Well-Strung :: An Unexpected Quartet

What do two violins, a viola and a cello have in common, besides the obvious strings attached? In this case, the common thread that binds this group together consists of four gifted men, intuitively drawing bows across their respective "well-strung" instruments, as they create a unique range of musical magic.

Well-Strung's fab four includes Edmund Bagnell, Christopher Marchant, Daniel Shevlin and Trevor Wadleigh; each talented, intelligent and, for certain, easy on the eyes. A merry band of minstrel brothers who are winding their way across the globe, singing, playing and mashing up every kind of music imaginable. Along the way, they are redefining the structure of a traditional stringed quartet.

Several questions were posed to them, all pretty much the same. The answers from all of them were relaxed and forthcoming, ranging from sarcastic to serious and at times, both silly and sweet. Each proved intriguing - just like the men themselves.

HERE IS HOW EACH BEGAN TO PLAY:

First came Edmund Bagnell. "When I was seven, my grand-parents bought a violin and my parents said, 'Let's get you some lessons!' "

For Christopher Marchant, "When I was 8 years old, my parents had wanted me to do some type of activity. I was playing T-ball at the time and I was just terrible. I wanted to quit, but my mom said that I couldn't, unless I did something else. My sister had started in the grade school concert band the year before and I think I was just jealous of that. I wanted to play an instrument and, as I remember it, I picked the violin randomly (laughs)."

Daniel Shevlin was up next. "I actually started with the violin and played it for about a year. Something just drove me to the cello. Maybe, because I found that less people played it, I'm not really sure. I switched, and I'm kind of glad I did! It seems to suit me better."

Said Trevor Wadleigh, "I started playing violin in sixth grade in the public school music system, we had band and orchestra there."

WHEN EACH DECIDED TO PURSUE MUSIC AS A CAREER:

For Edmund, "I went to NYU as a violin major, but I've always done musical theatre, too. My senior year of college, I booked the first national tour of 'Sweeney Todd.' I loved the show: It's unique, operatic and so epic."

For Daniel, "All through out middle school and high school I really started seriously playing. Taking private lessons, playing in several regional orchestras and I had my own quartet in high school, back in Jersey. Playing the cello was taking up a lot of my time (laughs). I was thinking, 'I'm good at this, I'll stick with it because I'm enjoying it.' I was a good student, but this was something I had that others didn't. So I thought, maybe I can make a career out of it."

Christopher's was this: "It evolved, especially with my realization of what it takes to become a professional musician. It's a very easy career path to question. I ended up majoring in musical ministry at a bible college named Malone in Ohio. I started to like musical theatre a lot more than just music or music ministry. I started doing some of that and decided to move to New York and try that for a little while."

This was it for Trevor Wadleigh: "I don't know as there was a moment when I decided it. I went to a liberal arts school when I was an under grad and knew how hard it was to be a musician and getting work... especially as a classical musician. I sort of majored in everything, and I just knew that I didn't want a conservatory education. That sort of backs you into a corner and limits what you can do in life."

ABOUT THEIR FAVORITE MOMENTS SO FAR:

"My first would have to be when we performed on the Today show," begins Edmund. "That was so surreal; it was kind of hard to take in. We were all so focused on doing a great job that it was just hyper intense. I don't want to say that I didn't enjoy it, but it was intense. That was just us doing it, so it was hyper-intense."

For Christopher, it's something like this: "There have been so many moments that I'm so grateful for. In fact, we just hit our third year anniversary of the first show that we did, recently. It kind of hit me that we're four guys dedicating our lives to this project. Being able to do it for one year would be a gift, but for three years straight, we've done this together and every moment gets more intense. That anniversary was very sweet for me."

"There have actually been several pretty major moments for us and we've only been together for a few years. Playing on the 'Today' show was very surreal," offered Daniel Shevlin. "Another one was when we were bartenders on 'Watch What Happens Live,' with Andy Cohen. I was probably more nervous to be on his show than when we were on the 'Today' show. I just had to stand there, but I was so nervous that I'd do something, like sneeze or pick my nose, I kept thinking, 'Don't mess up in front of the camera!' "

For Trevor, it was this: "There have been a few... I guess that one would be this summer. A performer that I was very aware of, before I came on board was Kristin Chenoweth. She's brilliant, amazing and dazzling and wonderful, very musical in a great many ways. We had the chance to play with her last summer, which was phenomenal...it was a special moment. We were playing this silly thing on stage, it was from Blazing Saddles and I had this moment... 'I'm lifting Kristin Chenoweth in my arms and am singing with
her... This is now my reality.' "

When asked to do the following exercise, each groaned, saying,"Oh god, this is really difficult." Laughing... as they did it.

WHEN ASKED TO SELF-DESCRIBE IN THREE WORDS:

Edmund: "Thoughtful, optimistic and sometimes stubborn."

Christopher: "Very dedicated, efficient and quirky."

Daniel: "An over-thinker, adventurous and passionate."

Trevor:"Reserved, dry and perceptive."

WHEN ASKED TO DESCRIBE EACH OTHER:

EDMUND ON...

Christopher: "Focused, loyal and quirky." Trevor: "Very intuitive, selfless and a lot of fun." Daniel: "Romantic, outgoing and very humorous."

CHRISTOPHER ON...

Daniel: "Boisterous, talented and, let's say, no filter."

Edmund:"Precious, quirkier than I am and very endearing."

Trevor :"Genius, underrated and steady."

DANIEL ON...

Trevor: "Detailed, comprehensive and accomplished... and "Sister.' "

Edmund: "Youthful countenance, traditional and theatrical."

Christopher: "Nerdy, consistent and scheduled."

TREVOR ON...

Edmund: "Cordial, optimistic and light-hearted."

Daniel: "Showman, fun, carefree and optimistic."

Christopher:"Methodical, regimented and hard-working."

For much more of this interview, available online, go to ragemonthly.com.

Well-Strung is playing on Thursday, April 23 at Martinis Above Fourth Table + Stage. For tickets and more information, call 619.400.4500 or go to martinisabovefourth.com