The sole aim of the string quartet Status Cymbal is to delight. Formed in 1988 from the string principals of the Scarborough Spa Orchestra, it has become one of the most sought-after quartets in Britain. Its diverse range of repertoire, allied to a dynamic style of performance, captures and enthuses audiences of all ages and backgrounds. With the catch phrase ‘The Different String Quartet’ they can delight with an evening of original works for the genre by the great classical masters, a Palm Court programme, or a themed entertainment using the best of popular song from the Victorian era to the present day. The members are all conservatoire-trained professional full-time symphony musicians whose varied careers reflect the diversity of the repertoire, working for major professional orchestras, session work (pop as well as classical), West End Shows and in television.
 
The Status Cymbal approach to popular music is both refreshing and adventurous. From the beginning, it commissioned works from some of Britain's finest string arrangers, so that its unrivalled library now extends from Bach to Rock via Strauß, Gershwin, Bernstein, Duke Ellington, the Beatles, Abba, the Carpenters, Led Zeppelin, Radiohead and Queen, to name but a few. The haunting and the beautiful, the lively, the tearful, the passionate and the humorous, all can be heard in a Status Cymbal recital. Variety, originality and entertainment are its watchwords.
 
Alongside its concert work, Status Cymbal has a foothold in every other field of entertainment. They perform for corporate events, weddings and other private functions, playing in hotels, Banqueting and Livery halls, homes stately and not so stately, and have made several TV appearances. In 1995, Des O'Connor invited them to perform on his Central Television network peak-time show Pot of Gold. At the 2003 opening of Andrew Lloyd Webber's collection of Pre-Raphaelites at the Royal Academy of Arts, the BBC Arts Correspondent, Rosie Millard, was so taken with Status Cymbal that she began her 10 o'clock News report with their performance of Stairway to Heaven. 

Status Cymbal performances are enjoyed not only in Britain, but throughout the world, as well as on the high seas. During a two-month contract on Holland-America's MS Noordam, passengers voted the quartet near perfect marks in a customer satisfaction survey. Cunard invited them to perform three concerts on the prestigious MS Caronia (sister ship to the QE2) during its trans-Atlantic cruise to the Caribbean and P & O chose Status Cymbal as opening entertainment at the launch, in the presence of the Princess Royal, of their flagship Adonia, as well as entertaining guests at a charity ball aboard the Aurora and a subsequent Caribbean cruise aboard the Arcadia.
 
So whether it is a recital, corporate event, wedding, anniversary or any other type of prestige occasion, playing the works of the classical masters or music from our unique repertoire of modern arrangements, Status Cymbal will be delighted to entertain you.
 
Testimonials

"Thank you so much for coming to play to us at Goldsmiths' Hall last night. Your programme was perfect. You found some very ingenious solutions to the 'Gold' challenge and the inclusion of some Gershwin and Victor Sylvester nostalgia was extremely well suited to our older audience. We are most grateful to you all and thank you again for being so accommodating over our requirements."
Concert for the Queen Elizabeth Foundation

"May I also take this opportunity to thank you and your group for providing us with such a lift to our programming and for remaining in such good humour for the many hours you were with us, it certainly brought some festive joy to the offices."
QVC (The Shopping Channel) broadcast

"Wow! What can I say apart from thank you so much for playing at our wedding? You were absolutely amazing and we could not have chosen anyone better to play for us. It truly was breathtaking when I heard the first bars of Pachelbel as I entered the church. That was my favourite part of the day and it is all thanks to you... all our family and friends said how wonderful you all were and that the choices of music played were brilliant. One thing I do remember is my brother and I singing and dancing on the terrace while you were playing I Heard It on the Grapevine... you made our day even more of a fairytale for us and we cannot thank you enough - you really were amazing."
Wedding of Carly & Oliver Evans