OUR MUSIC

Arlen Music Productions specializes in providing live Chicago music entertainment presentations for Chicago wedding music, Chicago corporate band, and Chicago fundraising band events.  Much more than just a traditional standalone Chicago wedding band, Arlen Music ensembles are recognized as leaders within the Chicago special event band industry. Winner of the 2014-2021 Best Band by Better Magazine, the Ken Arlen Evolution Orchestra has also developed a nationwide presence with performances ranging from New Year’s Eve at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, to the Presidential Inaugural Ball in Washington, D.C.

Dance Bands

Our flagship group - A 12 to
15-piece band with a nation-wide presence
An 11-piece band featuring a
4-piece rhythm section, 3 horns, and 4 vocalists
A 9-piece band featuring a 4-piece rhythm section, 2 horns, and
3 vocalists
An 8-piece band featuring a
4-piece rhythm section, 2 horns, and 2 vocalists
A 7-piece band featuring a 4-piece rhythm section and 3 vocalists
A 6-piece band featuring a 4-piece rhythm section and 2 vocalists

Arlen Exclusives

Chicago’s exclusive rock violin show, performing everything from classical music to classic rock!
3 virtuosic guitar players, performing repertoire ranging from Motown to today’s hits
Chicago’s finest jazz quartet, mixing jazz standards with instrumental versions of your favorite contemporary artists
Luna Strings logo - Arlen Music Productions
2 harps, 2 cellos, 4 violins, Luna Strings provides an exciting approach to contemporary music with a twist of timeless instrumentation.
Versatile string players performing elegant music for your ceremony, cocktail hour, or corporate event.
Featuring four of LA’s most sought-after performers, singing hits by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
Click Here for Small Groups

Our Process

Watch our two-minute whiteboard video for an introduction to our company, and then scroll through the thumbnails below to learn about our Effortless Entertainment Experience!

  • Intro to Arlen Music Productions

 

Arlen Music Team

The unique individuals that make up the Arlen Music service team blend expertise in all disciplines of music and performing arts, which allows effortless management of each event with expertise, enthusiasm and attention to detail.

Timothy Clark
Timothy Clark
Executive Vice President

Timothy Clark

Tim has been heading up the Arlen Music office team for the last 20 years, and takes the lead in working with new clients as they begin the exciting process of planning the music for their special event! Tim is also heavily involved in developing our unique product line, and establishes long-term goals and strategies to keep Arlen Music as the leader in this sector of Chicago’s special event industry!

Tim was trained from an early age in percussion and piano, and after two degrees in classical performance he eventually returned to Chicago to pursue a dual career in performance and music business. Shortly after beginning at Arlen Music in 2003, he auditioned for and began a 6-year run as a frequent member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra percussion section. In addition to performing for local concert series at Symphony Center and Ravinia, Tim also traveled with the orchestra to Carnegie Hall, Germany, England, France, Italy, and Switzerland. He can be heard on several live recordings under the CSO Resound label.

Tim resides in Wilmette, IL with wife, Andrea, and his two children, Addison and William.

Rob Thompson
Rob Thompson
Director of Entertainment & Business Development

Rob Thompson

Recently relocating from Los Angeles, California, Rob is excited to join this talented team at Arlen Music Productions. He is passionate about entertainment and helping our clients plan the perfect customized musical experience for any special event. With over 20 years of entertainment experience, Rob is excited and dedicated to helping grow a culture of excellence at AMP that has already been so carefully cultivated over many years.

Rob has worked as a featured vocalist for Disney, and Universal Studios both in L.A. and internationally (Osaka, Japan) where he received entertainer/employee of the year. Rob also spent over 15 years singing with The Alley Cats and opened for Jay Leno for 3 years at The Mirage, Las Vegas. Since then, his musical journey has taken him all around the world and back from touring Moscow, Germany, Italy, Austria, Hawaii, Bermuda, Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and many other national venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Los Angeles Music Center. Rob is no stranger to the AMP family as you may have seen him over the years entertaining with Arlen Music Productions here in Chicago, Nebraska, Las Vegas, and Florida with various bands, and exclusive AMP groups including our Four Seasons Tribute, “Oh What A Night.”

Rob resides in Deerfield, IL with his wife, Kimberly, and his two sons, Sawyer and Leo.

Debbie Price
Debbie Price
Client Services Administrator

Debbie Price

Debbie Price comes to Arlen Music as our new Client Services Administrator. Debbie has spent many years in the corporate sector in various positions, including most recently Lease Administrator for Newmark. Debbie went to Bradley University majoring in theatre and Columbia College Chicago majoring in Arts Administration. She is VERY happy to be working with and among artists again!

Debbie has spent more than 20 years volunteering for the Evanston schools doing everything from fundraising, writing grants, and managing artist in residence programs to working concessions at the Friday night football games where her children performed in the halftime shows (dancing or playing sax). She also spent many years directing children’s theatre and teaching youth performance classes in Skokie. She is a self-proclaimed musical theatre nerd and takes every opportunity to see as many performances as she
can.

Debbie lives in Skokie with her husband, Ken, her dog Wrigley, her son Cameron when he’s not away at school and her daughter Kayla when she comes to visit from Colorado.

Ken Arlen
Ken Arlen
Founder/Bandleader Evolution Orchestra

Ken Arlen

As a sought-after orchestra leader and saxophonist, Ken Arlen has been a featured entertainer for numerous celebrities and dignitaries, from the President of the United States to Hollywood stars. Ken is also the founder of Arlen Music Productions, a Chicago-based entertainment company that specializes in providing live customized music for special events. He has led the transformation of the impact of music on this industry in Chicago, and over the last decade has brought this force to the national event scene through his performances with the Ken Arlen Evolution Orchestra.

