Grand Illumination Symphony

Please select your event to see the full program for the night’s performance and learn more about the venue, musicians, and pieces they perform:

Live Event FAQs

Austin

Love Songs Unplugged

Sienna Strings Set List:

  • Wildest Dreams- Taylor Swift/Bridegerton 
  • A Thousand Years- Christinna Perri/Twilight
  • Yellow- Kiana Grannis/Coldplay
  • This Will Be an Everlasting Love
  • At Last- Etta James
  • Beauty & the Beast
  • Love Story- Taylor Swift
  • Moon River- Breakfast at Tiffany’s
  • Phantom of the Opera
  • Walz from Sleeping Beauty
  • Bridgerton Theme
  • Thinking Out Loud- Ed Sheeran
  • Can’t Help Falling In Love- Elvis
  • Power of Love- Huey Lewis & the News
  • Turning Page
  • Enchanted- Taylor Swift 

About The Venue

About The Artists

Los Angeles

Love Songs Unplugged

Crown Players Set List:

  • Besame Mucho-Consuelo Velazquez
  • Romeo and Juliet- Main Theme
  • You Belong with Me- Taylor Swift
  • Sweet Child of Mine- Guns N’ Roses
  • Sleeping Beauty Waltz- Tchaikovsky
  • Brown Eyed Girl- Van Morrison 
  • Fly Me to the Moon- Frank Sinatra
  • That’s Amore- Dean Martin
  • Can’t Help Falling In Love-Elvis
  • All I Ask- Phantom of the Opera
  • Moon River- Breakfast at Tiffany’s  
  • Across the Stars- Star Wars
  • As Time Goes By- Casablanca “Custom Arrangement”
  • Shape of You- Ed Sheeran
  • Love Story-Taylor Swift

About The Venue

About The Artists

Chicago

Love Songs Unplugged

Parkwest Strings Set List:

  • Wildest Dreams- Taylor Swift/Bridgerton 
  • A Thousand Years- Christina Perri/Twilight
  • Can’t Help Falling In Love- Elvis
  • Brown Eyed Girl- Van Morrison
  • Bridgerton Theme Cover
  • Love Theme- Romeo & Juliet
  • All I Ask of You- Phantom of the Opera
  • Girls Like You-Maroon 5
  • Love Story- Taylor Swift
  • Thinking Out Loud- Ed Sheeran 
  • Marry You- Bruno Mars 

About The Venue

About The Artists

New York City

Love Songs Unplugged

XinOu Wei Strings Set List:

  • Moonlight Serenade- Glenn Miller
  • Enchanted- Taylor Swift/Bridgerton
  • Perfect- Ed Sheeran
  • Can’t Help Falling In Love- Elvis Prestley
  • All I Ask of You- Phantom of the Opera- w/vocalist
  • Somewhere- West Side Story
  • As Time Goes By- Casablanca
  • Romeo & Juliet
  • Nessun Dorma- Giacomo Puccini
  • Love Story- Taylor Swift
  • So This Is Love- Cinderella- w/vocalist
  • Bella Notte- Lady & the Tramp
  • Tango- Scent of a Woman
  • Just the Way You Are- Bruno Mars

About The Venue

About The Artists

Venues

Austin

Love Songs Unplugged

About The Venue

Welcome to this historic church, located on the edge of downtown Austin and on the campus of The University of Texas. Constructed in 1949 with a timeless architecture, the University Avenue Church is within walking distance of distance of the Texas Capitol, Bob Bullock History Museum, Blanton Museum, and Austin’s famous downtown district.

The church is a part of the University of Texas, which is considered one of the nation’s most elite colleges.

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Los Angeles

Love Songs Unplugged

About The Venue

Originally established in 1890, St. John’s Romanesque Revival architectural style church was built in 1925 and eventually added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.

