For the fifth year in a row, the Chris Sarlas Orchestra provided music for the Loyola Founder’s Dinner! The evening drew in over 900 guests who enjoyed fantastic cuisine from Blue Plate Catering, cocktails, award presentations, and dancing into the night. We have just a few photos here, with video clips coming shortly…

Richard Williams, Director of Special Events, conducting the Founder's Dinner Chorus in the program's finale

The Loyola Founder's Dinner Chorus

Fernanda & Kevin
The Union League Club of Chicago

Kevin and Fernanda meticulously planned their ceremony and reception at the elegant Union League Club of Chicago. Beginning with the most versatile string ensemble in town, the Artistrings string quartet provided classical selections for their ceremony, and then completely changed gears to perform an all-contemporary cocktail hour! Coldplay, Beatles, U2, Queen, Billy Joel, Snow Patrol, Weezer…you name it, they played it, and everyone was commenting on how cool it was to have a string quartet playing pop music. The Chris Sarlas Orchestra’s jazz trio welcomed guests to the 6th floor with dinner music, followed by a big surprise from the groom: he hired The Three Waiters for additional dinner entertainment. The Three Waiters involves three singing waiters who pretend to be actual waiters during dinner service, and then unleash a dynamic and sophisticated live performance a la The Three Tenors! They had everyone laughing and waving their napkins in the air by the end of the show. Our 11 piece band provided the music for dancing, and we topped off the evening with an after-hours set by our DJ Barry. What a night!

We started with some dinner music….here is our version of the Lady Antebellum tune

Need You Now from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

What’s Goin’ On? from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

And then we started dancing!

Brown Eyed Girl from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

Poker Face from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

Copacabana from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

Thriller from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

Shake Your Body from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

At Last from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

The waiters appeared one at a time...

Our guys watching the show...

Wave your napkins in the air!

Ioanna & Andrew
Hotel InterContinental - Renaissance Room

Hotel InterContinental Chicago is truly one of our favorite places to perform. Catering Director Chris Schmidt and his staff provide exemplary service to the hundreds of couples who chose this impeccable hotel to host their parties. Ioanna and Andrew’s celebration was in the gorgeous Renaissance Room on the 5th floor…

Starting with dinner music…

That’s All from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

And then some Greek dancing…

Mbhkan Ta Gidia Sto Mantri from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

We played the hottest tune of the summer

I Gotta Feeling from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

And the dance floor was packed all night long!

Ain’t No Mountain High Enough from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

Footloose from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

Elizabeth & Scott
Exmoor Country Club

The first of two weddings this holiday weekend was a beautiful celebration at Exmoor Country Club in Highland Park. We had a wonderful evening performing both American and Greek music, and of course including all of Elizabeth’s favorite Michael Buble tunes! We wish the bride & groom a long, happy, healthy life together!

It was great to see Allison Rosati, NBC TV news anchor, enjoying the band!

Opal putting her own special spin on Stand By Me…definitely worth a look!

Stand By Me from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

Beautiful Angel singing some dinner music…

Don’t Know Why from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

Barry kickin’ it up with some Jersey Boys:

December 1963 from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

….and a spontaneous encore from Opal!

I’ll Take You There from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

The decor was gorgeous!

Jen & Brian
River East Art Center

Jen & Brian’s wedding took place in the beautiful and unique River East Art Center. Beginning with the Artistrings String Quartet for their ceremony, the mood was set for a fantastic event. After the ceremony, all of the guests went outside to enjoy cocktails, and then returned back inside to a completely transformed room, with decor by Kehoe and lighting by Frost. We have an expansive repertoire list, augmented by great suggestions from our brides and grooms as they’ve planned their weddings. Jen and Brian chose three special songs for their first dance and the dances with their parents: That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding), Ain’t that Love (Ray Charles), and Paul Simon’s Loves Me Like A Rock. Dick Fowler asked us to permanently add the Otis Redding tune to our song list! Many congratulations to Jen & Brian!

First dance as husband and wife!

We started with dinner music….

If I Ain’t Got You from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

And soon started dancing!

A Sunday Kind of Love from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

Respect from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

The tables were gorgeous

Jen & Brian

Really cool place cards

The Art Center has so much to see!

Cupcakes to take home!

Demetra & Chris
Concorde Banquets

After returning from Milwaukee, we spent the next evening celebrating with Demetra & Chris at Concorde Banquets in Kildeer. They chose one of the band’s favorite U2 songs as their first dance, All I Want Is You. We performed both American and Greek styles to a packed dance floor on a Sunday night…it was a fantastic party!!

