Gold Standard Musicians

Ratings include Zola and Google reviews

Ceremony pricing

Prices start at $425

Category: Live Band or Ensemble

Type: Solo instrumentalist

Type: Mixed chamber ensemble

Genres: Classical, Pop/Top 40s, Rock



About Gold Standard Musicians

Johanna Ballou

Pianist/Founder

Gold Standard Musicians are the very best of the best professionals St. Louis has to offer. We work alongside our clients to realize their creative vision for their events—wedding ceremonies and receptions, dinners, holiday parties, corporate events, banquets, and more! We love making your requests a reality, whether you know what you want down to the last detail or want us to take an idea and run with it. Relax and enjoy. Your event is in the best of hands.

I try to approach each client's event from a place of creativity and collaboration. I leave a lot of room for flexibility of process and personality, and my tailored approach makes a big difference both in client experience AND that extra sparkle on your wedding day.


Services

Services

  • Ceremony microphones and sound
  • Event planning
  • Learning new songs
  • Music during breaks
  • Sound system capability audience <300

Musical genres

  • Classical
  • Pop/Top 40s
  • Rock

Event types

  • After party
  • Cocktail hour
  • Couples luncheon
  • Elopement
  • Engagement party
  • Farewell brunch
  • Other
  • Rehearsal dinner
  • Wedding ceremony
  • Wedding shower
  • Welcome party

Reviews

Write a review
Rating: 5.0

5.0 out of 5

5 reviews

  • JT

    Jenna T

    Rating: 5
    Google
    Jun 8, 2026

    Gold Standard Musicians provided the music for our wedding ceremony, and it was everything we could have dreamed of! They are incredibly talented artists who brought so much elegance and emotion to our special day. We asked them to create custom arrangements for a few requested songs, and they executed them flawlessly. They were seamless to coordinate with from start to finish, and walking down the aisle to their live music is a memory I will cherish forever. Thank you for making our day so special!

    Gold Standard MusiciansJun 9, 2026

    Oh Jenna, I’m SO glad the music was special for you. This is exactly what we aim for! I’m so glad you liked my arrangement, yay! Congratulations again, and I hope we get to see you at other special occasions soon!

  • KS

    Kelly Shadow

    Rating: 5
    Google
    Feb 1, 2026

    We loved having Gold Standard Musicians play our wedding ceremony music. The planning was so easy and seamless thanks to Johanna. She really seemed to want to make the process as smooth and minimally stressful as possible. And of course, the music on the actual day of was beautiful and really improved the ambiance of our ceremony.

    Gold Standard MusiciansFeb 2, 2026

    Aww thank you, Kelly! It was wonderful working with you and Blake, and it was an honor to be a part of your wedding day. Congratulations to the newlyweds!

  • MP

    Madison Payne

    Rating: 5
    Google
    Sep 25, 2025

    I'm a Wedding Planner who LOVES working with the team at Gold Standard Musicians. I've had the pleasure of working with them a few times now.. and the communication is great, the musicians are easy to work with on the wedding day, and the music is beautiful each time. <3

    Gold Standard MusiciansSep 25, 2025

    Madison, that’s so kind of you, thank you! It’s always awesome to work with someone as organized and creative as yourself! 😊

  • MF

    Muna Fodys

    Rating: 5
    Google
    Aug 22, 2025

    I had the pleasure of having Gold Standard Musician perform live at my wedding ceremony, and they were absolutely amazing! From the very beginning, their communication was excellent. They took the time to truly understand my vision and needs, which made the entire process seamless and stress-free. Their performance was nothing short of incredible, beautiful, professional, and exactly what I envisioned for such an important moment. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for live instrumental music to elevate their event.

    Gold Standard MusiciansSep 2, 2025

    Hi Muna! Thank you so much for your kind words. It was an honor to play for your wedding day! Congratulations, and I hope we get to see you again soon!

  • LS

    Lori Simmons

    Rating: 5
    Google
    Oct 31, 2024

    If you don't use Gold Standard for a wedding your missing out! So professional, the process was so easy and they were on time and reliable! The musicians were fantastic! I would highly recommend this company for all your events! We will definitely use them for our next occasion!

    Gold Standard MusiciansOct 31, 2024

    Thanks so much, Lori! It was fun meeting you and working with you to make your family’s celebration extra special. I hope to see you again in the future.