Harp Music for the Holiday Season

During the month of December, I always have more performances that are open to the public.  If you'd like a change to hear the harp in person, this is a wonderful opportunity!

If you need any more information about attending one of these events, please call me at 1-877-HARP-578 or send me an email.  I'd love to meet you and share some of my favorite Christmas, Hanukkah, and other seasonal music with you!

• December 2nd:  3:45 pm, First Congregational Church, St. Joseph, Michigan - free-will offering taken

• December 15th:  2:00-3:00 pm, Harris Branch Library, Granger, Indiana - free & open to the public

Private events in December:

• December 1st:  Holiday Party, Champaign, Illinois
• December 6th:  Holiday Party, Pontiac, Michigan
• December 8th:  Wedding Ceremony, St. Louis, Missouri
• December 11th:  Holiday Open House, Elkhart, Indiana
• December 12th:  Wedding Ceremony, Elkhart, Indiana
• December 13th:  Holiday Party, South Bend, Indiana
• December 16th:  Wedding Ceremony, Lisle, Illinois
• December 21st:  Wedding Ceremony, Chicago, Illinois
• December 28th:  Wedding Ceremony, Peoria, Illinois
• December 29th:  Wedding Ceremony, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

If you are interested in hiring me for a private event, please contact me or visit my website to find out about having a harpist for your family or company party!

Peoria Harpist ~ Bradley Orchestra at the Cathedral of St. Mary

Although most of my performing is for weddings and private events, I occasionally am able to play with an orchestra as well.  A couple of weeks ago, I joined the Bradley University Orchestra, Chorale, and Community Chorus for their performance of Brahms' German Requiem.

The harp only plays in three of the movements, but those parts are still important!  As you can see, I always have to get there before anyone else.  It takes awhile to acclimate the harp to the building, and to tune all 47 strings before other musicians arrive and begin to warm up. 

If you are looking for a professional harpist in Peoria for your wedding, party, or concert, please contact me!  You'll find additional information on my website as well:  Peoria Harpist.

Battle Creek Harpist ~ Wedding Ceremony & Reception Music

After having the first two weekends of November wedding-free, I was glad to be back behind the harp for Brittani and Evan's wedding!  They held both their ceremony and reception at the Potter's House Church in Battle Creek, Michigan.

As their guests arrived, I played a variety of classical and sacred pieces.  For the entrance of grandparents and parents, they chose "Winter" from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons.  The bridal party ~ including a precious ring bearer who stopped at the top of the aisle to take a picture ~ entered the sanctuary to Pachelbel's "Canon in D."  The church's organist played "Here Comes the Bride" for Brittani's processional.

During the ceremony, the pastor's wife and one of the groomsmen sang.  That is a wonderful way to include musical friends and family members in your wedding, without stressing them with providing all of the music for the service!  The recessional was "At Last."  Once the wedding party and families exited, they had recorded music ready to go as I moved the harp downstairs.

The reception of hors d'oeuvers and wedding cake was also enhanced with  harp music.  Again, the music was from the classical and sacred genres, and included:

• Cantique de Jean Racine
• His Eye is on the Sparrow
• Finlandia
• Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
• Prelude in C
• The King of Love My Shepherd Is

If you are planning a wedding in Battle Creek, please contact me about providing harp music for your ceremony and reception!  Music options range from traditional to contemporary.  You'll find additional information on my website:  Battle Creek Wedding Harpist.

The Knot "Best of Weddings 2013" ~ Wedding Ceremony Harpist

I am thrilled to have been selected by The Knot as a winner of their Best of Weddings 2013 in the ceremony music category!

This award is given based on reviews from newly married couples.  You can read what they wrote about having harp music at their weddings on my Wedding Channel profile.  Big thanks to everyone who submitted a review ~ it is because of my wonderful brides and grooms that I received this honor!

Planning a wedding and looking for a harpist?  Visit my website ~ The Classic Harpist ~ and contact me for details and a quote!

Achievement in Music Piano Festival ~ South Bend Area Music Teachers Association

On Saturday, November 10th, over 100 piano students from throughout Northern Indiana and Southwest Michigan participated in the Achievement in Music Festival held at Bethel College in Mishawaka, Indiana.  This non-competitive adjudication involves taking a written and aural music theory test, playing scales & other keyboard skills, sightreading, and a performance for a judge of two prepared pieces, at least one of which is memorized. 

This was my first year serving on the committee that puts together the festival, and there is a lot of hard work that goes on behind the scenes, along with everything the students and their teachers do to prepare their performances.

Three students from my piano studio participated this year. 

• Camille A
• Claire C
• Greta C

On their theory tests, there were two 100% and one 96%.  All three students received and "Excellent" rating ~ the highest available ~ on their repertoire performance.  I'm very proud of the extra work they put in preparing for the festival and for their achievements!

Northern Indiana Harpist ~ Catholic Wedding Music in Plymouth

I met with Kristen and her mother back in September so she could choose her wedding music.  She wasn't familiar with the titles of the pieces she liked, and it can be somewhat overwhelming to try and figure it out on your own!  During our consultation, she was able to hear several different options for each time during the ceremony that requires music, and choose the pieces she liked best.

Her wedding ceremony took place at the beautiful St. Michael's Catholic Church in Plymouth, Indiana, on the last Saturday of October.  With a large guest list (over 250 at the ceremony), we planned for a half-hour prelude as they arrived.  With that many people attending, it sometimes takes extra time to get everyone in and seated!  The prelude consisted of sacred and classical harp music.

Kristen assigned a friend to cue me when they were ready to begin.  Even more helpfully, the cantor stood next to me and gave me a "play-by-play" of the processional.  I could just keep my eyes on the music and strings, and not have to count the bridesmaids as they came down the aisle!

For the seating of families, Kristen chose "Pavane Style Renaissance" by Wachs.  The music for the entrance of the bridal party was "Canon in D" by Pachelbel.  The flower girl and ring bearer (who ran most of the way!) also came in to this piece.

The bride's processional was a sped-up version of "Hymne" by the Greek composer Vangelis.  One of the best things about live music is being able to adjust any piece you choose to be a little faster or slower ~ and I can always time the music to end as soon as you arrive at the altar.

During the service, I played while the cantor sang the responsorial psalm and the Alleluia.  The recessional was Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring."  I continued upbeat postlude music as the bride and groom dismissed their guests.

Playing for weddings in Northern Indiana, Southwest Michigan, and throughout the Midwest, I can provide the music for your entire wedding ceremony or Nuptial Mass.  Visit my website ~ Catholic Wedding Harp Music ~ for details!