A Happy, Healthy prosperous new year

Hello dear readers and a Happy New Year from me! I sincerely hope 2022 will be a memorable year for us all, full to the brim with music. While reviewing the year, one thing became blatantly obvious to me and that was the lack of performances during 2021. I think that was the general consensus amongst us musicians as we twiddled our thumbs with dwindling hope for the ping of a text or an email notification inviting us to play. The upside to this is that I have cherished those rare performances that did go ahead like gold dust and those I played for were all the more memorable for their scarcity. It’s in our blood to entertain and to distract audiences from everyday life. If we can provide a means of escape for a couple of hours, then it’s job done. There’s no feeling quite like it.

My greatest hope for 2022 is that I will be able to offer my musical services on a broader scale, whether that’s for weddings, parties, events, solo performances, funerals or in my role as an educator, helping my students express themselves with our amazing instrument. Zoom is still a godsend and although it can be frustrating at times, I am lucky that I have that option. Sharing harps is tricky and I really miss my monthly teaching at Saltaire.

None of us are blessed with a crystal ball and who knows what lies ahead with COVID rules and regulations. Who am I to speculate on our situation 6 months from now? I have decided to grab 2022 by the G string and go about my music business in as normal a fashion as possible. I will be booking wedding fayres and announcing them as they arise so do keep an eye here as well as on my Instagram and Facebook pages. I’ve missed the friendly banter and meeting fellow wedding suppliers and hearing what they’ve been up to, so it’ll be great to get back in the swing of promotional events again.

First up is a wedding showcase at stunning Hodsock Priory, a venue I discovered last Summer when I played for Gemma and Matt’s extra special wedding. This venue is like something out of a fairytale and the wedding team were just brilliant. If you want to come and listen and have a chat about the music I have to offer here are the details:

Beautiful isn’t it? I’ve been learning lots of new background repertoire and I’m keen to share that with you so do come along, say hello and tell me what tunes you’d love to hear on the harp. From Lana del Rey to Bruno Mars, via Ed Sheeran of course, I always do my best to accommodate your requests!

This Sunday I’m taking part in my first proper orchestral concert for 2 years! Orchestral playing is my passion but I’d like to share something - I’m absolutely terrified! Not so long ago, when I was playing with orchestras regularly, I would have thought nothing of this. None of the repertoire is particularly challenging and I’ve played most of the pieces before but I’m still worried. I just want to do the best job I can and ultimately, when the baton goes down in Bridlington at 2pm on Sunday, I know I’ll have just the right focus. I just have to trust the process! And BREATHE!

So there you go, Even seasoned professionals get pre-performance nerves. I will be focusing on the music, my breath and visualising everything going well and if I play my cards (notes?) right, I might even get a stroll on the beach but no Mr Whippy this time - it’s sugar free January for me!

Playing with lilies

At Hodsock Priory last year. Image by the super talented Photos by Hash. I promise I’m friendly, that’s just my concentration face

NEW MUSIC FOR 2021

Hello dear readers!

It’s been quite some time since I blogged and I’m delighted to tell you why I haven’t written - I’ve been practicing of course! I’ve been lucky enough to play for three amazing weddings this year already and I’ve really enjoyed learning some beautiful songs that sound great on the harp. Here they are:

Never Enough from The Greatest Showman

Married Life from Up

There You’ll Be from Pearl Harbour by Faith Hill

I Could Have Danced All Night from My Fair Lady

One Day I’ll Fly Away from Moulin Rouge

Mad World from Donnie Darko

Skyfall Main Theme by Adele

Ed Sheeran - Photograph

Lionel Richie - Stuck on You

Lionel Richie - Three Times a Lady

Savage Garden - Truly, Madly, Deeply

John Lennon - Woman

Paul Simon - Bridge Over Troubled Water

Simon and Garfunkel - Sound of Silence

Coldplay - Paradise

Oasis - Wonderwall

Fleetwood Mac - Songbird

Feel free to get in touch if you have some favourite songs you’d like to hear me play just for you!

