Kelly Chambers explains her calling simply: “I have a heart to play for people,” she says—and isn’t that the kind of person you would want making music at your wedding?
Weddings of course are the most special of special days, but Chambers also plays for graduations, parties, church services, and celebrations from birthdays to Father’s Day. A friend even asked her to play their wedding song to her spouse as a “Valentine-gram”—in the middle of his graduate school class.
Chambers’ repertoire covers a wide range, from traditional wedding music to classical pieces, contemporary love songs, and even some fiddle tunes. Her program for a wedding usually includes five songs (for example: the prelude; processionals for the mothers, bridesmaids, and bride; and the recessional), but she may also play for receptions before or after. Working with the couple, she will create a musical set especially for their celebration—ranging from Bach, Handel, or Vivaldi to church hymns, Beatles classics, or Taylor Swift. After all, she admits, “I grew up on oldies—I discovered classical music when I started playing in the [school] orchestra.”
Chambers is game to take on most songs that her clients request if the tune is meaningful to them. “I can usually find a violin version [of popular sings] online, but some songs just don’t sound right on solo violin.” But if it’s important to the couple, Chambers will make it work; she has even done a version of the theme from Jurassic Park.
Remarkably, Chambers has wanted to be a musician since she was 9 years old, when she was stunned hearing a dinner guest play the violin. “From that moment on, I was enamored,” she says.
Chambers comes from a family of musicians. Her grandmother was a professional organist (“She’s in her 90s, and we still play duets sometimes.”), and her father plays the guitar, her mother the piano, and her cousin the violin. When the family gets together, they often play works specially written for them by her uncle, a composer.
Chambers played in school orchestras throughout her middle and high school years. She came to UVA for college, and after earning a master’s degree in education at the University of South Carolina, she came back to UVA to work in student engagement … until the pandemic.
“With COVID, our team all left,” Chambers says. “I had started playing for weddings, and I found that a piece of my soul lit up at playing for and being part of someone’s special day.” She made the transition to a freelance career as a musician for special events and as a music teacher. It’s less lucrative than a 9-to-5 job, she says, but the freedom and the comradery of the music community here in Charlottesville is a joy.
Chambers began working as a private violin teacher and then at The Front Porch, where she now also teaches ukulele. While this instrument may not rank as important in the musical repertoire as the violin or the cello (which Chambers also plays), “The Front Porch wanted to offer a ukulele class for young kids, and it’s simple to play—all you really need is three chords.”
Teaching beginners of all ages is a special pleasure for Chambers “because I remember what it was like to learn—crying in my room, saying, ‘Mom, I’m so bad!’ I remember being in the fifth grade talent show, playing ‘My Heart Will Go On’ so badly … but then by the next year, I was made first chair in the school orchestra.”
Another aspect of playing that is important for Chambers is the emotional and healing qualities of music. She’s interested in music therapy, and has played at church services, funerals, and nursing homes. “I’ve been playing the cello more—I’m not quite as good on that as the violin yet, but it has a more healing quality.”
No matter the event, Chambers strives to have her playing enhance the experience for the couple and the guests. “I’ve done very big vineyard weddings and very small and special events—they are all unique. And it’s a privilege that they would trust me with their ceremony.”
