Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew And Michael Polonchak.
Hi Matthew and Michael, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
We got our start in weddings through music. We both began playing violin at the age of 5, and when we were a bit older, around 9 or 10, we began playing music for weddings and other events with our father, who is a professional musician. It was a great way to get into the industry, earn some extra money, and spend time with Dad!
In 2013, after receiving degrees in music performance and music technology, we founded Two Rivers Chamber Music, and began offering specialty live music for weddings and private events. When we first got started with Two Rivers, we offered string quartets and string trios, but in the years since, we expanded into a full service entertainment angency that offers pop/rock string ensembles, piano ensembles, live sound, and even DJs! The bulk of our booking are still string quartet ensembles, though – it’s a classic, timeless sound and our clients love hearing pop songs reimagined for strings.
After traveling up and down the East Coast and playing well over one thousand events at different venues, we began exploring a dream of owning our own venue. In 2023, that dream was realized when we became the proud owners of The Stone Mill 1792 – a historic building and venue in York County, PA.
The Stone Mill 1792 is a charming, historic Mill from the 18th century, and is nestled in a wooded valley. It’s a truly whimsical space, and suited exceptionally well for weddings and other special events. From the moment we saw it, we knew this was something special.
We have loved being able to put creative energy into developing the space and offerings for our couples. Our Stone Mill 1792 couples also often hire Two Rivers Chamber Music, our sister company, to perform for their weddings!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Any business has growing pains and challenging times, and we have had our fair share of both.
One example is with Two Rivers Chamber Music. In our second and third years in business, we became so busy that we had to move from hard-copy to digital music libraries. It was just impractical to have hard copies of all the music we needed for multiple ensembles performing in a day, so we made the move to an all electronic music library in a propietary system that can be carried on tablets. It was a big lift, but worth it – our library now has thousands of songs in it, and is one of the largest string quartet libraries we know of.
Another example is with The Stone Mill 1792. When we first took over the Mill in 2023, the industry was in a state of change, and micro-weddings and other smaller events were increasing in popularity. Redesigning packages and inclusions for The Stone Mill 1792 to match this new trend was an important step, but not an easy one! Our goal was always to be able to offer the best experience, and deliver the best value for our couples. It took some time, and was definitely an organic process. The end result was brand new packages designed especially with smaller weddings in mind, like Micro-weddings and Elopements, and specific inclusions, like decor, a day of coordinator and planning assistance, and a professional sound system. Those inclusions made it into our larger packages as well, and we hear from our guests quite often about how it takes so much stress and pressure off of them on the day of the wedding.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
With Two Rivers Chamber Music, we specialize in bowed string ensembles. We perform mostly as string quartets and string trios, but can scale up or down for any event. Modern pop songs on strings have become very popular in last decade, and we are proud to have one of the largest libraries of pop songs available for string quartet. We also offer custom arrangements for our clients, and can offer a truly one-of-a-kind musical experience for their special days. Live music adds so much to an event, and our goal is to personalize this for our couples and help create a soundtrack for their story. There’s something so special about performing live for moments they will remember the rest of their lives!
At The Stone Mill 1792, the venue itself is beautiful, historic and intimate, but it’s our customer service, unique offerings, and incredible value that set us apart. With all of our packages, we include event coordination, planning meetings, an extensive in-house decor collection, and even a professional sound system as standard – no extra cost. There are so many things included that it takes a lot of pressure off of our couples, especially for smaller events, because we have everything here in-house. On the day of the wedding, our couples and their guests can be present with family and friends, while our experienced team handles the logistics we have planned together. It’s a really flexible, easy experience for everyone.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
To explore booking live music, please visit our website at www.tworiverschambermusic.com and get in touch!
For information on booking The Stone Mill 1792 for your next event, please visit www.TSM1792.com. We also offer a variety of free and ticketed public events, like our Holiday Maker’s Market and Strings by Candlelight concerts.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thestonemill1792.com
- Instagram: thestonemill1792
- Other: https://www.tworiverschambermusic.com
