On Election Day, we brought the magic of live music to our local polling station and gave back to the community. Through a partnership with Play for the Vote, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to increasing voter turnout with live music at polling places, we helped create an uplifting environment for everyone casting their vote. It was a day filled with music, joy, and community—one that reminded us all of the power of civic engagement.
Hi! I’m Ariana, the founder of Ariana Strings. With over 15 years of experience in the wedding and event industry, I’ve had the joy and honor of performing for more than 725 weddings and events. My journey has been a blend of passion, precision, and creativity—qualities I pour into every performance to make each event as unique as the couple I'm celebrating.
This unique project came to life when my dear friend and core cellist, Sarah, brought up the idea just a few short days before the big day. I pitched it to our team and was blown away by how quickly my fellow musicians jumped at the chance to use their talents to give back. My friends and colleagues came together from across Connecticut to give back to the community.
Throughout the day, our musicians took turns filling the air with everything from classical pieces to pop favorites, making it an Election Day to remember. We started in the morning with a violin duet and a string quartet, comprised of me, Sue, Sarah, Melissa, performing popular requests like Taylor Swift’s hits, ABBA classics, and Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’,” along with beloved classical pieces like Meditation de Thais by Massenet. For our evening performance, we played in smaller groupings—I began as a solo violinist, then Sarah and Jess joined me to become a violin and cello duet and then a string trio.
One especially memorable moment came when a group of young, future voters asked us to play “Love Story” by Taylor Swift. Seeing the children and their parents light up with excitement made all of us feel deeply grateful to be there. In those moments, it was clear that this day was about more than voting—it was about connecting, inspiring, and celebrating community.
The evening’s performance was beautifully captured by local photographer Shukhrat Kamalov, who volunteered his time to document the spirit of the day. His images added a layer of storytelling that beautifully complemented the music and the joy shared by everyone present.
Our goal was simple: to make voters feel welcome, lift their spirits, and celebrate the pride we all feel in our democracy. We hope we succeeded in making the day a little brighter for everyone who came out to vote. After all, music has a way of bringing people together, and that’s exactly what Election Day is all about.
To find out more about Play for the Vote, visit playforthevote.org
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