by Julie Lally

Vitamin String Quartet (VSQ) returns to St. Louis performing live in concert at The Sheldon in the Grand Arts District on Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.

VSQ is one of the most popular string ensembles in the world. Erasing the boundaries between classical, dance, hip-hop and pop, VSQ performs spellbinding renditions of everything from Billie Eilish to BTS, Taylor Swift to The Weeknd, and Danny Elfman to Daft Punk. Praised by the likes of Buzzfeed, The New York Times, Consequence of Sound, Nerdist and more, VSQ has garnered over 2 billion streams and numerous Billboard chartings since its inception. VSQ can also be heard in numerous hit shows, including Netflix’s “Bridgerton”, HBO’s “Westworld,” and ABC’s “Modern Family.”

They have over 2 billion streams, 1 million physical units sold, and seven Billboard-charting albums.

Since the project’s start in 1999, VSQ has helped establish classical crossover as a genuine force in contemporary music while accompanying countless listeners through their workday and late-night study sessions, scoring unforgettable film and TV moments, and helping couples around the world create their perfect wedding playlist.

Across over 300 releases, VSQ have produced cutting-edge string renditions of a highly eclectic mix of artists, erasing boundaries between classical, dance, hip-hop, rock, and pop. From Cardi B to Björk, VSQ approaches their renditions with respect and care, breathing new life into music they already love.

Their longstanding VSQ Performs the Hits series has allowed them to transform the best hits pop has had to offer for the past eight years. Of the series, New York Observer wrote, “VSQ’s atmospheric hits have made classical versions of pop music cool.” The quartet also engages with select artists on a full-album basis. These artists have included visionaries such as Lana Del Rey, Björk, and Sigur Rós, as well as music from the films of Studio Ghibli.

To date, these heartfelt renditions have earned the ensemble over 2 billion streams, almost 4 million downloads, and over 1 million physical units sold. Seven of VSQ’s albums have charted with Billboard, peaking at #4 in both the Classical and Classical Crossover categories. Most recently, the full-length album VSQ Performs Lana Del Rey was nominated for Best Classical Record in the 2021 Libera Awards.

The ensemble also appeared onscreen with 30 Seconds to Mars for an episode MTV Unplugged as well as in an episode of Gossip Girl. VSQ can also be heard alongside Danny Elfman, Plain White T’s, Korn, and others in the official The Nightmare Before Christmas tribute album Nightmare Revisited.

Based in Los Angeles, VSQ features a rotating cast of musicians and producers and frequently collaborates with animators, creators, and like-minded artists. Their collaborations with ThatViolaKid, Simply Three, the Dutch Domino Team, and DoodleChaos have been major creative successes.

Their vast and eclectic catalogue guarantees you’ll find something you love!

Located at 3648 Washington Boulevard in the heart of the Grand Center Arts District, The Sheldon Concert Hall provides a wide range of music, visual arts and educational programs of the highest quality, diversity and educational impact, hosting more than 350 events each year.

Tickets are on sale now online at MetroTix.com or by calling MetroTix at 314-534-1111. Tickets are also available one hour before show time at The Sheldon box office. For more information, visit vitaminstringquartet.com or thesheldon.org.

Origins

The Vitamin String Quartet (VSQ) originated in 1999 in Los Angeles as a studio-based project under CMH Label Group's imprint, Vitamin Records. Conceived as an experiment to blend rock/pop music with classical string arrangements, it began by producing tribute albums to bands like Metallica and Radiohead, later gaining mainstream recognition through Bridgerton.

Key Aspects of Their Origins:

Founding Purpose: The goal was to make classical music more accessible and bridge the gap between classical and popular music, often filling the gap for "classical crossover" music.
Initial Projects: Early releases focused on tributes, such as The String Quartet Tribute to Led Zeppelin (1999).
Evolution of Sound: Originally a project utilizing various session musicians to cover rock albums, it developed a unique vocabulary where cellos and violas mimicked drum and chord parts.
Evolution from Studio to Stage: While starting as a studio project, it grew into a revolving collective of performers, eventually touring and, according to MetaBrainz community members, rebranding to consolidate various early tribute projects (like those by The Section Quartet) under one name.
Vitamin String Quartet +4

Over the last two decades, they have covered a vast array of artists—from Adele to Studio Ghibli—and become popular for wedding music, study playlists, and high-profile film/TV placements.

Discover the Most Popular Contemporary String Ensemble in the World

Origins