About Ideal Ensembles
Our specialty is writing arrangements of your favorite music. When it comes to popular songs, we do our best to preserve the sense of the original while adding our own artistic twist. We also provide music arranging services and experienced studio musicians to artists who wish to add a full string section to their sound.
All musicians that we work with are active performers in and around New York City. String quartets (2 violins/viola/cello) and trios (2 violins/cello or violin/viola/cello) are our primary focus; however, virtually any instrument can be substituted or added to an ensemble. Duets and solo performers are also available.
Yury Shubov, President
Yury Shubov, born in Odessa, Ukraine, began studying violin at the age of 5. During his early years of formal instruction, he showed a strong aptitude for music. As a member of several youth ensembles, he performed on Ukrainian television as well as in a variety of venues including The Odessa Opera House. After moving to the United States, he continued his music education through private study and at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York City. He gained an appreciation for orchestral and chamber music while performing a range of works from composers baroque to contemporary.
Yury continued to develop his musical style at SUNY College at Fredonia. He was the concertmaster of the College Symphony Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra, and was in the pit orchestra of four opera productions (The Yeomen of the Guard, The Merry Widow, The Marriage of Figaro, and The Pirates of Penzance) and five musicals (1776, Into the Woods, Sweet Charity, Once Upon a Mattress, and The Boyfriend). Yury was frequently invited to play with the Fredonia Chamber Players (currently known as the Western New York Chamber Orchestra), the colleges professional orchestra-in-residence, which is comprised of faculty and local professional musicians. He also assistant-taught a violin class for future music teachers. Additionally, Yury led a string quartet that was often referred by faculty to couples looking to hire wedding musicians.
After graduation, Yury returned to New York City and quickly integrated himself into the music scene. He taught violin in private music schools while performing with local groups in and around the city. The premiere of The Spitfire Grill (at the George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick, NJ) was his debut in the Off-Off-Broadway field. The Prospect Theater Company later hired Yury for productions of several new musicals: Illyria, The Pursuit of Persephone, The Iron Curtain, The Flood, and Honor.
As a wedding musician, Yury has worked for top music contractors and has performed for many high-profile clients. He plays an average of 60 weddings a year. His leadership skills and extensive experience in special-occasion music has made him a great asset to his employers, collaborators, and clients. Every wedding brings the new challenge of creating the perfect ambiance for each individual client, a challenge that Yury is always happy to accept.
