Indiana University Office of Musical Attractions

I recently was married in Indiana and wanted to support the local university’s music program by finding a musician through them. Indiana University has a good reputation for music and I was hopeful I could find a musician that would play some more interesting music for my ceremony than the usual Pachelbel or Mendelssohn.
I DO NOT RECOMMEND finding musicians through this organization!!! I was assigned a cellist, Thomas Ems, two months before the event. Then he quit 5 days before my wedding. The university found what they told me was a suitable replacement. It seems that the first cellist quit because he did not want to play outside, rain or shine. I was not told that the event had to be indoors ever. They were entirely unpreparated to accomodate my wedding. Instead, I was assigned Teresa Easwaren, another cellist at the university, for the event. Teresa was entirely incompetent. She showed up late, did not bring a music stand, lied to say she could play some Bach pieces which she admitted later that she could not, and then choose to play pieces other than what I asked for. Teresa also could not even play a very simple hymn – reflecting that she had not thought of the music for the event until the last minute, if at all. Moreover, many of my guests reported to me that the cellist looked angry and upset. And my minister and maid of honor told me she had a very bad attitude from the moment she arrived.
I am disgusted by this experience. To say it ruined my wedding ceremony is an understatement. I think that the Indiana University musicians are arrogant and must think that a stupid bride would never notice if they play Pachelbel, Vivaldi or Bach. So they just assumed they could play whatever they wanted and I would not notice. This arrogance is offensive. I am a musician myself and very interested in music – so substituting Bach with Vivaldi is not acceptable to me. And while I may have been understanding if they had told me in advance it was not playable, I think to substitute it for the ceremony is rude and irresponsible.
I apologize for the lengthy description of my experience, but I want to stress that the university does not find responsible and mature musicians. They assign whoever they have on hand – often immature college students who do not know how to handle themselves professionally. They are not responsible for their behavior or professionalism. And their inability to take care of this ruined my wedding. My advice – do NOT go through the Office of Musical Attractions – instead hire professional musicians!