Every bride dreams of coming down the aisle to
beautiful music. The harp not only offers an elegant alternative to
traditional organ music, but it also can play in a great many more
locations, both indoors and out. Most of the best-loved wedding
repertoire can be artfully done on harp, and aside from enjoying the
rich sound, your guests will be thrilled by the stunning visual of a
harp welcoming them to the most important celebration of your life. A
typical solo harp wedding package includes prelude music as guests are
seated; processional music for the family members, wedding party and
the bride; candle lighting and/or communion music; the recessionals as
the wedding party walks back up the aisle at the end; and a brief
postlude as your guests clear the space and move on to the next portion
of your event. It is possible for me to work in conjunction with other
musicians and vocalists for the event; please contact me for details. I
can also play piano for you. If your venue doesn’t have a piano
but does have electricity, no problem: I have a really fabulous Yamaha
electric grand piano that beautifully replicates several piano voices
and several types of pipe organ. We will discuss your wedding in
depth at a planning session, when will talk about possible song
selections, the best instrument for your event, and the logistics of
having the harp at your venue.
At cocktail hour, people are livelier and happier
with music playing, just like at any other party, and the music often
serves as a great conversation starter. Harp or piano is the subtle
backdrop to all the conversation you want your guests to be able to
have. I find the best approach to events like this is to combine music
from as many different genres as possible; everyone will hear something
that they like, and something that surprises them. It’s bound to
keep your guests interested, and will set your event apart from all the
rest!
The harp is a beautiful way to celebrate the
life of -- and commemorate the passing of -- someone special and I have
many musical suggestions for services of various faiths. Because a time
of grieving does not lend itself well to spending a long time planning
music, I can simplify the process for you and would be happy to help
you select music in an efficient and meaningful way.
Never before has the scientific evidence behind
music as a healing force in the body been so well-documented, and it is
one of the fastest-growing fields in music and medicine today. Through
the nationally-recognized Music for Healing and Transition Program, I
trained as a Certified Music Practitioner; I have been taught to take
specialized harp music directly to hospitals, care facilities, hospices
and the bedsides of the critically and chronically ill.
Harp is a moving and spectacular addition to any
worship service or celebration of faith: everything from being a
special treat on a regular worship day, to a majestic addition to grand
observances of Christmas, Easter, and observances of the saints
(nothing like Irish harp for St. Patrick’s Day Mass)! Baptisms,
confirmations, communions, meditations... they are all perfect for
harp.
I do any number of styles of concerts, but am
perhaps best known for my “presentation style events”, in
which I combine harp music with the stories behind the songs, trivia
about the harps, and interaction with audience members through an
easy-going conversational style. These presentations are terrific for
groups who are looking for entertainment to accompany a luncheon or
dinner event and for organizations featuring performers as fundraisers.
They can be tailored to suit any age group and can be custom-designed
around themes. One of my most popular themes is Music from the
Renaissance and Celtic Tradition (which can also be presented in lush
period costume). I have also been featured as a performer at many of
the local festivals for which Rochester and Western New York is so well
known.
