With any event, harp music adds a serene and beautiful touch. I was hired to provide Celtic harp music for a memorial service and sculpture dedication in Nicholasville, Kentucky.
It was a beautiful early spring day, with just enough wind for Mother Nature to play the harp strings a bit herself! Guests gathered around the memorial pavilion to the special request songs of “Loch Lomond,” “The Parting Glass,” and “The Water is Wide.” There was a bit of a delay, but I played continuously with more Irish and other Celtic songs until everyone arrived and was ready to begin!
During the service, I accompanied a singer who performed a lovely rendition of the Irish folk song “O Danny Boy.” Following the service, everyone enjoyed drinks on the lawn.
You can enhance any event with live harp music! Whether a memorial, party, or wedding, having a harpist is a way to incorporate your favorite songs in a distinctive way. Visit my website ~ Lexington & Nicholasville Harpist ~ to inquire about availability for your event.
Harp music sets an elegant atmosphere for any event, so the organizers of the awards gala for Erie’s Black Wall Street hired me to play in the lobby as guests arrived. The celebration was held at the Sheraton Erie Bayfront, and the attendees and honorees enjoyed an evening of music, food, and socializing.
The lobby was decorated with a winter wonderland theme, and they chose some RnB, reggae, and pop songs from my repertoire as their playlist.
Some of the pieces selected included:
You Are the Sunshine of My Life
Un-Break My Heart
Starships
If I Ain’t Got You
Rise Up
No Woman No Cry
Hero
Signed, Sealed, Delivered
People often think of the harp as a classic instrument, but I’m not limited to playing only classical music! My repertoire includes everything from rock ballads to Bollywood musicals, Bach preludes to Beyoncé hits.
If you are interested in adding a distinctive musical touch to any event, please contact me! I play the harp for weddings, corporate events, private parties, and more in Erie and throughout Western Pennsylvania, Cleveland, and Northeast Ohio. To find out more, contact me via my website: Pennsylvania Harpist.
I had such a wonderful time working with my couples who got married in 2023! Each ceremony was unique and had music personalized to be meaningful to them. They chose music that was sometimes traditional, sometimes surprising, and always beautiful on the harp!
Each year, I go back over the wedding ceremonies I played for, and put together a list of all of the pieces my couples chose for different highlighted moments during the service. It’s not just a “Top 10” style list, but you get the deep cuts, too! While the classic wedding songs are always popular (they’re classics for a reason!), many of my brides and grooms went with something that you might not immediately think of as “wedding music” – but anything can be!
Each list has the most popular pieces at the top, and the numbers in parentheses tell you how many times I have played that song for that particular moment of a ceremony. Click on the songs highlighted in blue to hear a sample of me playing those pieces on the harp. You’ll also see pictures of a few of the venues where I played for weddings this year.
For the recessional, the traditional Mendelssohn “Wedding March” was again my most requested piece. Other couples use this as the transitional music from the more solemn ceremony to the more festive reception, so choose a more pop-style piece that reflects that vibe.
For the featured processional music (as the bride or groom walks down the aisle), “Canon in D” was the most popular request. It was also a favorite for the wedding party entrance music. Sometimes, couples with fewer attendants choose to have one piece for the entire processional. In this case, “Canon” makes a wonderful choice because I can play the more stately parts for the wedding party, then the more majestic variations for the bride!
What really matters is that the songs you choose have meaning to you. After your wedding, every time you hear your processional music, it will take you back to that moment of walking down the aisle. Make it a soundtrack that you will love forever!
If you are looking for a musician for your wedding, contact me to discuss the harp music for your ceremony, reception, and rehearsal dinner!
Bride’s/Groom’s Processionals (entrance music for the bride/groom):
If you are planning your wedding, please visit my website: The Classic Harpist. I work with couples worldwide to plan their wedding music. With the harp, that can be anything you want it to be! I play all of the classical wedding favorites, as well as non-traditional options: jazz, pop, rock, Broadway, Bollywood, Arabic, Celtic, Renaissance, and more! Contact me today to start planning your perfect wedding soundtrack.
A wedding on New Year’s Eve calls for doing things big! Mikaela and Caleb brought together their friends and family for an epic celebration at Hamilton’s 110 Northeast in Jacksonville. Their ceremony took place in the Fireside Room, with the reception following in the South Ballroom.
