Cagen Music

Business Details

Your Trusted Partner for Wedding & Event Music in Northbrook, IL

Cagen Music has dedicated over 25 years to redefining musical entertainment for life's most significant events. Founded on the principle of client-centric service, we prioritize exceeding expectations by transforming personal visions into unforgettable experiences. Our expertise spans weddings, corporate events, and charity galas, with a proven track record of 4,000+ weddings and 2,000+ corporate events. Recognized by Modern Bride as 'the hottest in the nation' and featured at the Presidential Inaugural Ball, our ensembles combine technical mastery with dynamic performance. Client referrals form the backbone of our growth, reflecting our commitment to organic expansion through exceptional service.

We specialize in customizing music selections to mirror clients' unique tastes while maintaining the spontaneity that keeps dance floors alive. Our multicultural capabilities extend to international weddings featuring multilingual vocalists and genre-specific performances. As industry innovators, we continually develop new formats like the CoverGirls Violin Show while maintaining classical excellence through string quartets and jazz ensembles. This balance of tradition and innovation, combined with our deep understanding of event logistics, positions us as trusted partners in event planning.

Services

Wedding Music Corporate Event Bands Gala Entertainment Custom Shows DJ Services Greek Wedding Band Jewish Wedding Music String Ensembles Jazz Performances Cocktail Music

Highlights and features

We've produced 4,000+ weddings and 2,000+ corporate events with personalized music curation
Our ensembles have performed at the Presidential Inaugural Ball and received Modern Bride recognition
We offer multicultural expertise with vocalists fluent in six languages and international music styles
Our bandleaders serve as master of ceremonies with seamless event coordination capabilities
We maintain 25+ years of event planning expertise with customized entertainment solutions

What people say

Unforgettable experience Masterful performances Seamless coordination Cultural expertise Dance floor favorites

Website

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Services

Wedding Music

Our wedding specialists create tailored musical experiences for ceremonies, receptions, and rehearsal dinners. With 4,000+ weddings performed, we offer customizable playlists spanning genres and eras. Our experienced bandleaders coordinate seamlessly with vendors while maintaining dance floor energy through spontaneous song selection.

Corporate Event Bands

We deliver high-impact musical performances for product launches, award ceremonies, and company celebrations. Our corporate specialists have served clients like Mercedes Benz and BASF with customized shows incorporating multimedia elements. Packages include event coordination, lighting design, and branded performance elements.

Custom Shows

Our innovative productions combine music with theatrical elements for unique entertainment experiences. The CoverGirls Violin Show features choreographed performances on electric violins, while Red Riding Hood reimagines classical music with modern flair. These shows incorporate costumes, lighting effects, and interactive audience engagement.

DJ Services

Our professional DJs provide high-energy music experiences for after-parties and hybrid events. With 25 years of event planning expertise, we offer seamless transitions between live and digital music. Services include custom playlist creation, sound system setup, and coordination with other entertainment elements.

Charity Gala Performances

We create memorable entertainment experiences for fundraising events that boost attendance and donations. Our gala specialists have performed for organizations like the Museum of Science and Industry and Lincoln Park Zoo. Services include themed performances, auctioneer coordination, and fundraising promotion through musical presentations.

People

Don Cagen

Founder & Music Director

With over 30 years in event music, Don established Cagen Music's reputation for excellence. He leads our premier orchestra and develops innovative performance concepts while maintaining hands-on involvement in client consultations.

Becky Cagen

President

Becky oversees operations and client relations while contributing as a featured vocalist. A best-selling author and industry thought leader, she ensures our service philosophy remains centered on client dreams and expectations.

Questions

What types of events do you specialize in?

We specialize in weddings, corporate events, charity galas, and private parties with customized musical entertainment solutions.

Can you accommodate multicultural weddings?

Yes, our vocalists perform in six languages and we offer specialized ensembles for Greek, Jewish, and international weddings.

Do you provide entertainment outside Chicago?

