Author: The Chapel Hill Duo

The Chapel Hill Duo’s music goes beyond the boundaries of genre and challenges the ‘classical’ Violin and Cello stereotypes. With years of experience performing Pop, Jazz, Classical, Film and Folk music, and a firm grounding in the perfection of Classical virtuosity, they explore the limits of what is possible with just two musicians, a Violin and a Cello. Although the Duo are loosely based in the East Midlands, U.K., they spend much of their time touring and playing for hundreds of events across the country. Be it a Concert, Wedding, Corporate event, Party or Primary School assembly, Sarah and Jaya love performing and approach all of their engagements with equal enthusiasm. The Duo’s own intricately detailed covers and arrangements are internationally renowned, selling thousands of copies of sheet music a year. Whether they are tackling the latest top 40 chart hits, epic film-scores or old classics, Sarah and Jaya undertake each new challenge with the same energy and commitment. Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide enjoy watching and listening to the Duo perform live and online every year. They have released four albums to date as well as numerous singles of their most popular covers. As a Duo, Jaya and Sarah have performed in numerous world-class venues including Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, the Green Note London, the Bath & Brighton Komedias, Brighton Pavilion, Europe House London and the National Piping Centre of Scotland. They have also had the pleasure of recording for, and playing live on, BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio Scotland and BBC Radio Lincolnshire, among others. In 2011 Violinist Jaya Hanley and Cellist Sarah James met at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London. In 2015 the Duo graduated with 1st Class Honours Performance Degrees in their respective instruments, but they came away with so much more than just a qualification. In November the following year Jaya and Sarah got engaged on top of Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh – when they find the time, they might actually get around to planning their own wedding!

Live Violin and Cello Cover of “Take on the World” — Wedding Breakfast at Armathwaite Hall

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Last November we had the pleasure of performing at a beautiful wedding breakfast at Armathwaite Hall Hotel and Spa in Keswick — one of the Lake District’s most stunning venues. Among the set, the couple had chosen “Take on the World” by You Me At Six, and it turned out to be one of those goosebump moments you don’t forget.

There’s a rawness to this song that translates beautifully to strings. Stripped back to violin and cello, the melody carries all the weight of the lyrics without a single word being sung. When it landed in a room of close family and friends, midway through the wedding breakfast, people loved it.

Why contemporary covers work so well at weddings

More and more couples are moving away from purely traditional wedding music, and we love that. Songs like “Take on the World” carry real personal meaning — they’re the songs couples have actually listened to together, driven to, stayed up late to. Hearing them played live on strings brings a completely different emotional texture to the day.

It doesn’t have to be one or the other, either. We regularly mix modern covers with classical pieces throughout the day — perhaps Pachelbel for the ceremony, then You Me At Six over the meal, and something upbeat for the drinks reception.

About Armathwaite Hall Hotel and Spa

Armathwaite Hall sits on the edge of Bassenthwaite Lake, surrounded by 400 acres of deer park and woodland. The setting is spectacular in any season, but in November — with the low light and the trees turning — there’s a particular warmth to it. The hall itself has grand, high-ceilinged rooms with wonderful acoustics for live strings, making it one of our favourite Lake District wedding venues to play.

Book us for your wedding

If you’re planning a wedding at Armathwaite Hall or anywhere in the Lake District and Cumbria, we’d love to hear from you. The Lakes are one of our favourite places to work, but we travel all over the UK, so don’t be shy if you’d like some music for your day! We offer bespoke sets tailored entirely to your taste — from film scores and pop covers to rock anthems and classical favourites.

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Fever Dream – Alex Warren | Violin & Cello Cover by The Chapel Hill Duo

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We’ve been obsessed with this track since it dropped — Alex Warren’s Fever Dream is a huge song with a really emotional melody about love catching you completely off guard. As soon as we heard it, we knew it had to give it the violin and cello treatment.

The original is built around piano and a big drumbeat, but at its core it’s a love song with a gorgeous melody. That’s exactly the kind of thing that works so well as a string duo arrangement. We wanted to strip it right back and let the emotion of the song come through on just two instruments — no backing track, no production, just strings.

This is our studio recorded version of Fever Dream, and we’re really proud of how it turned out. Have a listen:

We’ll be releasing this cover on Spotify, Apple Music, and all the usual streaming platforms soon — so keep an ear out for that. In the meantime, you can check out our other string covers on our YouTube channel.

Why Fever Dream works as wedding music

We’re always on the lookout for fresh songs that work well at weddings and events, and Fever Dream is a brilliant one to add to the list. It’s romantic without being cheesy, it’s modern, and it has the kind of energy that works whether you’re walking down the aisle or having your first dance. The string arrangement gives it a timeless feel while still sounding contemporary — exactly what a lot of couples are looking for.

