Client Testimonials
Corporate | Gala Fundraiser | Wedding
What Our Corporate Clients Say About Us ...
Dear Maximilian:
Thank you for a wonderful and magical evening. Your timing, savoir-faire, style, charm and impeccable musical taste were the indispensable elements which made our Kelly Awards such a resounding success. You and your staff’s professionalism and caring attention to detail make working with Bacchus Group a sincere pleasure. We look forward to partnering with you again next year and for many more to come.
Peter
Henderson, VP, Magazine Publishers of America, New York, NY
Event: MPA Kelly Awards, Waldorf Astoria Hotel, New
York, NY
Dear Margarida:
Thank you once again for providing the wonderful and exquisite music for our annual awards program. As always, all elements of your performance and presentation were world-class. Over the many years in which Bacchus Group has provided our awards entertainment, it's been a wonderful experience to work with you, Maximilian and your talented musicians. See you next year.
Sally
Magallanes, CMP, Prevent Blindness America, Chicago, IL
Event: PBA Awards, Turtle Creek C.C., Houston, TX
Dear Margarida:
Kudos to you, Bacchus Group, your wonderful orchestra, and your incredibly talented musicians and dancers. The performance was superb. Your male and female vocalists were wonderful; the horn arrangements - in particular - were rich and full; and Maximilian's ability to "read" our fickle crowd - and pick the right song for the right moment - was nothing short of miraculous. Quite simply, our guests were enchanted
I especially appreciate all of your valuable recommendations and attention to detail in planning our event. Everything was flawless, smooth and hassle-free. I know I can always count on you.
Please let your musicians and dancers know how much joy they brought everyone; and we can't wait for you to entertain us at the communications convention in Paris next May.
Ursula
Hughes, VP, PanAmSat Corporation, Wilton, CT
Event: International Satellite Launch Party, Biltmore Hotel, Coral Gables,
FL
What Our Gala Fundraiser Clients Say About Us ...
Dear Maximilian:
You are such a fabulous entertainer; and my god, what a voice! We still can't believe that you haven't been scooped-up by a major record label.
The music was magnificent and your dancers are absolutely gorgeous. Comments from all of our 1000+ guests were in the superlatives all night. You really "turned-on" this jaded, been-there done-that, cosmopolitan, North Shore Chicago crowd.
Thank you for helping us crystallize our theme by suggesting we call the event Club Azúcar. Brilliant call. It was - without question - a beautiful and memorable fantasy night in "Old Havana Cuba"; and we all came away feeling energized, elated and - I might add - a bit educated. Superb!
Please keep us all on your email list, because we want front row seats, the next time you perform at a public event.
Many, many, many thanks; and azúcar!
Holly Hunt, Holly Hunt, Ltd., Chicago, IL, Gala Cochairman
Event: Goodman Theater, 22nd Annual Gala, Fairmont Hotel, Chicago, IL
My Dearest Maximilian:
Bravo and felicidades.
Your performance at the Forum's 40th anniversary gala at The Supper Club in New York City was sensational. Two weeks after this magical event, we are still hearing comments in praise of the wonderful Orchestra of the Americas.
From your classy swinging version of "Best Is Yet to Come" (as we entered the main dining room) to the most soulful rendition of "Let's Stay Together" to the rousing rocking "Brown Sugar" to your muy autentico take on that classic Caribbean merengue, "Bilongo", all of our guests - Caucasian, African-American, Asian-American and Hispanic - danced the night away.
It was a pleasure to work with Margarida Rainho from your national corporate office; and your New York staff is the best - especially Celia Hemingway. We are particularly indebted to Margarida for working closely with us, to ensure that the music was always in sync with the mood of our guests. She did a terrific job!
Next year's benefit committee will be formed this summer; and I sincerely hope we move fast enough, so that we may once again secure the services of Bacchus Group Productions and Orchestra of the Americas.
¡Un abrazo fuerte!
Coni
Batlle, President, National Puerto Rican Forum, New York, NY
Event: NPRF 40th Anniversary Gala, The Supper Club, New York, NY
Dear Maximilian:
Everyone heartily agrees that you and the Chicago Soul Orchestra made this year's gala the most successful one yet for our hospital. What a difference in the quality of music you provided versus what we've had in the past. There is absolutely no comparison; it's night and day. You guys are in a league of your own!