For the ceremony music, they opted to have a large ensemble – a quintet with harp, two violins, viola, and a cello. I have played for many weddings with harp and violin duets or harp, violin, and cello trios, but harp plus a full string quartet really makes an impact, both acoustically and visually!
There aren’t very many published arrangements for this ensemble, so some were newly created just for this wedding, or adapted from piano quintet versions. The prelude music included “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” “Intermezzo” from Cavalleria Rusticana by Mascagni, “Carol of the Bells,” “Carrickfergus,” and “You are the Reason” by Calum Scott. We included songs that ranged from classical to contemporary, all put together to feature this unique ensemble.
They chose “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen for the seating of parents, followed by “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” by J.S. Bach for the wedding party processional. The bride’s entrance music was Pachelbel’s “Canon in D.”
The ceremony concluded, the newly-married couple exited to the traditional Mendelssohn “Wedding March.” We followed this with “Trumpet Voluntary,” a song the bride’s parents had played at their wedding.
For the cocktail hour, harp solo music entertained the crowd. I played popular love songs, light classics, and jazz standards. Some of the selections included “You are So Beautiful,” “As Time Goes By,” “You RaiseMe Up,” and “Say You Won’t Let Go.”
I offer harp solo performances, as well as any ensemble you may choose for your wedding! Some options are harp/flute duets, two-harp duets, harp & steel pan duets, harp/violin/cello trios, harp & brass quintet, and more!
If you have a theme or type of music you would like featured at your wedding, I can help you put together the perfect ensemble. Visit my website ~ Wedding Music Ensembles ~ to contact me and start planning!
I love it when clients have me back for their holiday celebrations each year! Last Christmas, they hosted their appreciation event at Hotel Northland in downtown Green Bay. This year, they chose the Oneida Golf and Country Club as the venue.
Harp music is an excellent way to celebrate the season through music. I include traditional Christmas carols, contemporary pop songs, and holiday favorites from around the world in my performances. There is something everyone would recognize!
For this event, I played background music as the attendees socialized over drinks and appetizers. The room was beautifully decorated with lights, Christmas trees, and poinsettias, with the harp as a focal point.
I play for corporate events throughout the year and give holiday performances in churches, concert halls, and at banquets. If you are looking for a harpist in Green Bay (or anywhere in Eastern Wisconsin), visit my website ~ Green Bay Harp Player ~ to inquire!
Allie and Shannon chose a non-traditional venue for their December wedding ceremony ~ the chapel at Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis! With windows all around, it felt as if we were outdoors, minus the chilly temperatures. I love venues that really bring the beauty of nature indoors, so weather isn’t an issue for my couples.
With only a handful of their closest family and friends as guests, they were married on a Thursday afternoon. Small guest lists really make weddings so much easier to plan! You are also able to take advantage of off-peak timing and ensure better vendor availability.
As everyone gathered, I played jazz standards and pop songs, including “What a Wonderful World,” “Unforgettable,” and “Love Story.”
There was no wedding party, but each bride chose her own processional piece. Shannon entered first to “All of Me” by John Legend, followed by Allie to “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” The ceremony concluded with the traditional Mendelssohn “Wedding March.”
I continued to play other familiar love songs as the couple and their guests enjoyed wedding cake in the chapel. Some of the song selections were “At Last,” “Edelweiss” from The Sound of Music, and “Here Comes the Sun.”
As a Memphis wedding harpist, I play for ceremonies, receptions, and other wedding festivities throughout Tennessee, Arkansas, and Kentucky. If you are looking for a harpist for your event, please visit my website {Memphis Tennessee Harpist} for more details and to get in touch to check availability for your date!
When planning end-of-year corporate events, I often get asked to provide harp music. Whether you prefer the songs of the season or a more general playlist, having a harp at your party is sure to be a hit! It is both visually and acoustically stunning, and will be remembered by your attendees.
For this event, employees gathered on a Friday evening in December at The Loft DSM. This urban venue near downtown Des Moines features brick walls, a large open space, and a florist/decorator on site. They transformed the room into a winter wonderland with hanging greenery, chandeliers, and blue lighting.