St. John's Cathedral is considered one of the most beautiful churches in the nation, with an altar made of Italian marble and gold mosaics that adorn the chapel walls. The wood-beamed ceiling is a reproduction of an 11th-century church ceiling at San Miniato, near Florence. In the 1970s, the then Reverend, Rev. E. Lawrence Carter, closed the doors to the church as a sign of penitence and sorrow over the Vietnam War.

The church has been featured in many movies and TV shows and is famously known throughout California.

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Chicago

Love Songs Unplugged

About The Venue

The Second Unitarian Church of Chicago was founded in 1857 under the name "Unity Church." Sadly, the original building burned down in the Chicago Fire of 1871, a mere two years after construction was completed. The church was rebuilt and dedicated in 1873, but was sold years later due to shrinking membership. In 1904, construction began on the present day Second Unitarian Church.

The architecture of the building, Prairie style, is complete with a triangular shaped roof, notable for being an elemental symbol of shelter. Pieces from the previous church were brought to Second Unitarian and during WWII, the Unitarian Service Committee adopted the flaming chalice as a beacon of solidarity and hope for those fleeing persecution. During the 1980s, Second Unitarian was one of the few churches that opened their doors to mourners and allow funeral services for those who had succumbed to the AIDS epidemic.

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New York

Love Songs Unplugged

About The Venue

Founded in 1841, St. Paul’s has been a pillar in NYC. Since 1897, the church has been a place of worship and community—neo-gothic style. St. Paul’s is the last remaining purely German church in NYC.

Fifty-five million Americans consider themselves to be of German heritage, and of that 55 million, 15-20% would find this church in their family history. Of the big immigration waves in the 1800s, St Paul’s is the biggest church left that was built at the time. The church officially opened in 1898, built in the Neo-Gothic style and featuring two towers, a vaulted interior with galleries on three sides, an apse of 5 windows, and wooden furnishings.

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Performers

Symphony

Austin

Sienna Strings

Sienna Strings is a sought-after women-owned and operated string quartet based in Austin, TX. Founding members Samantha Stewart (violin), Nicole Taylor (viola), and Julie Allevato (violin) are each educated in music and share their passion for strings with their students and those they play for.

The Austin group is a highly popular and award-winning quartet with an expansive educational background and a love of music. Voted “Best of Weddings 2024″ by The Knot and “Best of Zola 2024”, their beautiful and timeless sounds captivate every audience they play for.

Samantha and two of her performing musicians, Alexis and Adrienne, performed with Wynonna Judd and Ashley McBride at the 2023 Country Music Awards.  They have also recently released their first album on Spotify and have a collection of music videos with Hype Rhythm.

Sienna Strings Group Members

February 14

Samantha Stewart Violin

Shelby Dems, Violin

Karli Leal, Viola

Aili Kangasniemi, Cello

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Los Angeles

Crown Players

Located in Diamond Bar, CA, Crown Players is a premier string quartet with world-renowned skill. Violinist Mari Haig served as concertmaster in tribute concerts for the Double Coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla, Queen Elizabeth’s 60th Diamond Jubilee, and the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton. She has also played in Disneyland Candlelight Orchestras and Burbank Philharmonic, along with having the honor of performing with Stevie Wonder, Mannheim Steamroller, and at the Hollywood Bowl with Carla Morrison.

Founding member Norm Hughes performed in tribute concerts for the Double Coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla in London, as well as Disneyland Candlelight and Hollywood Bowl Orchestras. He also has performed in the West Coast premiere of Beauty and the Beast and Andrew Lloyd Weber’s Sunset Boulevard and has recorded with countless artists, some of whom include Aerosmith, Michael Buble, Guns N’ Roses, and Ringo Starr. Movie soundtracks like Jurassic World, Mission Impossible, Inside Out, and Wall-E also feature his talents.

Both Mari and Norm are featured on countless CDs. Members of Crown Players have showcased their skill and talent in performances with Dr. Dre, Elton John, and more.

