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Welcome!

If you've ever listened to the music of Martin Garrix, Sela, Within Temptation, Iona, Glennis Grace, Calum Scott, or Matt Simons - then there's a great chance you've already loved Frank's beautiful string arrangements or orchestrations.

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Frank van Essen offers his amazing talent as an arranger and string player through Strings Attached Studio, where you can find a unique, all-inclusive service for string arranging and recording, from solo violin to full orchestration!

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With over 35 years of professional experience, Strings Attached Studio delivers a complete production package. Get in touch with us now for more information.

We would love to work with you!

STRINGS

Need a solo violinist, viola, string quartet or a full string orchestra? With 30 years of experience, I am passionate about bringing your music to life in a truly beautiful and unique way! I’ll take care of everything—from arranging and orchestrating to recording—so you can enjoy the magic of music creation!

ORCHESTRATION & CONDUCTING

Strings Attached offers full orchestrations for studio and live. With a specialization in semi-classical, pop, and film/video productions, Frank brings his expertise to every project. He also has experience in conducting.

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SCORING & MUSIC PRODUCTION

Looking for music for your documentary or film? Frank van Essen is a seasoned music producer, arranger, composer, and songwriter with expertise in various genres. His primary passion lies in World Fusion with Celtic influences, Church music and alternative Pop/Rock.

Frank has composed music for several full-length documentaries and released his own instrumental album "Sanctum" in 2018 featuring Jimmy Johnson (Allan Holdsworth, Steve Gadd, James Taylor), Troy Donockley (Nightwish, AURI, Iona), Dave Bainbridge (Iona, Lifesigns, Strawbs) and many other musician friends.

Artists I have worked with

Frank is geweldig om mee te werken. Flexibel, muzikaal en snel. Ik was zeer verrast om zo binnen een korte tijd een prachtig goed opgenomen arrangement teruggestuurd te krijgen! Een aanrader!

Beatrice van der Poel, singer/songwriter

Some highlights of the past years:

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  • Martin Garrix - solo violin, string arranging & performing for Scared to be Lonely, Pizza, High on Life, Dreamer, "So far Away", Summer Days, Used to Love, Drown, Burn Out, We are the People (with Bono), Voodoo and many more!

  • AURI - strings & drums for 3 albums (with Nightwish' Tuomas Holopainen & Troy Donockley)

  • Within Temptation - strings for their Hydra album

  • Calum Scott - No Matter What

  • SELA - production, strings & orchestrations for all of their music since 2006

  • Krezip - Make it a Memory, You are not Alone, Better, You are you, Where the light goes...

  • Adrian Snell - orchestration for his landmark work "The Passion"

  • David Vandyck - strings for his new album (2017)

  • Edsilia Rombley - "The Piano Ballads"

  • Miss Montreal - Faces and Reminders

  • Nick & Simon - Gek van Geluk, Kijk omhoog, Pak maar mijn Hand, Steeds weer, Een nieuwe dag

  • Willem - Houten Pak

  • Eurovision Song Contest 2020-2021 - string production for all special features, with composer/producer Eric van Tijn

  • Marco Borsato - string arranging & recording for his album "Evenwicht", 4 songs with producers Gordon Groothedde & John Ewbank

  • Scoring, recording arranging & live performance for TV show "Kerst met de Zandtovenaar" with Xander de Buisonjé,
    Vajèn vd Bosch, O'G3NE and others

  • String recordings for the annual TV show "The Passion", 17 songs with producer Eric van Tijn

  • Guus Meeuwis - string arranging/recording for new album

  • Jan Smit - 12 songs for Christmas album

  • Dave Bainbridge - strings for progressive rock album Celestial Fire plus drums @ live tour

  • Ralph van Manen - strings for 4 songs for album "25"

  • Tjeerd Oosterhuis - strings for Kinderen voor Kinderen and solo viola for album "Om Liefde"

  • Armin van Buuren - strings for Looking For Your Name (feat. Gavin DeGraw) with producer John Ewbank

  • Glennis Grace - strings for album Bitterzoet with producer Edwin Evers

  • Strings, percussion & solo vocals for the show music of new theme park "Wildlands" in Emmen, NL

  • Matt Simons - strings for new song Take me to the Water

  • Laurene Bonsink - CD production for new album - co-writing, arranging, drums, strings, recording & mixing

  • Petra Berger - violin, viola, percussion, vocals & keys for live tour with Edwin Schimscheimer

  • Brenda B - strings for Me and You - new album

  • Peter Groot Kormelink - 2 songs for new album in Tukkers dialect

  • At Once - CD production - songwriting, arranging, recording, mixing, drums, violins, keys, strings

  • Martin Brand - CD production, co-writing, arranging, recording, mixing, drums, violins, keys

  • André Hazes - strings for feature film about his life with producer Arjen Mensinga

  • Cronofonia - strings & drums for CD project with Flairck bass player Pablo Ortiz

  • Wolter Kroes - strings for new album

  • Edwin Evers - strings for solo project

  • Sven Figee -  Strings for Bee Gees coverband

  • LOUISV - strings for "My Love" with producer/arranger Floris Verbeij

  • Glenn Aitken - songs for new album

  • HardtmetDT - strings, drums & pre-production for new album with Jan van Geerenstein, Timo Somers, Barend Courbois and others

  • Leen Koster - drums, violin, viola for new album

  • Elise Mannah - Strings for new album

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© 2026 Strings Attached - Frank van Essen

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