Harp Recital in Jacksonville, Illinois

On Sunday, January 29th, I will be presenting a harp recital as part of the Music Under the Dome concert series at the Jacksonville Public Library in Jacksonville, Illinois.  The concert starts at 4:00 pm, and will include works by Purcell, Naderman, Pachelbel, Salzedo, and Renie, as well as a variety of popular and Broadway songs. 

Jeff will be joining me for a couple of harp duets, so this is an excellent opportunity to hear that ensemble and see the harps up close.  We hope to see you there!

Central Illinois Wedding Planning ~ Bridal Expo 1-22-12

On Sunday, January 22nd, we will be participating in the Jacksonville Main Street Bridal Expo.  If you are considering having a harpist for your wedding or party, this is the perfect opportunity to meet us and hear our music!  You will also be able to meet with other professional vendors to assist you with your wedding plans.  The show will be at Hamilton's 110 North East in downtown Jacksonville, IL, and will run from 12:00 - 4:00 PM.

We will have a drawing at our booth for free cocktail hour music.  Stop by to enter and receive more information about including a harpist in your wedding plans.  We'd love to meet you!

Tickets can be purchased in advance ($5) or at the door ($8).  More information on the Jacksonville Main Street Facebook page.

Our website:  TheClassicHarpist.com

From last year's Expo (Photo courtesy of Warmowski Photography)

Northwest Indiana Harpist ~ Wedding Reception in New Chicago

Our first wedding of 2012 was for Laurel and Jason's reception at Assumption Hall in New Chicago, Indiana.  When planning a January wedding, I'm sure they weren't expecting temperatures in the 40's!  The snow outside might have been melting, but inside the hall they created a winter wonderland with silver and teal decorations.

I played the harp as guests arrived for the cocktail hour and continued through the dinner service.  The bride requested that I play mostly popular music from the 1970's through today.  One favorite of the guests seated next to the harp was "Come Sail Away" by Styx.  Other pieces included the Beatles songs "Can't Buy Me Love," "Long and Winding Road," and "In My Life."  Several of the guests came up to me after I finished and were surprised that the music was live ~ they thought it must have been a recording!

Entertainment Express served as the DJ for the rest of the evening.  Kerry is super professional, and one of the few DJs I don't have to hunt down when it's time for us to switch!  In addition to the snowflake wedding cake, the guests enjoyed a sweets table provided by the mother of the bride.  She baked 934 cookies for the wedding!

The harp can be a wonderful addition to your wedding ~ the ceremony, the reception, or both!  If you are interested in finding out more about it, visit our website, Northwest Indiana Harpist, or call 1-877-HARP-578.  Happy new year, and congratulations to the newlyweds Laurel & Jason!

Client Thanks | Rock Island Wedding

A wonderful musical experience for my wedding ceremony.  It was enjoyed by all and I couldn't have asked for a more painless, easy working relationship.  Definitely recommend Devon!  A joyful, beautiful day!

~Margaret, Bride


October 29th, 2011
Wedding at the Quad Cities Botanical Center, Rock Island, Illinois

Top Wedding Ceremony Music of 2011

We've gone through all of the weddings we played in 2011, and have come up with a listing of the most popular music selected by the brides with whom we have worked this year.  But better than just a "top" list, we'll include not just the most popular, but all of the songs selected by our couples. 

For their own processionals, and those of the wedding party, the brides we work with tend to stay with more traditional options.  Canon in D is always a favorite!  For mid-ceremony and recessional music, however, many more have opted for less traditional and non-classical pieces.

This should provide you with some inspiration and an idea of the wide variety of music that can be played on the harp!  The number in parentheses after each song title is the number of times we've played that piece for that ceremony moment in 2011.


Bridal Processionals (the bride's entrance music):

• Canon in D (23)
• Bridal Chorus (Here Comes the Bride) (21)
• Only Time (3)
• Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (3)
• Prelude in C (2)
• Hymne (2)
• Bella's Lullaby (2)
• Till There Was You (1)
• Theme of Love (1)
• Pavane Style Renaissance (1)
• Misty (1)
• Marry Me (1)
• If I Ain't Got You (1)
• Here Comes the Sun (1)
• Falling Slowly (1)
• Fairest Isle (1)
• 81 (1)
• Edelweiss (1)
• By Your Side (1)
• Bless the Broken Road (1)
• Arioso (1)
• All You Need is Love (1)
• All I Ask of You (1)

Bridal Party Processional (as the bridesmaids enter the ceremony):

