MC, Singer, DJ, & Instrumentalist
Chris Giakas is a professional wedding MC/Coordinator, singer, officiant, and guitarist from New Jersey. He began singing at a young age and was first inspired by Elvis Presley and early rock and roll. By high school, Chris learned various instruments such as the Guitar, Piano, Ukulele, and Mandolin. While attending college at Fairleigh Dickinson University he closely studied opera as well as crooning music like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and many more. After graduating college, Chris founded Galavant Entertainment and continued his music career by performing countless shows and now emcees and sings at weddings all over the NJ/NY Tri-State area.
Chris often gets hired to play acoustic guitar for ceremonies and cocktail hours and then MC and DJ weddings. He then continues to bring that special live element in as he croons the classics while you eat. His endearing friendliness, versatile skill set, and attention to detail make him the kind of special triple “threat talent” that we’re all about here at Galavant.
The trio incorporates the additional voice of Bridgette Mellon, a brilliant alto that can sing any genre and provides excellent accompaniment to Chris and Matt. Bridgette's main influences are the songs of Stevie Nicks and Amy Winehouse.
Pianist
Mike Bond
The Chris Giakas Duo offers a tremendous sound that makes any performance into a night to remember.
Guitarist/Vocalist
Matt Gordeuk is a multi genre guitarist, composer and educator from New Jersey. He received his Bachelor of Music at Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts. Matt began working immediately after graduation in fusion, jazz, rock, musical theatre, and indie music groups. He is the band leader of MG3, a genre blending instrumental trio that ranges from Jimi Hendrix to Erika Badu, original music, and performs with artists of various styles in the Tristate area. Recently, his performance career has embraced solo guitar music, resulting in weekly residencies at venues in Lambertville, NJ and New Hope, PA. His most notable performances have been at Chris' Jazz Cafe, Tomi Jazz, Somethin Jazz Club, DROM, Lafayette Bar, DLV Lounge, JETLAG festival, and other music festivals in Montclair, NJ and Rahway, NJ.
Destiny Autumn
Pianist/Vocalist
Destiny Autumn a vocalist, pianist, songwriter, arranger, educator and aspiring human rights activist. She first started vocal and piano lessons at an early age of eight years old and later attended Indiana University: Jacobs School of Music, where she graduated with a Bachelors of Music: Jazz Studies--Voice. At this university, Destiny studied music theory, aural skills, and arranging. She has since taken advantage of obtaining those skills by songwriting, recording and performing with various style combos, ensembles, choirs and music groups ranging from jazz big bands, pop and wedding groups to private projects all over the country. In addition to this, Destiny has also worked with various charities and dove into activism with foundations such as the Center for Social Empowerment and Justice in Ferguson, Missouri (where she advocated for social justice and equality with the use of music and spoken word), Indiana University Dance Marathon (where she played music to raise money for children with terminal illness) and Midway Music Fest (to empower women of all backgrounds) as examples.. Through these musical opportunities and showcase of talent, she has met and had the opportunity to work with world renowned musicians such as Don Braden, RoseanneVitro, Bobby McFerrin, Kurt Elling, Janis Siegel, Dave Stryker and Darmon Meader of the “New York Voices” as well as hold multiple features in newspapers, win a student Downbeat and multiple scholarship awards.She currently balances working as a music instructor for piano and voice students through a company called “Home Sweet Home”, an audio engineer for her church and community productions and creating music as a solo artist. Destiny writes and co-produces her own music which you can find on her Spotify, Apple Music, Soundcloud and various Social Media accounts. Destiny plans to continue to use her gift to bring light into the world and tell the stories of what it’s like to be “hueman”.
Pianist
One of the most striking qualities of Mike Bond’s superb debut recording, The Honorable Ones, is the understated, sophisticated way in which the 30-year-old pianist-composer subsumes his abundant technique for imperatives of beauty and self-expression. This springs directly from his personal influences and history. Bond, a Rutgers University graduate, received the Excellence in Jazz Performance Award and the Arthur G. Humphrey award for Music Education in 2012. Bond met Orrin Evans, who serves as Artistic Producer of The Honorable Ones. He graduated with a Bachelor's of Music Degree in both Jazz Performance and Music Education. In addition to periodically hiring Bond to play piano in his Captain Black Big Band, Evans recommended him to bass maestro Curtis Lundy, who hired Bond for his first New York engagement. Meanwhile, Bond spent two years working for SmallsLIVE, the imprint of Smalls Jazz Club, where he learned to produce albums and video-edit, while meeting numerous musicians, promoters and producers.
These days, Bond boasts a c.v. that includes shows with the magisterial tap dancer Savion Glover, trombone giant Conrad Herwig, masters like saxophonists Mark Gross, Joe Ford and Bruce Williams and trumpeters Joe Magnarelli and Duane Eubanks. He is a featured sideman on guitarist Jean Chaumont’s debut album “The Beauty Of Differences” which received a 4 star review in Downbeat Magazine. Bond is also an accomplished music director, who has arranged and conducted bands in spaces like NJPAC, Bucks County Playhouse, and Rider University, having directed for artists such as the aforementioned Savion Glover, and Andrew Polec, Broadway’s lead in Jim Steinman’s “Bat Out of Hell” musical.
DJ Chelli has been DJing since the age of 15. She is known for her sassy fashion sense, her colored hair, and her stage presence. She is a new trend and a bursting bubble of happiness. She currently remixes music, makes her own sounds, and DJ's all throughout the tri-state area. One of NJ's favorite female DJs, Chelli is there to please you and your guests by making sure your night is unforgettable! DJ Chelli will meet with the Bride & Groom and talk with them personally about what they want to be done. She will help them through the process & get everything she needs to make their night perfect.
George Malpass is a guitarist, arranger, composer, and educator from New Jersey. Through his experiences playing with a variety of musicians, he is comfortable playing any genre. He received his Bachelors of Music from Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts. Since graduating, George leads his own jazz quartet and plays duo with various instrumentalists and singers. He also performs as a solo guitarist blending classical guitar with jazz and contemporary pop music. In addition to this, George plays with the cover band “the95live”. George has played at Chris’ Jazz Cafe, Tomi Jazz, Xfinity Live!, The Golden Nugget, and Renault Winery.