Choosing Your Wedding Music

“Are you feeling confused about your choice of wedding music? Perplexed at the overwhelming array of options available to you? Here are a few tips on one of the most important aspects of your celebrations which sets the tone throughout your day”

I really love playing for weddings and it's a privilege to be closely involved in your special day.  Music is such a vital part of any celebration and especially the celebration of a loving relationship.  Over the years I’ve played at countless ceremonies and weddings and I know first hand the powerful impact the right piece of music can have.  My role is finding out which piece of music makes you tick and then adapting it to make it sound great on the harp.  To do this well and to give my own unique spin on a piece of music you love can take a while. From first listening to it to downloading a printed version online to making the piece yours can be a pleasantly time consuming process.  This means that you get your very own version of the song that has such significance for you.  This could be the first song you danced together to, or a song that was popular at the time you met.  

I recently met a couple at a wedding event who liked my playing and my music and they want a reggae classic for the bride's entrance music.  Intrigued, I asked if they could send me a link to the song to see if I could make it work.  Having listened to it, I know it’ll work and I feel quite excited about it.  With great lyrics, it's a lovely loving tribute from bride to groom, and most importantly I think it will sound gorgeous on the harp!

Thanks to technology and the internet now, the possibilities are endless.  I played for a civil ceremony in March and the bride was due to come and hear her request at a wedding event.  I was disappointed to find out at the last minute that the venue had decided to have a pianist instead without letting me know, putting me in a slightly awkward position with the bride-to-be who had planned to come and hear me play.  I got my thinking cap on and arranged a video call with her.  My lovely client was delighted with the end results! If you can’t meet me at a fayre, there are ways around this.

It's worth bearing in mind not everything works well on the harp and I'm happy to guide you in your choice of music.

If you're considering having live harp music at your wedding, here are some of the options I can offer:

Civil Ceremony

I’m set up and ready to play from 30 minutes before your ceremony and I play soothing background music from my repertoire list while guests await your arrival.  One of the key moments musically is your entrance.  It's important to get this one right so have a good think about this. You may have a specific piece of music in mind or you may need some ideas - either way I can help you choose the right piece for the mood you want to portray.  I then play for the signing of the register and while you have your photos taken, and finally I play a piece of your choice for your exit together.  

Registrars and venue staff are always delighted when you engage professional musicians - it takes the pressure off them having to press that button and it ensures the smooth running of your ceremony.

Drinks Reception (1 hour)

After your ceremony I can provide background music for you and your guests as you all enjoy your drinks and have your photos taken.  Please note that due to the unpredictable British weather, I don't play outside.  Some harpists do. I don't. The heavens could open either way at any moment and the worst things for my harp are direct sunlight or water.

Wedding Breakfast

Having live music can make a world of difference to the atmosphere while you have your meal, and again I can play from my broad selection of tried and tested pieces.

Church Ceremony

I love playing in the sacred and slightly more solemn setting of a church.  I set up well in advance of your ceremony time and I can play while your guests congregate.  A bridal march is appropriate and I have also played other requests in church.  

I can perform your hymns. Usually the church organist plays them - it goes with the setting and tends to rouse more singing!  I can play suitable background music while you sign the register and have your photos taken.  I can also play your exit music, or again you could have the organist play.  It all comes down to your personal preference.

I can offer a combination of the above options, although I don't do more than 2 elements. For example, Ceremony and Wedding Breakfast is fine but I wouldn't play for your Ceremony, Drinks and Wedding Breakfast - you can have too much of a good thing in my opinion.

The Money Question!  

My prices start from £250.  If you think this sounds like a lot, bear in mind the basic running and development costs of my business - website construction, hosting and updating, advertising, publicity photos and promotional materials, transport costs, harp strings, insurances and maintenance, buying sheet music, appropriate clothing and footwear, practice and training time, the dreaded tax bill, the list is long...  These expenses all contribute in providing you with the best wedding music experience I can possibly offer.

The easiest way to find out more about your choice of wedding music is by attending a wedding fayre, showcase or event and I do as many of these as I can.  If you have any questions you can get in touch by using the link to my Contact page above.  

I have plenty of wedding pieces in the Music section on this website and I update these on a regular basis. You can also view my videos here:

and listen to other sound clips here:

If social media is your thing, you can find out more about wedding fayres and my work on these platforms:

And if you see me looking quite intense and focused as I play at an event, do hang around for a chat - I occasionally come up for air and I'm much friendlier than I look when I play!

“I look forward to meeting you soon at a wedding fayre near you!”