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

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.
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!

 

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 17 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.

Dan Nicholson
Dan Nicholson
Bandleader of Indigo

Dan Nicholson

Dan Nicholson is an accomplished bandleader and virtuoso musician hailing from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Before making his home in Chicago, Dan attended the University of North Florida where he studied saxophone and flute under the legendary Bunky Green, who called Dan "a musical force to reckon with." Dan developed his bandleading skills on the East coast and in Chicago before he joined the Arlen Music organization four years ago as the lead arranger and music director for Front of House. Dan also serves as the lead saxophonist and soloist to the nationally renowned Chicago Jazz Ensemble. With a Master's Degree in composing and arranging from DePaul University, Dan creates spectacular and exciting arrangements for all of the Arlen Music bands, including the Ken Arlen Orchestra. Dan is well-known for his personable and energetic style, his fun and easy flair, and his ability to call a great dance party while incorporating a client's vision.

David Sherman
David Sherman
Bandleader of Front of House

David Sherman

David Sherman has been singing professionally for over 20 years. He has performed in rock bands, swing bands, a mambo-rock band and with his original orchestral pop group The Steak House Mints. In 2008 The Steak House Mints released their debut album, Out of The Sky, to critical acclaim. He has opened for such legendary artists as James Brown, Carlos Santana, Harry Belafonte, Maceo Parker, and Pancho Sanchez. David has played in 42 of the 50 United States, in Cuba, and in Dubai. He has appeared in various theatrical productions in Chicago and at The I.O. Theater on one of their performance teams. He can been seen just about every Thursday night at The Green Mill Lounge with Chicago’s finest swing band The Swing Shift Orchestra. David is excited to be leading Front of House and enjoys living with his wife and his cat in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood.

Leslie Hunt
Leslie Hunt
Bandleader of Entourage

Leslie Hunt

Leslie Hunt is a musical phenomenon, an outstanding vocalist and a natural bandleader who has been performing professionally since she was ten years old. By the time she was fifteen, she was already an established songwriter, working alongside songwriting legend Jim Peterik (Eye of the Tiger, Vehicle, Hold On Loosely). At seventeen, she inked a development deal with Sony and went on to write and release three solo albums by the time she was in her mid-twenties. In 2007, she was a semi-finalist on American Idol, landing a spot in the top ten females out of over 104,000 contestants. Leslie has also been touring the globe with her rock band District 97 as their high-energy front person since 2008. Before she became the leader of Entourage in 2014, she was the female lead singer, music director and co-leader of the Ken Arlen Orchestra, as well as vocal producer for Arlen Music Productions. Leslie is beyond thrilled to be leading Entourage, as her detail-oriented, quality-focused and fun band leading style promises to make every event a successful one.

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.

 

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Contact Us

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

 

About Us

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 NYE at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, to the Presidential Inaugural Ball in Washington, D.C.

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Contact Us

Arlen Music Productions
1415 Sherman Avenue
Suite 101
Evanston, IL 60201

Phone

(847) 869-8826

Email

©2023 Arlen Music Productions