The harp was set up against a wall of glittering Christmas lights, and guests were able to mingle, listen to the music, and enjoy a dinner buffet. It was a beautiful evening to kick off the holiday season!
If you are looking for a harpist to entertain your guests, visit my website: Des Moines Harpist. I play for corporate events, weddings, and other parties throughout the year. Get in touch to check my availability for your date and receive a quote!
The First Presbyterian Church in downtown Springfield (Abraham Lincoln’s Church) hosts a series of Advent concerts each year leading up to Christmas. The lunchtime concerts are free and open to all, and feature local and regional musicians of various genres and instrumentations.
I performed for the first concert of the series, playing some of my favorite Christmas songs and carols. With my background in things like madrigal singing and foreign language studies, some of my favorites are a little obscure!
Several attendees commented that it was a peaceful and reflective start to the holiday season. Harp music is an excellent way to create a serene atmosphere, no matter the time of year!
I play for concerts, parties, church services, weddings, and other events in Springfield and throughout Central Illinois. If you are looking to hire a harpist for your celebration, please contact me at: Springfield Harpist.
Jessica & Jamal has a lavish and heartfelt wedding at the historic Fort Charlotte overlooking downtown Nassau in the Bahamas. As a professional wedding decorator, the bride’s team transformed the site into a breathtaking ceremony venue!
All of the guests dressed in formal black gowns and tuxedos, and were seated under the canopy placed in the fort’s moat. The clear, raised aisle was filled with flowers, with more cascading from above. The bride wished to save the harp for her walk down the aisle, so had a violinist and bassist playing the prelude music while guests arrived.
The duo also played for the wedding party processional, with the groomsmen coming from the front of the space to meet the bridesmaids midway down the aisle and accompany them the rest of the way. When it was time for the bride’s entrance, I joined them to play a string trio rendition of “A Thousand Years” from Twilight: Breaking Dawn.
During the signing of the register, I played John Legend’s “All of Me” as a solo harp piece. Depending upon the size of the venue and the set-up, this can take just a few moments or much longer. Either way, I’m always ready to shorten or lengthen your selected music to fill the time and make it sound perfectly planned! Once the couple had returned to the front of the canopy, I gracefully brought the song to a cadence.
The recessional was back to the trio of harp, violin, and bass, where we played the 1980s hit “Just the Two of Us.” When performing with other musicians, the higher instrument (in this case, the violin) takes most of the melody, while the lower (the bass) covers the foundation of the harmony. The harp can then complete the sound with arpeggios and glissandos to add some flourish!
Following the recessional, I continued with harp solo pieces for the postlude, including “All is Said and Done” by Beyonce, “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran, “Love Me Like You Do” by Ellie Goulding, and “Wildest Dreams” by Taylor Swift.
The couple even asked me to join with the wedding party for some post-ceremony pictures! Along with its beautiful music, the harp adds a visual element like no other to your ceremony.
I play for weddings in Nassau, throughout The Bahamas, and all around the Caribbean. I would love to bring the harp to your ceremony, anywhere in the world! You can contact me to check availability and request a quote at my website ~ Bahamas Wedding Harpist.
The Lageret, a restored tobacco warehouse in Stoughton, Wisconsin, was the beautiful setting for the wedding of Crystal and Matt. With so many distinct spaces, they were able to have their entire celebration at the venue ~ ceremony, photos, cocktail hour, dinner, and dancing.
I provided harp music for the ceremony in the upstairs loft. The exposed bricks and rustic beams draped with fabric framed the space, with natural light coming in from the large windows. The prelude music included modern and popular songs, such as “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” “Come Sail Away,” and “The Luckiest.”
Their processionals were all songs by The Beatles. For the family entrance and wedding party processional, they chose “All My Loving.” Crystal opted for “Here Comes the Sun” for her walk down the aisle.
The DJ played the recessional selection (“This Must be the Place” by Talking Heads), and then I followed with more uptempo pop songs as guests exited and went downstairs for the cocktail hour.
I love working with couples to customize their wedding music! Traditional or not at all, the harp is the perfect way to include your favorite songs in your ceremony. Visit my website {Madison Wedding Harpist} to request a quote!