Meet Colin Ogg | Instrumental Ensemble Coordinator & Violinist.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Colin Ogg and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Colin, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
Many people who seek out the services of musicians for an event, be it a wedding, party, or corporate event, don’t truly understand or recognize the amount of time and effort that goes into ensuring that the musicians gathered to perform can form a cohesive ensemble. I have 66 musicians on my roster who get regular calls from me for gigs, and a good deal of thought goes into the “WHO” of the requested ensemble. Because my roster includes musicians from many different walks of life, and many different professional or semi-professional backgrounds, I must make sure that I assemble an ensemble of musicians who can play well together, and who can understand the intricacies of style.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
BellaNota Strings is a professional collective of musicians who can come together at a moment’s notice to provide music for almost any type of gathering. We have been building the diverse repertoire of songs to perform, developing our own unique & beautiful sound. From its inception, BellaNota Strings has been focused on generating exposure for the many talented musicians in the collective, while ensuring that all musicians are paid a fair rate.

The biggest challenge to our overall success is the belief that musicians should be paid a rate based on the length of time that their service will be needed, without taking the years of diligence, practice and studying that got us to where we are now. The proficient string quartet demands not only complete technical and artistic skill of each individual, but likewise must have a conception and sympathy as though the quartet formed one instrument. In other words, it should be as one mind. This process requires a significant investment of time, for the musicians to form a cohesive group.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Successful musicians will perform in virtually any setting, based on the location of the event. We have performed in some of the most beautiful outdoor venues, as far away as Chattanooga, TN, to Savannah, GA. We even performed a beach wedding in Florida. Weather has a way of becoming an integral part of the venue plans, which has given us the opportunity to play in some of the most beautiful churches, synagogues, and music halls as well.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
All recognition for the success of BellaNota Strings belongs to the 66 musicians whom have worked tirelessly in the pursuit of excellence, to ensure that performances for which they are hired are as close to perfection as they can deliver. When we first started as a String Quartet, collectively, the 4 of us, Rosie, Chris, Harrison and I, had over 80 combined years of musical experience. We have grown in size, and in skill, which has allowed us to come together in varying ensembles, to play in over 200 events, at over 150 different venues, in the last 4 years.

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