Champaign-Urbana Harpist ~ Holiday Party at the IHotel

For my first holiday music outing of the year, I played for the employees of Yahoo! at their December 1st party.  The event was held at the IHotel, right on the University of Illinois campus.

The attendees were serenaded by harp music, played with props in a photo booth, enjoyed dinner & drinks, and were entertained by a magician.  Their planning team put together an unforgettable night!

At holiday parties, I play a variety of seasonal music ranging from traditional Christmas carols to popular songs like "Frosty the Snowman."

If you'd like to add harp music to your company party, family gathering, or church service, please contact me!  You'll find more information on having a harpist at your event on my website:  Champaign-Urbana Harpist.  Happy holidays!

Champaign-Urbana Harpist ~ Wedding at the Homer Lake Forest Preserve

Homer Lake Forest Preserve is beautiful ~ especially in autumn just as the leaves are starting to turn!  I worked with the bride's mother, Tereasa, to plan her daughter's wedding music.  The ceremony took place on the lawn of the Salt Fork Center, overlooking Homer Lake. 

Things got off to a late start, but the guests were kept entertained with harp music while the waited for the ceremony to begin.  One guest even made a request ~ "Stairway to Heaven" ~ and I played it for him!  Not your typical wedding repertoire, but the guests really got a kick out of it. 

The wedding party entered to "Canon in D" by Pachelbel.  The bride made her big entrance in a horse-drawn carriage, then came down the aisle to the traditional processional, "Bridal Chorus" by Wagner.  The couple performed their unity sand ceremony at the same time as their pastor did the readings.  All of this was accompanied by "My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic on the harp.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the wedding party exited to "Trumpet Tune" and the bride and groom enjoyed a short ride around the lake in the carriage.  The reception followed in the Salt Fork Center

For weddings in Champaign-Urbana and throughout Central Illinois, contact me about having harp music for your ceremony and reception!  You'll find more information on my website: Central Illinois Harpist.

Champaign Illinois Harpist ~ Wedding Music

April 16th was to have been my first outdoor wedding ceremony of the year, but strong winds, dropping temperatures and rain forced the event inside.  When you are planning an outdoor wedding, you have to be flexible - and have a solid back-up plan!

The Plan B for this wedding was an indoor location at the same venue, the Baytowne Apartments Clubhouse in Champaign, IL.  They have a lovely room with a fireplace that served as a backdrop for the ceremony and many of the pre-wedding photographs.  There was also a piano and large windows, so we could all watch the rain and be glad we weren't out in it!

This date was not only special to the bride and groom, but also to the parents of the bride.  They were celebrating their 57th wedding anniversary that day! 

Prelude music on the Laurel Leaf lever harp greeted guests as they arrived, and the maid of honor entered to "All I Ask of You" from Phantom of the Opera.  The bride opted for the traditional "Bridal Chorus" by Wagner, and the recessional was "Trumpet Tune". 

I was supposed to play "Fields of Gold" as an instrumental solo after the vows and ring exchange, but I got skipped!  No problem - I just played it immediately after the recessional, so the bride and groom were still around to hear it. 

As the ceremony concluded, the guests offered their congratulations to the bride and groom, and headed to the reception in the clubhouse dining area.  Here's to 57+ years together!

Jeff and I are available to provide wedding music in Champaign-Urbana and throughout Central Illinois.  Visit our website, Champaign Illinois Wedding Music, or call 1-877-HARP-578 for more information.