If you’re planning a wedding or event anywhere in the UK and love the idea of hearing your favourite songs performed live on violin and cello, we’d love to hear from you. The Chapel Hill Duo specialises in contemporary string covers of pop, indie, and classic tracks — everything from current chart hits to all-time favourites. Every arrangement is our own, and we’re always adding new songs to our repertoire.

Drop us a message through our enquiry form to check availability and find out more about what we can do for your big day.

Love (Nat King Cole) — Live at Lanwades Hall

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We’re so happy to finally share this one. Last summer we had the pleasure of performing at the beautiful Lanwades Hall in Suffolk, and this cover of Nat King Cole’s ‘Love’ was one of those moments that just felt right from the first note.

We’ve always loved this song — there’s a reason it’s been a wedding staple for decades. For our arrangement, we leaned into the warmth of the cello and let the violin carry that familiar melody, keeping things intimate and romantic without losing any of the magic of the original.

Lanwades Hall is a genuinely stunning venue and if you’re considering it for your wedding, we can tell you firsthand that it’s an absolute dream to perform in. The acoustics, the light, the whole atmosphere — it all just works.

If you’re in the early stages of planning your wedding music and you’d love a live string duo to be part of your day, we’d love to hear from you. Whether you’re based in Suffolk, Lincolnshire, or anywhere in between, we travel to venues across the UK.

Espresso (String Duo Cover) – Sabrina Carpenter

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We couldn’t resist arranging this one. Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso has such a natural swing to it — that slow-burn groove translates surprisingly well to strings, and we had a lot of fun finding the right balance between playful and polished.

This one was filmed at Wootton Hall, a stunning Georgian country estate in North Lincolnshire. With its double-fronted manor house, walled garden and 27 acres of parkland, it’s the kind of venue that sets a really special tone for a wedding day — elegant but not stuffy, with a genuinely warm atmosphere. Exactly the kind of setting where a song like Espresso feels completely at home.

This is the kind of song we love bringing into a wedding set. It’s current, it’s fun, and it works beautifully as a cocktail hour track — especially for couples who want their day to feel more like a party than a ceremony.

#SabrinaCarpenter #Espresso #StringCover #WeddingStrings #WeddingMusic #WeddingEntertainment #WoottonHall #LincolnshireWedding #LincolnshireWeddingVenue #UKWeddingVendors #CocktailHour #CocktailHourMusic #WeddingVibes #ModernWedding #StringDuo #ViolinAndCello #LiveWeddingMusic #WeddingInspiration #2025Wedding #WeddingDay

Friday I’m In Love – Instrumental Wedding Cover (Violin & Cello)

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We had so much fun performing this one! The Cure’s “Friday I’m In Love” arranged for violin and cello, live at a summer wedding at Pangdean Old Barn.

This track is always a crowd-pleaser—it’s got such infectious energy and optimism that translates brilliantly to strings. We loved reimagining it for this beautiful wedding, keeping all that joyful spirit while giving it a fresh instrumental twist.

Pangdean Old Barn is an absolutely gorgeous venue to play at. The rustic barn and luscious gardens make for such a special atmosphere, and the summer vibes were perfect.

We’re The Chapel Hill Duo, and we specialise in bringing contemporary songs to life with violin and cello for weddings and events. There’s something magical about taking songs people love and reimagining them with strings.

📍 Pangdean Old Barn, East Sussex

🎻 Violin & Cello

This Sia Cover Belongs in Bridgerton 🎻 Cheap Thrills | Violin & Cello LIVE

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🎻 Cheap Thrills – Sia | Violin & Cello Cover | The Chapel Hill Duo LIVE at Harlaxton Manor

We’re so excited to share this one with you! Here’s our live violin and cello arrangement of Sia’s “Cheap Thrills,” filmed in the stunning Orangery at Harlaxton Manor. If this backdrop looks like it belongs in a period drama, that’s because it practically could — and that’s exactly the vibe we were going for. 🏛️✨

With the new season of Bridgerton upon us, we couldn’t resist revisiting this track after it was featured in the last season. There’s something magical about hearing a modern pop hit reimagined with strings, and Bridgerton has done so much to bring that concept to a massive audience. We wanted to put our own spin on it and bring that Bridgerton energy to life in a real-world setting that feels straight out of the Ton.

Harlaxton Manor’s Orangery was the perfect location — all golden light, grand architecture, and old-world elegance. We hope you enjoy watching this as much as we enjoyed performing it!

🎵 Original song by Sia

🎻 Violin & Cello arrangement by The Chapel Hill Duo

📍 Filmed live in the Orangery at Harlaxton Manor

💛 If you loved this cover, please LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more string covers of your favourite songs.