• Canon in D (22)
• Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (6)
• Prelude in C (4)
• Fields of Gold (4)
• Sheep May Safely Graze (3)
• Arioso (3)
• All I Ask of You (3)
• Hymne (2)
• Andiam mio tesoro (2)
• Your Song (1)
• Wonderful Tonight (1)
• With a Little Help from My Friends (1)
• Trumpet Voluntary (1)
• Smile (1)
• The Prayer (1)
• Only Time (1)
• Marry Me (1)
• Love Story (1)
• In My Life (1)
• I'm Yours (1)
• Hide & Seek (1)
• Glitter in the Air (1)
• Theme from Final Fantasy VII (1)
• Fanny Power (1)
• Falling Slowly (1)
• Edelweiss (1)
• Come Sail Away (1)
• Bless the Broken Road (1)
• Ave Maria (1)
• Aria from Rinaldo (1)
• All My Loving (1)
• Air on the G String (1)

Family Processional (entrance music for parents & grandparents):

• Prelude in C (2)
• Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (2)
• Falling Slowly (2)
• Canon in D (2)
• Arioso (2)
• You Raise Me Up (1)
• You Are My Sunshine (1)
• Try To Remember (1)
• Suogan (1)
• Down by the Salley Gardens (1)
• Somewhere Over the Rainbow (1)
• Meditation from Thais (1)
• Marry Me (1)
• Let it Be (1)
• King William's March (1)
• Hymne (1)
• Fields of Gold (1)
• Edelweiss (1)
• Carolan's Welcome (1)
• Bless the Broken Road (1)
• Ave Maria (1)
• Aria from Rinaldo (1)

Unity candle/sand or other ceremony music:

• Ave Maria (5)
• Hymne (3)
• Fields of Gold (3)
• All I Ask of You (3)
• The Wedding Song (2)
• Unchained Melody (2)
• Marry Me (2)
• The Lord's Prayer (2)
• Come Sail Away (2)
• Aria from Rinaldo (2)
• Andiam mio tesoro (2)
• You Raise Me Up (1)
• What a Wonderful World (1)
• Come My Way, My Truth, My Life (1)
• Suogan (1)
• Something (1)
• Serenade (1)
• Romance without Words (1)
• Prelude in C (1)
• The Prayer (1)
• Only Time (1)
• O Perfect Love (1)
• I'll Be (1)
• I Cross My Heart (1)
• Great Day (1)
• Eyes on Me (1)
• Erev shel shoshanim (1)
• Deep River (1)
• Dedication (1)
• Carol Ann (1)
• Can't Help Falling in Love (1)
• Canon in D (1)
• Bless the Broken Road (1)
• Because You Loved Me (1)
• Beautiful Dreamer (1)

Recessional music (exit from the ceremony for the couple & wedding party):

• Wedding March (6)
• King William's March (6)
• Trumpet Tune (5)
• Spring from The Four Seasons (5)
• All You Need is Love (4)
• Trumpet Voluntary (3)
• Sweet Child O' Mine (3)
• Ode to Joy (3)
• Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (3)
• Fields of Gold (3)
• Finale from Royal Fireworks (2)
• Pavane Style Renaissance (2)
• My Heart Will Go On from Titanic (2)
• Love Story (2)
• I'm Yours (2)
• Your Song (1)
• You Belong with Me (1)
• You Are My Sunshine (1)
• Time to Say Goodbye (1)
• Throne Room (1)
• Suogan (1)
• Reverie (1)
• Somewhere Over the Rainbow (1)
• Only Time (1)
• One Love (1)
• O Perfect Love (1)
• Love Will Keep Us Together (1)
• La Vie En Rose (1)
• Hornpipe (1)
• Great Day (1)
• From This Moment On (1)
• Fanny Power (1)
• Come Sail Away (1)
• Because You Loved Me (1)
• All My Loving (1)

If you are looking for a harpist to provide unique musical selections for your wedding ceremony, visit our website ~ The Classic Harpist ~ for ceremony packages and additional information.  We'd love to have the opportunity to work with you and make your ceremony music fit your style!

Harpists for New Year's Day at Four Winds Casino, New Buffalo

Happy New Year!  We welcomed in 2012 by playing for a private brunch at the Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo, Michigan.  Guests were divided between the Copper Rock Steakhouse and the adjacent Player's Lounge for a New Year's Day buffet.

Copper Rock Steakhouse, from the harpist's point of view

We set up the Classic harp in the Copper Rock, and the Penti in the Player's Lounge to match it's more contemporary decor.  Jeff and I alternated the restaurants in which we played, so guests in each venue could hear both of us! 

Four Winds Casino Player's Lounge

The guests loved listening to the harp music, especially the popular pieces that you might not expect to hear on the harp (imagine "Walk the Line" or "Come Sail Away").  It was a nice, relaxing way for them to recover after a late night on New Year's Eve.

As professional harpists, we play for corporate events, private parties, and weddings throughout the year.  Contact us at 1-877-HARP-578 or visit our website ~ New Buffalo Harpist ~ for information on including harp music in your plans!