Guests, staff and corporate sponsors are still complimenting us. [By the way, congratulations on the Novartis contract to perform in Geneva, Switzerland. Not just because they discovered you at our event; but, do you need an extra roadie?]
A sincere thank you to Margarida and her very able staff for helping us with all of the myriad details; and a million thanks to you, maestro, for your talent, professionalism, leadership, charm and exquisite music.
We are forever indebted to you.
Perry
Guariglia MD, Gala Chairman, Swedish Covenant Hospital, Chicago, IL
Event: SCH Annual Gala, Four Seasons Hotel, Chicago, IL
What Our Wedding Clients Say About Us ...
Dear Maximilian:
We have just begun to reemerge from our wonderful wedding weekend and all we can say is "wow". The whole experience far exceeded even our highest expectations.
Of course, we know that we owe much of the success of the day to Orchestra of the Americas. The music was a perfect complement to our day. From the gentle processional music during the ceremony; to the tasteful background music at the reception; to the all out rocking and grooving at the party - everything was just as we hoped.
The band was truly flawless. We were so impressed that one minute they pulled off a hot a sultry rendition of "Let's Get It On" and then minutes later glided into one of the best horas anyone in that room had ever heard. All of our guests told us that they could have danced for three more hours, if the band would have continued to play!
And we want to extend a very special thank you to Margarida. She was so calm and competent; and really helped alleviate any anxiety we felt about how the day would flow. In the end, it was really a pleasure planning our special day with her. She's the best!
Thank you for all you did to make this day so special and fun for us; and we remain your eternal loving "groupies".
Perkins/Kaplan Wedding Reception, Chicago, IL
Dear Maximilian:
We are remiss in not sending you a note immediately after our wedding, to thank you for helping to make it the event of our dreams. It was such a pleasure and relief, not to have to worry about the music. Your ability to "read" such a diverse crowd is uncanny; and you achieved the exact ambiance and sound we were seeking. We absolutely loved it; and as you well know, the dance floor was packed the entire night.
Thank you for working with us so diligently in planning this special day and for accommodating all our wishes. We especially appreciate you breaking away from your first European tour, in order to return to Chicago and perform for us. (Our guests were quite impressed!) It was a blissful evening which you alone were able to create.
Please feel free to use us as a reference; and we wish you heartfelt success and safe travels.
Campion/Carrier Wedding Reception, Chicago, IL
Maximilian responds …
We've been out of the country for the past 2 weeks and only just returned on Wednesday. What a wonderful treat to return home to such a lovely and thoughtful message.
We are sincerely delighted that you were so pleased with our service and the orchestra's performance. Your kind words mean a lot to us.
Ours is a humble profession. For a few hours, we enter people's lives and help them forget the more serious pressing problems in their world, by artfully performing some of the most beautiful music ever created. Hopefully - if the muse is with us - we can create a nurturing magical musical space where people are fee to dream, reminisce, hope, connect and dance. There really is a purpose and method behind what we do. It's not just playing "a bunch of tunes", picking up a check, and going home. (If it ever gets to that point for me, I'm simply retiring and opening a beachside bar in Crete or Sardinia!)
Performing for someone's wedding reception is even more special for me. For there is no greater personal joy than singing for a gathering of dear family and friends who've come to bear witness to a couple's love. I guess it's just the hopeless romantic in me.
We wish you a long, prosperous and healthy life together; and I sincerely hope that our paths will cross again soon.
Dear Maximilian:
As you well know, my expectations were very high; and you certainly exceeded them. The only thing that I was unhappy about is that you stopped playing! Absolutely everyone loved the music; and Margarida's skillful coordination of all elements of the wedding party made the evening so relaxing for us.
We hope that you enjoyed Taos and that your trip home was hassle-free. Please keep us on your mailing list because we want to come hear you and Orchestra of the Americas every chance we get.
Thanks again for a superb job.
Marion/Luces Wedding Reception, Taos, NM
Dear Maximilian:
Thank you, thank you, thank you for making my wedding such an absolute wonderful success! As you know, this was an extremely diverse, sophisticated, international crowd; and people are still telling me how much fun they had (as evidenced by the fact that the dance floor was never empty and that my dad probably didn't miss one song!).
