When you choose Music by Anthem, you're selecting passionate musicians dedicated to delivering inspired performances and exceptional service. Whether you're planning an intimate gathering or a large celebration, Anthem sets the perfect musical tone, allowing you to relax and fully enjoy your event.

Our musicians are seasoned professionals who perform with leading bands, orchestras, and theaters across the D.C. area. Their talent spans a wide range of instruments and styles—from classical and jazz to Broadway, Celtic, pop, and global traditions. Anthem’s extensive and ever-growing repertoire includes thousands of pieces, with the flexibility to tailor music to your unique vision. Whether you’re seeking traditional ceremony music, cultural selections, or custom-written pieces, Anthem brings artistry and authenticity to every occasion.

Eric Waters holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Guitar Performance from George Mason University and has built an impressive career as a performer, educator, and contributor to the guitar community. He has performed for distinguished audiences including Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, and has shared the stage with the legendary Chuck Berry. For over 16 years, Eric served as an adjunct instructor of guitar at George Washington University and has been published by Mel Bay Publications. He studied in master classes with Brazilian guitar virtuoso Carlos Barbosa-Lima and has earned prizes in both regional and national competitions. Eric has also served as a judge for the Mid-Atlantic Song Contests and was selected as a candidate for the Virginia Community College Artist Residency Program by the Virginia Commission for the Arts. His written contributions have appeared in Guitar Player Magazine, and Classical Guitar Magazine (UK) has described his work as "scholarly."

Gail Shanta was raised and educated in England, Germany, and France. She began playing piano at the age of four and later studied organ while attending the University of Aix-en-Provence in southern France. Her journey with the harp began while pursuing her doctorate at the University of Colorado. Since then, Gail has performed with the Mount Vernon Orchestra and the Fairfax City Band, and has played for numerous fundraising events, including those hosted by the Alexandria Symphony, the Lyceum, Ronald McDonald House, and other charitable organizations.

Each year, Gail performs at approximately 200 weddings, receptions, and special events, including embassy receptions, Capitol Hill congressional gatherings, holiday parties, upscale hotels and restaurants, trade group events, conventions, and charitable fundraisers. Her instrument of choice is a striking antique gold harp, originally owned by a nun and used in monastery worship. With it, she performs a wide range of music—spanning classical, sacred, and ceremonial pieces to popular songs, swing, and Broadway show tunes—bringing elegance and beauty to every occasion.

I began playing guitar at the age of 12. 

My earliest influences were Jimi Hendrix, Duane Allman and Eric Clapton. I played in various bands through high school.

I began studying classic guitar at Montgomery College in Rockville, Maryland under the mentorship of Robert Winter, earning Deans list Honors each semester and representing Guitarists in the Honors recitals.

I then went on to study jazz guitar throughout my twenties while working as a teacher of guitar and music theory and picking up freelance gigs.

Through the years I have performed for Presidents Clinton and Bush, numerous Senators and Congressmen, and Supreme Court Justices. I have performed with such artists as Carl Anderson, Charlie Daniels, Billy Ray Cyrus, Nils Lofgrin, Tim Eyerman, and many other notables.

I also own and operate Jerry's Music in Rockville, Maryland, teaching others to play and selling fine guitars and other instruments.

I remain committed to my music and perform regularly as a solo classical or jazz guitarist, with duos that include guitar and piano, guitar and bass, guitar and flute, guitar and horn, guitar and violin, guitar and cello, 2 guitars, with my jazz trio, and with my wife Jessica in our band, Invitation

Kristen is a graduate of the California Institute of the Arts with a BFA in Harp Performance with a Voice Minor. She has toured nationally with the New Christy Minstrels, and played with such names as Ray Charles, Tony Bennet, Victor Borge and Shirley Jones.

String of Pearls (Trio or Quartet) has over 20 years of experience playing for weddings, parties, and concerts throughout the Washington area. Some of our concert venues include the Woodrow Wilson Plaza Concert Series, the Harmony Hall Afternoon Tea Concert Series, the Friendship Heights Community Center, and several of the retirement communities in the region.

The weddings we have played are far too numerous to count. We pride ourselves on understanding that, for a bride, her wedding is one of the most important days of her life—and we are committed to making it as special as possible.

Our playlists include all of the classical favorites, as well as pop tunes to please guests of all ages, helping to create a warm and memorable musical experience for every event we are part of.

"Jones is one of the best violinists in Washington, and in the relatively small world of jazz violinists, she's developing an international reputation."-The Washington Post

Being based in the Washington DC area, (a region with a diverse potpourri of venues offering a wide range of musical styles), has allowed her to create a multi-faceted career in music, satiating her desire to incorporate her many influences and to play almost constantly. With her new CD, "Exit 19", Jones takes us on a musical trip. The sign, with those cryptic words: Exit 19 Future, right at the edge of her neighborhood, remained an unfinished exit for her entire childhood and often led her to wonder what was at the end of that exit. That mystery was the inspiration for this new collection of songs. Searching for a new and exciting path with each composition or new arrangement, this CD exemplifies her creative journey since her first exposure to the world of jazz music.