Church wedding musicians in Tuscany

Tuscany is the landscape the whole world associates with Italy: cypress-lined hills, medieval villages, Romanesque parish churches among the vineyards, art cities where every church holds a masterpiece. For a luxury wedding it is a timeless choice. If you are looking for church wedding musicians in Tuscany, Maestro Ilarion, tenor, sings the Ave Maria and the nuptial Mass chants in the region's churches, together with the parish organist and choir.

Picture an evening at San Miniato al Monte

Picture climbing up from Florence along the stairway from Porta San Niccolò, between cypresses and olive trees. Halfway up you turn around and the whole city is below you: Brunelleschi's dome, Giotto's bell tower, the Arno catching the late afternoon light.

At the top stands the Basilica of San Miniato al Monte, its white and green marble façade shining in the sun. For centuries, every evening, the monks who live here have sung Gregorian chant. It is one of the places where Florence has prayed for a thousand years. The Maestro has agreed the programme with the parish priest and the organist, and the tenor's voice joins this tradition with respect.

The bride crosses the nave, over the inlaid marble floor with its zodiac. The singing rises towards the golden mosaic of the apse. During Mass, every note seems to settle on the ancient stone. And when the Ave Maria comes, guests from afar forget for a moment that they are in the most photographed city in the world.

Outside, Florence is at sunset, pink and gold. Photos are taken on the churchyard with the city behind, then everyone goes down to the reception at a villa on the hills of Fiesole or a castle in Chianti.

The music of the nuptial Mass

• Bride's entrance, with a piece chosen with you.
• Alleluia and liturgical chants, agreed with the parish priest and the organist.
• Offertory and communion: Panis Angelicus, Ave Verum or other sacred chants.
• Ave Maria by Schubert, Gounod or Caccini.
• Recessional with a joyful piece.
• On request, a surprise choir of friends and family, prepared by the Maestro.

Tuscan churches, area by area

Florence and surroundings: the Basilica of San Miniato al Monte above the city, the churches of the historic centre, Fiesole, Settignano and the Medici villas in the hills.

Chianti: Greve in Chianti, Panzano, Radda in Chianti, Castellina in Chianti, Gaiole in Chianti, San Casciano in Val di Pesa and Tavarnelle, with their Romanesque pievi among the vineyards.

Siena and the Val d'Orcia: Siena, Pienza with its Renaissance cathedral, Montepulciano with the Temple of San Biagio, Montalcino, San Quirico d'Orcia with its Collegiate Church, Bagno Vignoni, Castiglione d'Orcia, San Gimignano with its Collegiate Church, Monteriggioni and Colle di Val d'Elsa.

Lucca, Versilia and the coast: Lucca with San Michele in Foro and the Cathedral of San Martino, Pietrasanta, Forte dei Marmi, Camaiore, Bolgheri, Castiglione della Pescaia, Porto Ercole and Monte Argentario.

Arezzo and the Valdichiana: Arezzo, Cortona, Anghiari and Lucignano, as well as Volterra and Pisa.

If you are considering other destinations for a luxury wedding in Italy, see also the pages on Lake Como and the Amalfi Coast.

From the church to the reception

Maestro Ilarion is a tenor and pianist: after the ceremony he can accompany the aperitif among the vineyards and the reception at a villa or castle with elegant live music.

Where to find wedding musicians in Tuscany

If you are looking for professional wedding musicians in Tuscany, Maestro Ilarion, tenor and pianist, sings in person throughout Tuscany: Florence, the Chianti, Siena and the Val d'Orcia, Lucca and Versilia, Arezzo and Cortona. In church, whether it is the Basilica of San Miniato al Monte or a Romanesque parish church in the Chianti, a single musician brings voice and organ to the whole celebration, and the pieces are agreed with the parish priest.

Live wedding music does not stop at the church: voice and piano can also accompany the aperitif, dinner and first dance, in the villas and estates among the vineyards. To choose calmly, read the guide Live wedding music: how to find professional musicians.

Surprise flash mob in Tuscany

Friends and family can prepare a surprise choir for the couple: Maestro Ilarion creates the sung flash mob in Tuscany, writes the parts, leads rehearsals remotely too and arranges things with the parish priest. He also organises flash mobs for marriage proposals, anniversaries, birthdays, companies and events: read the guide Sung flash mob organiser.

For your date, fill in the request for church ceremony music.

I travel anywhere: here are all the towns and cities where I sing, near you too.