We serve nationwide and international destinations with experienced teams for destination weddings and events.

How do you customize music selections?

We create personalized playlists using your favorite songs while leveraging our expertise to maintain dance floor energy.

What's included in your corporate event packages?

Packages include customized performances, MC services, lighting options, and coordination with event planners.

Reviews (7)

Write a Review

Holly O'Brien

Dec 24, 2021 Report

Cagen Music was absolutely amazing to work with! We had the Don Cagen Orchestra perform at our wedding in November and ALL of our guests are still raving that this was the best wedding band they have ever heard! Working with Don and Becky was also a seamless process. We moved our wedding once due to COVID and they were so flexible and easy to work with on this. The dance floor was packed all night and everyone truly had a blast thanks to Don and his incredibly talented band! We are so grateful we decided to work with them and would highly recommend to anyone looking for an excellent band with awesome people!

Katie Broenneke

Dec 09, 2021 Report

Look no further for your wedding music needs. Cagen Music is exactly what you're looking for! Our wedding was in September, and our 200+ guests are STILL telling us: "Your band was amazing!", "That band was the best band I've ever heard at a wedding", "Your wedding was so fun, and that band?! Fantastic." I wish our guests had paid attention to all the details that well! Honestly though, Cagen Music deserves every recognition.

After having to reschedule multiple times due to Covid, we really wanted to dance the night away with our friends and family. They made sure our guests stayed on the dance floor all night long with a wide variety of songs. I'd even go so far as to say our first dance song sounded better than the original! Definitely choose Cagen Music for your next event, you won't be disappointed!

Derek Easttom

Mar 25, 2020 Report

Incognito played at my wedding recently, and without a doubt, it was the best wedding band I've ever heard, and I'm so glad that the wedding they were at was mine. People sang along and danced all night long. They guided the timeline of events along expertly, and throughout the planning process Becky Cagen was a joy to work with. I cannot recommend them highly enough.

Kate S.

Jul 31, 2019 Report

The musicians were great to work with and did a fabulous job. We did a package with CagenMusic that allowed for us to have a jazz trio during the ceremony and cocktail hour and a DJ for the reception thereafter. They showed up early, they were professional, and they played great music-- we couldn't ask for more! The DJ really listened to what we wanted (and didn't want) and he checked in with us throughout the reception to make sure everything was to our liking.

He was so nice! Our only complaint was that administrative process was a bit unorganized in the month leading up to the wedding. While they were very kind throughout the process, I would recommend being the one to reach out if you have questions. Overall, a great experience!

Jun 26, 2019 Report

The Don Cagen orchestra always looks elegant, professional, and sounds awesome! I've attended more than a couple of weddings where I've been awed by the magical experience that they create for the event. I highly recommend them for weddings and any event where live music is an option!

Gina Uhrich

Feb 16, 2019 Report

The Don Cagen Orchestra played at our wedding at the end of August in 2018 and were fantastic! The band was one of my favorite parts of the wedding and we received a ton of compliments from our guests! All guests (young and old) packed the dance floor all night! My husband and I are University of Michigan grads and they surprised us by playing the fight song. I also used them for the instrumentation for the ceremony and cocktail hour. They were super helpful in making song suggestions for our ceremony and enhanced the instrumentation for our first dance - making them extra memorable!

The Fresh Plan

Nov 07, 2018 Report

Our daughter's wedding was this past weekend and we couldn't have been happier with Don Cagen and his band. They were phenomenal, the music was amazing but even better than that they really made it a party! The flow of the night is generally dictated by the band and to say they "killed it" would be a gross understatement. I can't tell you how many people came up to us to tell us how much fun they had and how when the night came to end, they were shocked because they had so much fun and never even looked at their watches and couldn't believe what time it was. Guests of ours that said they rarely dance at weddings told us they were up dancing the entire night and barely even ate! It was an incredible party and far exceeded my wildest dreams. Thank you, Don & Becky!