Skip to main content
Weddings

About

1st Choice Music Services, founded in 1985, is the only full time professional and insured musician contracting service in Central Illinois. We specialize in engaging premiere performers, musician contracting services, daily attentive service, and moral support until your special event ends. Inquiries are answered within 24 hours. We are well known for being highly responsive to clients & have records to prove it. We often communicate with clients regularly for months until the event ends and will fill openings if and when student groups cancel at the last minute. Wedding & /or reception pricing information, plus numerous client reviews can be found on our agency web site.

  • Woman-owned
illustration popular

Vendors you may like

See other vendors that are popular with couples right now

Frequently asked questions

What is the starting price for wedding ceremony music?

$253

What is the price of your most popular wedding package?

$600

Which of the following are included in the price of your most popular wedding package?

Ceremony Music
Cocktail Hour Music
Learn New Songs
Music During Breaks
Reception Music
Rehearsal Dinner Music

What ceremony music arrangements can you provide?

Choir
Brass - Quartet
Brass - Quintet
Instrumental - Solo
Instrumental - Duo
Instrumental - Trio
Orchestra
String - Trio
String - Quartet
String - Quintet
Soloist / Vocalist

How many musicians are in your band(s)?

4 - 6
7+

What instruments does your group play?

Cello
Drums
Flute
Guitar
Harp
Organ
Piano
Trumpet
Saxophone
Viola
Violin

What services do you provide?

Ceremony Music
Cocktail Hour Music
Liability Insurance
Reception Music
Rehearsal Dinner Music
Vocals
illustration question

Any other questions?

Message vendor
4.6 out of 5 rating
5 Reviews
  • Quality of service
    4.6 out of 5 rating
  • Average response time
    4.8 out of 5 rating
  • Professionalism
    4.4 out of 5 rating
  • Value
    4.4 out of 5 rating
  • Flexibility
    4.6 out of 5 rating
100% Recommended by couples
S
Stephanie S. Sent on 07/24/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Professional and Kind

We used 1st Choice Music Services for our ceremony, and they were just wonderful! I had no idea what I wanted for the music, and Barbara was just so helpful and patient. She sent me an entire repertoire of music to choose from, and then made very helpful suggestions. She was amazing.
J
Jill Sent on 06/19/2017
5 out of 5 rating
Barbara is a dream to work with. She is a wonderful woman who loves her work and creates beautiful music. She guided us through planning the ceremony and cocktail hour music and brought together a team of people who were equally talented and professional, creating a signature wedding event.
S
Sarah Sent on 04/22/2014
5 out of 5 rating
Barbara Hedlund was so great to work with and very responsive! We used an acoustic guitar player through her and he far exceeded my expectations. Would definitely recommend!!
illustration stars

Are you interested?

Message vendor

Awards

5

Team

Barbara Hedlund
Barbara Hedlund
Director/CEO/Cellist

Serving families, the university of Illinois, and regional clients since 1985... Welcome to 1st Choice Music Services where professional Musicians engage, entertain, inspire, & support clients when important life events require live music. Known as the regional "go to source" for live music, lean on us to receive immediate, one on one supportive service, peace of mind, skilled performers, expert, award winning experience! Your special event becomes our 1st priority until it's over. Benefit from our decades of experience serving clients, impress your guests, & make your event a permanent, positive memory.

Orchestral and Broadway veteran, Barbara Hedlund, is a recipient of multiple awards including a shared Emmy, Tony, Grammy, Gran Prix du Disque, and Woman of Distinction awardee. She maintains an active career as orchestral & chamber musician, solo and recording artist, orchestral and college administrator, music editor and publisher, orchestra and ensemble founder, personnel manager, orchestral music librarian, competition adjudicator, associate producer for Public Radio & TV, concert producer, a founding City of Urbana Public Arts & Culture Commissioner, young artist scholarship sponsor and mentor.

With decades of performances, music management & educator experience, her legacy demonstrates commitments to live music, arts education, innovative programming, collaboration, customer and community service, arts management and advocacy.

For more information, go to www.barbarahedlund.com and https://sites.google.com/site/vcellohedlund/home?authuser=0

Professional Network & Endorsements

2 Endorsements
Nuptiae, The Wedding & Event Planners Nuptiae, The Wedding & Event Planners Wedding Planners

Barbara Hedlund of First Choice Music Services is a consummate professional and I have referred brides to her for 15 years. As a wedding planner I must feel comfortable that a vendor I recommend will be a good value for a bride, that they will be willing to respond to communication and provide information in a timely manner and that they are a top professional in their field. All of those qualities describe Barbara and her work through First Choice Music Services. Gwen Wilson Nuptiae, The Wedding & Event Planners

Weddings in-CyberSpace Weddings in-CyberSpace Wedding Favors

They live up to their business name. They are the 1st choice in my book.

Map

Other vendors in Springfield for your wedding

Wedding Vendors