHaven Strings met as graduate students in the music department at Western Michigan University in 2014. Highly adaptable and versatile, we are skilled in performing a variety of styles and your requests to ensure that your special day is personalized in every way. We enjoy having the opportunity to spend time together while doing what we love: making music. We pride ourselves on our professionalism, prompt communication, and friendliness. We are highly adaptable and versatile, performing a variety of styles and your requests to ensure that your special day is personalized in every way. In addition to providing music for weddings and special events, The KalHaven Strings serve as Candlelight Concerts by Fever’s Grand Rapids-based string quartet, performing classical concerts, cover concerts of the music of Taylor Swift and Queen, movie music, holiday-themed concerts, and more.
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Megan HealyMegan has planned and performed for over 200 weddings and serves as manager of the KalHaven Strings. She enjoys a multifaceted career as a freelance performing artist and teacher. She recently earned her doctorate in violin performance from the University of Colorado Boulder before returning home to the Midwest. While in Boulder, Megan served as the graduate teaching assistant to Károly Schranz and Harumi Rhodes, the former and current violinists in the world-renowned Takács String Quartet. Megan has held positions with the Kalamazoo, Southwest Michigan, Holland (MI), and Southeast Iowa symphony orchestras, and has also performed with the Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra, Boulder Philharmonic, Boulder Chamber Orchestra, Fort Collins Symphony, Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra, Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra, and the Steamboat Springs Symphony Orchestra. Megan holds Master of Music and Artist Diploma degrees from Western Michigan University, where she served as graduate teaching assistant to Professor Renata Artman Knific, as well as a Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance from the University of Iowa under the tutelage of Dr. Scott Conklin. She has studied viola performance with Professor Igor Fedotov and Dr. Megan Gray.
Learn more about Megan here. |
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timothy cuffmanTimothy Cuffman has served as the Assistant Concertmaster of the Cheyenne Symphony, Concertmaster of the Longmont Symphony, and Principal Second Violin of the Mansfield Symphony. Additionally, he has performed with numerous other ensembles including the Lansing Symphony, West Michigan Symphony, Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra, Southwest Michigan Symphony, Colorado Symphony, the Fort Collins Symphony, Akron Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Iowa, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony, Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Dubuque Symphony. Previously, he served as a teaching assistant at the University of Iowa and Ohio University.
Dr. Cuffman earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Violin Performance and Pedagogy with a Secondary Area in Viola from the University of Iowa in 2016. He also holds Master of Music degrees from Ohio University in Violin Performance and Upper String Pedagogy and a Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance from the University of Akron. Learn more about Timothy here. |
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Kennedy taylor DixonGrand Rapids native Kennedy Taylor Dixon is a recent graduate of Western Michigan University's Master of Arts in Music Composition program, where she served as President of the Western Student Composers Alliance. During her undergraduate studies, Kennedy was a Presidential Scholar in Music. The Presidential Scholar designation is the highest academic honor that WMU can bestow on its undergraduates. Selection is based on the students' general academic excellence, academic and artistic excellence, and intellectual and artistic promise. She was recently invited to attend the Missouri Experimental Sonic Arts Festival taking place at the University of Central Missouri to perform her piece, Pretty on Paper, for solo viola and improvised electronics. Kennedy is currently the Assistant Principal Violist of the Holland Symphony Orchestra, a position she has held for two years.
Learn more about Kennedy here. |
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jordan hamiltonAvant Garde Cellist and vocalist Jordan Hamilton merges musical styles to tell stories of the human experience through a variety of musical genres. Jordan can be found performing solo, with Last Gasp Collective, or with the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra, where he has opened for national acts such as Eric Roberson and Nappy Roots. His most recent release "My Thoughts Are" is a compilation of thoughts that express themselves in Hip Hop, Folk, and soul music. Jordan is a graduate of Western Music University and the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music.
Learn more about Jordan here. |
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