#CheapThrills #Sia #Bridgerton #ViolinCover #CelloCover #StringCover #TheChapelHillDuo #HarlaxtonManor #LivePerformance #BridgertonMusic #ClassicalCrossover

Dreams – Fleetwood Mac | Live Wedding Violin & Cello Cover

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Our violin and cello cover of “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac, played at St James’ Church, Norton last year.

We performed this while guests were getting seated before the ceremony, which is always one of our favourite parts of the day — calm, unhurried, and full of anticipation. “Dreams” felt like a lovely fit for that quiet build-up before everyone headed off to the wedding reception at Hodsock Priory later on.

We absolutely loved playing in such a beautiful church and being part of such a special day.

Thanks so much for listening! If you enjoyed this, feel free to like, comment, or subscribe for more string covers and wedding performances. And if you’re planning a wedding or event and fancy live violin and cello, we’d love to chat.

🎻 Violin & Cello

📍 St James’ Church, Norton

💍 Wedding performance before the reception at Hodsock Priory

All I Want for Christmas… Is Strings! Violin & Cello Cover

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We had so much fun putting our own spin on “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by the legendary Mariah Carey! 🎄✨

Just two instruments, a cozy Chapel Hill vibe, and one of the most iconic holiday songs ever. We hope this violin + cello cover brings a little extra sparkle to your season.

If you enjoy it, hit like, drop a comment, or share it with someone who’s already blasting Christmas music way too early (we see you 👀).

Thanks for listening and celebrating the holidays with us! ❤️🎻🎶

Happy holidays, — The Chapel Hill Duo

#StringHolidayMagic #ChapelHillSounds #DuoCoverSeason #FestiveStrings #HolidayVibesUnplugged

Lewis Capaldi – Something in the Heavens | Violin & Cello Cover by The Chapel Hill Duo

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✨ An emotional violin & cello take on Lewis Capaldi’s “Something in the Heavens” — raw, powerful, and straight from the soul. 🎻

We poured our hearts into this one! Our violin and cello version of Lewis Capaldi’s “Something in the Heavens” feels like it came straight from the stars. Every note hit us right in the feels — it’s emotional, powerful, and just a little bit otherworldly. 🌌💫

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/song/something-in-the-heavens-violin-cello-instrumental/1849989111

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/08tRiNQ9Kpma7ZruMgqiJK?si=84c2c9de0b994b40

Amazon Music: https://amazon.com/music/player/tracks/B0FYQXW9R4?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_n42hOda2OYrxXdS05IDkKe9Q0

We wanted to capture that raw, soaring energy of Capaldi’s song and let the strings do the talking. From the quiet moments that make you hold your breath to the huge waves of sound that lift you up — this one’s a ride.

🎧 Pop in your headphones, crank the volume, and float away with us. If you love big emotions and bold string energy, you’re in for a treat.

👇 Hit follow for more of our violin and cello takes on songs that give you all the feels!

#HeavenlyStrings #LewisCapaldiCover #ViolinCelloMagic #StringVibes #EpicEmotion

Can’t Help Falling in Love – Violin & Cello Cover | Live Wedding Performance at Harlaxton Manor

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🎻 Can’t Help Falling in Love – Violin & Cello Cover (Live Wedding at Harlaxton Manor) 💍 by The Chapel Hill Duo

We had the absolute joy of performing “Can’t Help Falling in Love” live during a stunning wedding at the incredible Harlaxton Manor. This timeless song always gets us — and hearing it echo through such a beautiful, historic venue made it even more magical.

Our violin and cello arrangement brings out all the romance and intimacy of this classic Elvis Presley love song, perfect for walking down the aisle or a dreamy first dance.

🎶 Song: Can’t Help Falling in Love (Elvis Presley)

🎻 Arranged & performed by: The Chapel Hill Duo

📍 Location: Harlaxton Manor, Lincolnshire, UK

🎥 Recorded live at a wedding ceremony

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💌 About Us We’re The Chapel Hill Duo — a violin and cello pair who love reimagining iconic songs for strings. From wedding aisles to concert halls, we share music that makes people feel something special.

💫 Subscribe for more live wedding music and romantic string covers: https://www.youtube.com/thechapelhillduo

🎧 Listen to more of our arrangements: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/the-chapel-hill-duo/1053382350

📸 Follow our journey: Instagram – @chapelhillduomusic

Facebook – https://facebook.com/chapelhillduo

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We hope this performance makes you smile as much as it did us.

❤️ If you’re planning your own wedding, this might just be the song.

#LiveStringMusic #RomanticViolinCover #WeddingCeremonyIdeas #StringDuoLive #LoveSongInstrumental