European Ensemble Strings

Our gorgeous Olsa and amazing Eric playing with Epic Unplugged tonight in Grapevine!🎻🎸

What a successful and well organized wedding with the lovely wedding planner, Karli Spangler💐

This Bowie House wedding had over 200 guests, with waiters offering ice-cold champagne and mimosas, the attendees passed by our quartet on the way to their seats🎻

What a lovely way to begin a wedding ceremony!

✨ Meet European Ensemble Strings ✨

Serving the DFW area since 2006

European Ensemble Strings is a collective of professionally trained musicians bringing elegance, warmth, and unforgettable music to every event. With a repertoire of 600+ songs, we perform at weddings, receptions, private parties, and corporate events—from intimate ceremonies to grand celebrations.

Our musicians are performers, educators, and internationally experienced artists. Meet the ensemble:

🎻 Edina Pastyik – Principal Violinist & Founder
Edina began violin and voice lessons at age six and chose the orchestra pit over the opera stage. She toured internationally, performing in Japan, South Korea, Dubai, Qatar, Germany, Pakistan, and Switzerland. After joining SMU’s Artist Program, she formed European Ensemble Strings with musicians she trusted both musically and personally—serving the greater Dallas area ever since.

🎻 Olsa – Violin & Vocals
A graduate of the University of Arts in Tirana, Albania, Olsa performed on National Television and represented Albania twice at the Eurovision Song Festival. Since moving to Dallas in 2018, she has been a core member of the ensemble. She teaches in Frisco and Allen ISDs, sings jazz, and performs on acoustic and 7-string electric violin.

🎻 Gail Bowers – Viola
Gail began her musical training at age five and earned degrees from Oberlin Conservatory and SMU. A founding member of the ensemble, she has performed with multiple symphony orchestras and is Assistant Director of Orchestras at Marcus High School and on the viola faculty at Texas Woman’s University.

🎻 Eric Tannenbaum – Cello
Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Eric holds degrees from Oberlin and SMU and is Assistant Orchestra Director at Moseley Middle School in Prosper. A member since 2012, European Ensemble Strings performed at his wedding, followed by the rock band he regularly plays with at the reception ;)

📩 Contact info is linked in our profile

We look forward to being part of your next celebration 🤍

On Saturday, we had the privilege of playing a truly beautiful wedding ceremony at Stonebriar Community Church in the main sanctuary. This moment was especially meaningful because we were joined by the wonderful organist John Dill, who actually built the magnificent organ that lives in this space. When the organ and strings came together for the bride’s entrance, the sound filled the church in the most breathtaking way. I felt chills run through me. It was powerful, moving, the kind of things brides dream of for that moment.

When musicians listen to each other and create something together, the result is more than music. It’s a memory and a feeling. We are so grateful for this collaboration and the chance to play with the man who built such a magnificent artwork of an instrument 🎼

We love partnering with brands that know live music makes every event better 🎻💎

From performing at Toyota 🚘 to adding a live soundtrack to the Dolce & Gabbana new parfum launch at the Virgin Hotel🌸 we love bringing good vibes & a luxurious sound to special events!

Behind every great performance is a sound tech working miracles 🎛️
They shape the sound, carry the emotion, and make sure our music truly reaches you.
They’re unsung heroes of our industry and we couldn’t do what we do without them 🎧🎵

The average relaxing day of a professional musician during the holiday season 🎻✨
(Itinerary based on real life…)

9:00 AM
Rehearsal at New Beginnings Church with the octet, preparing a special service. 8 musicians, coffee in hand, music stands everywhere.

1:00 PM
Home.
Exactly 22 minutes to heat up lunch, change clothes, and mentally switch gears.

1:22 PM
Performing as string quartet for a beautiful winter wedding at the Joule Hotel in downtown.
(Quick chat with valet: don’t blink—we’ll probably be back before you get a chance to park.) Played until 7:00 PM.

7:30 PM
Straight to Coppell for a Christmas party in a stunning home as a violin–cello duo.
Started the day as 8 musicians, then 4, and ended the night as just 2!

10:00 PM
Done for the day. That’s 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM with a lovely 22-minute lunch break in between😊 busy, musical, full of beautiful moments.

The holidays are intense…

And trust me, I wouldn’t have it any other way. 🎄🎶