Crown Players Group Members

Violin- Norm Hughes, Larry Greenfield

Viola- Mari Haig

Cello- Greg Adamson

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Chicago

Parkwest Strings

Based in Chicago, IL, Parkwest Strings is composed of Chicago’s best and finest musicians, celebrated for their precisional skill and powerful performances. They are a standout in the music industry and earned the esteemed honor of having a piece featured on The Rock Orchestra UK’s international tour. They have also collaborated with Bravo Amici in 2024, blending their timeless sounds with exceptional vocal talents.

Based in the heart of Chicago, they have a deep knowledge and understanding of the city’s diverse music scene and bring each piece they play to life in unparalleled sound, ensuring world class performances in every note they play. Standing as the premier string ensemble in Chicago, they are highly celebrated for their exceptional talent and passionate, versatile music.

Parkwest Strings Group Members

Violin- Songhea Sackrider, Matt Hannau

Viola- Benton Wedge

Cello- Pedro Agudo

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New York

XinOu Wei Strings

XinOu Wei Strings is a NYC-based string quartet founded and led by emotive violinist XinOu Wei. XinOu has performed for Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden and H.R.H Princess Madeleine. Most recently, he led his string orchestra in a Carnegie Hall concert with legendary pianist Richard Clayderman for his “Timeless Romance” concert.

As a violinist, he has performed in many legendary NYC concert halls as well as in Berlin, Hamburg, Longone, Paris, London, and with the London Symphony Orchestra. His work with some of the greatest conductors in the industry and the leading of various orchestras had made his group a famous NYC standout. XinOu Wei Strings has performed at many prominent events with some of the foremost musicians of our day.

XinOu Wei Strings Group Members

Violin- XinOu Wei   

Violin- Kristina Giles  

Viola- Rachel Lanskey

Cello- Lydia Rhea

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Grand Illumination Symphony:

Frequently Asked Questions

1) No cell phone usage/photography/videography, during the performance. However, guests are welcome to photograph and video the final song, but please no flash photography at the request of our musicians.

2) NO food or beverage at ANY of the venues. 

3) Late arrivals– Late entry is not permitted. Doors open 30 minutes prior to event.

4) Guests must remain seated for the entirety of the performance, unless there is an emergency where they need to exit the sanctuary.

5) Age requirement- Under 16 required to be accompanied by adult. Children who are attending will require a full priced ticket, regardless of age.

6) Accessibility information can be found on venue websites.

LA: https://www.stjohnsla.org/visit

Chicago: www.secondunitarian.org/accessibility

NYC: www.stpaulny.org/en

Austin: https://uachurch.org/

7) Specify seating is GA and seating in each section is first come, first served basis.

8) No pets; service animals permitted

9) Caretaker tickets– Guests requiring assistance throughout the experience are entitled to apply for 1 free pass for their caretaker. Once you have purchased your ticket (it is essential to hold a valid ticket before applying), please contact us at events@tourismo.com.

10) Parking details on website

11) Different ticket types/ticket purchase at venue- 

Ticket type visibility- Section A: Best visibility

Section B: Great visibility

Section C: Good visibility

*Tickets will not be available for purchase at the venue. All tickets must be purchased through website/app prior to arrival.

12) Changes to Ticket Date– NO REFUNDS. Must give 72 hours notice for ticket date changes, which will be reviewed on a case by case basis and approval is required. A rescheduling fee will be applied. For ticket changes, please email events@tourismo.com

13) Cancellations/Refunds: All sales are final. For cancellations 30 days or more, a refund of 75% of the ticket price will be applied. Cancellations are subject to approval and must be requested in writing. Please email events@tourismo.com to request a cancellation.

14) Transferring Tickets: Tickets may be transferred for the specific date and time of the original ticket and must be transferred before the start of the event. To request a ticket transfer, please call or email us so that we may assist.

15) “I can’t access my ticket”: In the event guests cannot access their ticket at the venue, we will need to verify the guest with their ID, the name on the reservation and the total number of guests in their party.