Into The Groove from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

Livin’ On A Prayer from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

Unforgettable from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

Sini & Steven
Hotel InterContinental - Milwaukee

On May 15th, Sini & Steven hosted a spectacular cocktail reception for 400 of their closest friends and relatives at The Hotel InterContinental Milwaukee! The evening began with their impromptu wedding ceremony right on the dance floor…and from there…dance, dance, dance! American, Greek, and a Hora too…what a night!

Copacabana from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

May 15, 2010 wedding at Hotel InterContinental in Milwaukee - featuring vocalist Barry Lyons

Just Dance from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

May 15, 2010 wedding at Hotel InterContinental in Milwaukee - featuring vocalist Opal Staples

If I Can’t Have You from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

May 15, 2010 wedding at Hotel InterContinental in Milwaukee - featuring vocalist Opal Staples

Signed, Sealed, Delivered from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

May 15, 2010 wedding at Hotel InterContinental in Milwaukee - featuring vocalist Byron Woods

Don’t Stop Believin’ from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

May 15, 2010 wedding at Hotel InterContinental in Milwaukee - featuring vocalists Barry Lyons & Opal Staples

Just Fine from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

May 15, 2010 wedding at Hotel InterContinental in Milwaukee - featuring vocalists Opal Staples & Karees Brown

Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

May 15, 2010 wedding at Hotel InterContinental Milwaukee - featuring vocalists Opal Staples & Byron Woods

And some Greek dancing to celebrate Sini’s heritage…Opa!

Tsoupra Mou To Manthli Sou/Mes’st’ Ambeli Sth Stafida from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

May 15, 2010 wedding at Hotel InterContinental Milwaukee - featuring vocalist Voula Karahaliou

Mbhkan Ta Gidia Sto Mantri from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

May 15, 2010 wedding at Hotel InterContinental Milwaukee - featuring vocalist Voula Karahaliou

Sini & Steven announcing that they are about to get married, right there!

YES, I said yes!

Amazing decor...

Great food...

Fantastic music...

And of course, plenty of dessert!

Coffee & Loukoumades in carry out boxes for the long drive home...

Melissa & George
The Glen Club

The Glen Club has a magic about it – every party is an absolute blast, and Catering Director Isabella Vizzini is always such a pleasure to work with! Melissa and George’s celebration was just that on May 8, 2010.  From their bridal dance, Harry Connick’s arrangement of It Had To Be You all the way to their requested last dance, AC/DC’s You Shook Me All Night Long, we enjoyed every moment at this wonderful venue performing for a fantastic group of people!

Ain’t No Other Man from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

May 8, 2010 wedding at The Glen Club - featuring vocalist Opal Staples

Poker Face from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

May 8, 2010 wedding at The Glen Club - featuring vocalist Opal Staples

At Last from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

May 8, 2010 wedding at The Glen Club - featuring vocalist Opal Staples

Shout from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

May 8, 2010 wedding at The Glen Club - featuring vocalist Barry Lyons on this special request from the bride & groom!

Dance to the Music from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

May 8, 2010 wedding at The Glen Club - featuring vocalists Barry Lyons, Opal Staples, & Dick Fowler

Ain’t Too Proud To Beg from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

May 8, 2010 wedding at The Glen Club - featuring vocalist Dick Fowler

Photo - courtesy of Edward Fox

Photo - courtesy of Edward Fox

Photo - courtesy of Edward Fox

Photo - courtesy of Edward Fox

Photo - courtesy of Edward Fox

Photo - courtesy of Edward Fox

Ascension of Our Lord Greek Orthodox Church invited us to celebrate their 12th anniversary dinner dance on April 25, 2010. Over 250 guests enjoyed dinner hosted by Concorde Banquets, and then they packed the floor for dancing! We saw several couples whose weddings we performed at during 2008 and 2009. It’s so wonderful to look out on the dance floor and see friends again enjoying themselves to our music!

Some great dinner music

Need You Now from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

April 25, 2010 benefit for Ascension of Our Lord Greek Orthodox Church - featuring vocalists Opal Staples & Barry Lyons

The Closer I Get To You from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

April 25, 2010 benefit for Ascension of Our Lord Greek Orthodox Church - featuring vocalists Opal Staples & Dick Fowler

All I Do from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

April 25, 2010 benefit for Ascension of Our Lord Greek Orthodox Church - featuring vocalist Opal Staples

More Today Than Yesterday from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

April 25, 2010 benefit for Ascension of Our Lord Greek Orthodox Church - featuring vocalist Opal Staples

And then, everybody dance!

I Gotta Feeling from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

April 25, 2010 benefit for Ascension of Our Lord Greek Orthodox Church - featuring vocalists Opal Staples, Barry Lyons & Dick Fowler

Shake Your Body from Sarlas Music on Vimeo.

April 25, 2010 benefit for Ascension of Our Lord Greek Orthodox Church - featuring vocalist Dick Fowler