I have to give you credit for the biggest part of the success. You and Margarida were both not only supremely professional and organized; but, so warmly understanding and supportive of a young bride's fickle whims. Our family sincerely appreciates everything you did, in making my wedding the stuff of dreams.
We will heartily recommend you to anyone who asks; and your # 1 fan - my dad - promises to send you his personally autographed photo, after you send him yours. Ha! Ha!
With warmest regards,
Anne Powell Lyons
Powell/Lyons
Wedding Reception, Washington DC
(Anne is the youngest daughter of former US Secretary of State, Colin
Powell.)
Dear Maximilian:
Life is finally starting to settle down a bit; and we wanted to send you this belated - but heartfelt - thank you for all you did to make our wedding so special.
Your orchestra is spectacular and truly merits the moniker "the finest dance band in all of Florida!". It is absolutely amazing how you were soulful, jazzy, funky, spicy, rockin' - all at the same time. Your soaring rendition of our first dance, "The Prayer", was breathtaking. There wasn't a dry eye in the room. Both you and your female vocalist sing like angels. No one had heard such an impeccable authentic live rendition of this Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion masterpiece. Maximilian, you are amazing!
However, as exceptional as the music was, we are especially thankful for our newfound friendship with you. Please know how special you are to us; and that you are always welcome in our home. MI casa Es tu casa.
NeJame/Arizola Wedding Reception, Orlando, FL
Dear Margarida:
We want to send you our heartfelt thanks for the orchestra's magnificent performance at our wedding. Our family and guests are still raving about the exquisite and energetic sounds that came from your virtuoso performers. What an incredibly talented crew!
Our two families - of Bolivian and Irish extraction - thoroughly enjoyed the delightful stew of "Golden Oldies", funk, disco, big band, Sinatra, jazz, pop and Irish and Latin favorites. Maximilian's insightful music selections were the perfect icebreaker. Every time I glanced on the dance floor there was some new and interesting combination of people responding to the rhythms: Oscar's Bolivian great uncle dancing with my college roommate; my teen-aged niece kicking up a jig to a lively Latin beat; and not one, but two, conga lines throughout the evening pretty much says it all. It was a gas!
Please keep us on your mailing list; as we want to attend any Orchestra of the Americas performances around the country.
We wish you much continued success.
Avila/Igoe Wedding Reception, Chicago, IL
Dear Maximilian and Margarida:
Now that things are getting back to normal, we wanted to take the time to express our most sincere thanks. You guys are great; and really made our wedding dream come true.
From the very first time we heard Maximilian and Orchestra of the Americas, we knew that this was the heavenly music we wanted for our wedding party. Thank you for fitting us into your schedule. We know that we contracted you during an extremely difficult and busy time; and we sincerely appreciate your working with us in the middle of your European tour. Thank heaven for the Internet!
The orchestra was magnificent and oh-so-cool (as we knew it would be); and Maximilian, your voice is exquisite - one of a kind. Margarida, your (and your San Francisco's staff's) organization and assistance was invaluable. Now we understand why you guys are so much in demand in the corporate events market. You're simply the best!
Please rest assured that we will gladly recommend you at every chance; and wish you much continued success.
Moskovitz/Levin Wedding Reception, San Francisco, CA
Dear Maximilian:
Tim and I would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts, for making our wedding such a musical success. The music was exceptional - exciting, elegant, classy, unpredictable and romantic; and way beyond what Tim and I could have ever imagined.
I want to make special mention of your performance of our first dance, "Thank You" by Dido. When you said that it would sound better than the original, you were not kidding. We were absolutely blown away by your arrangement and the awesome performance of your female lead vocalist. You both have such exquisite voices and charismatic stage presence. If you'll accept my humble 2 cents, you really should record it!
The night was magical; and Tim and I just danced the night away - as did all of our guests. Everyone kept asking us who you were; and we were proud to say that this is the legendary Orchestra of the Americas.
You are a true "dream weaver"; and we look forward to hearing you at your next public performance.
Johnson/Russell Wedding Reception, New York, NY