Lloyd Snyder
Lloyd Snyder
Co-Leader of Evolution

Lloyd Snyder

Known as one of the most talented guitarists in Chicago, Lloyd has been key in leading special event bands over the last 6 years with great energy and attention to detail for his clients. Locally, he has performed with Girl Next Door, Green 14, Rendition, Hello Nuvo, and Hey Jimmy. He has also shared the stage with major artists such as Blues Traveler and Nate Ruess. As one of the great young front men in Chicago today, Lloyd’s style is inspired by Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, John Mayer, among other great virtuosos. Lloyd has already made a huge impact on Evolution, and we are excited to promote him to co-leader with Evolution beginning in 2019.

Kendall Nesbitt
Kendall Nesbitt
Bandleader of Indigo

Kendall Nesbitt

Kendall Nesbitt is a Grammy Award nominated musician, singer, songwriter, and producer and is excited to take over the helm as Bandleader for Indigo after performing as a vocalist with them for the past 5 years. Kendall’s professional debut occurred at the age of 16 when he shared the stage with comedian/actor the late Bernie Mac as his pianist. To date, Kendall has assisted in completing 50+ gold and multi-platinum albums for some of the world's greatest artists: Jay Z, Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Ron Isley, Syleena Johnson, Tyrese Gibson, R. Kelly and Charlie Wilson just to name a few, lending his skills as a keyboardist, background vocalist, drum programmer, arranger, and vocal producer. Kendall has also worked on a number of movie soundtracks including, ALI, LIFE, SHAFT, HARDBALL, & THE BEST MAN HOLIDAY. You can also hear his melodic sound on TV/Radio advertisements and Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network as well as his two new singles “Show The World” and “I’m Feeling You” out on all digital platforms.

Rebecca Brown
Rebecca Brown
Bandleader of Front of House

Rebecca Brown

After 13 years as lead vocalist with Front of House, Rebecca Brown is excited to be stepping into the bandleader role beginning in 2025. She earned her degree in Music Business at Millikin University, during which time she toured internationally with the vocal jazz ensemble One Voice, critically acclaimed in DownBeat Magazine as a top 10 College Vocal Jazz Ensemble. She was also featured on Good Morning America with the University’s Premiere Choir. Rebecca has been singing professionally for more than 10 years as a lead singer with Royal Caribbean Cruises, in various independent recordings ranging from pop to musical theatre, and as a voice over artist in Los Angeles. Her flexibility and range will captivate fans of pop, jazz, R&B, and Motown. Rebecca is thrilled to be a part of one of Chicago’s most energetic and enthralling groups of entertainers.

Morgen Hare
Morgen Hare
Bandleader of Entourage

Morgen Hare

To see Morgen Hare perform is to witness passion in its purest form. As a professional musician with over 15 years in the Chicago market, and collaborations through LA, Atlanta, and New York, Morgen has over 25 years of combined training and experience. Originally hailing from the home of Prince, Minnesota, Morgen chose to make Chicago her home and graduated from Columbia College Chicago with honors and a concentration in vocal performance. Morgen has performed at prestigious venues/fests such as Carnegie Hall in NY, Summerfest in Milwaukee, the Vic Theater, Aragon Theater, and House of Blues in Chicago, to name a few. As a sought-after and trusted vocalist of Chicago, she has had the honor of sharing the stage alongside artists such as Koko Taylor, Louisiana Red, Buddy Guy, Styx, Everclear, Steve Augeri of Journey, Rusted Root, and Randall Hall of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Whether working as a studio vocalist, recording for TV and radio commercials, or live shows, Morgen can fulfill any performance need. Morgen is currently the bandleader and lead singer of Entourage, the internationally traveled, award-winning cover band. She is also the proud owner of ChiVibe Inc.(pronounced SHY-vibe), which offers marketing consulting, coaching, and more. To say this woman is driven is an understatement. Morgen is a one-of-a-kind show-stopping performer guaranteed to spark passion and joy in all who watch her in her element. The stage is where her heart is, and the audience is who she chooses to share it with.

Heidie Malnassy
Heidie Malnassy
Bandleader of Velocity

Heidie Malnassy

Heidie Malnassy has been belting out tunes since the age of 11. Since moving to Chicago in 2008, she has been a lead vocalist in several Top 40 bands, as well as lead her own original music projects as singer, songwriter and producer. In 2015 she wrote and co-produced her debut EP entitled “No Love Like Our Love” which she was able to release with the help from a fully funded Kickstarter campaign. Her versatile tone and attention to detail have made her a highly sought after vocalist in the Chicago music community. She has performed alongside several highly acclaimed musicians including Paula Cole, Jim Lauderdale, Charlie Sexton, and Todd Rundgren. When she’s not performing, you can catch Heidie as a full time vocal Instructor and Music Director at the School of Rock Oak Park, where she loves to inspire and encourage kids and adults to access their inner rockstar. Heidie received her Bachelor’s of Music from Columbia College Chicago in Contemporary Urban and Popular Music.

Chris Cash
Chris Cash
Bandleader of Skyline

Chris Cash

Chris Cash has been a drummer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist for over 30 years. After graduating from DePaul University, he began playing with a wide variety of musicians around Chicago, finally joining popular cover band Rendition and performing 250 dates a year. Now he pours his passion for music into this incredible band and family of incredibly talented musicians. When not performing, he is often either composing for films and video games or producing for other artists. Many of these musical journeys have taken him to some amazing locations such as George Lucas’s Skywalker Ranch and the Emanuel Vegland Mauseoleum in Oslo, Norway. Chris has made a career out of getting people out on the dance floor and having the time of their lives. He is thrilled to now bring that same fire and energy to Skyline!

 

Contact Us

Call Arlen Music today at (847) 869-8826 or use the inquiry form below!