Chicago Harpist ~ Wedding Ceremony & Reception in Orland Park

Sandy and Eric had a beautiful April day for their wedding in Orland Park!  The ceremony took place at the historic Twin Towers Chapel, and the reception followed at the Silver Lake Country Club.  I was the harpist for both the ceremony and the cocktail hour of the reception.

As guests gathered in the chapel, the prelude consisted of mostly classical songs plus "Goin' to the Chapel" as the final song before the processional.  The families of the bride and groom entered to "Canon in D" and as the aisle runner was pulled by the bride's sons, I switched to "Trumpet Tune," the piece that continued through the entrance of the groom and the officiant.  Sandy opted for the traditional "Bridal Chorus" for her processional.

During the ceremony, the bride and her sister lit a candle in memory of their parents, with light harp music in the background.  The couple and their children also participated in a sand ceremony, combining all six jars of sand into one larger vase for display in their home.  As they did this, I played an instrumental version of "One Hand, One Heart" from West Side Story.  When her part was complete, the groom's daughter, Amy, sang the piece with harp accompaniment.  Following the vows and ring exchange, Amy and I did another selection, "The Wedding Song"  by Paul Stookey.

For the recessional, the couple exited to "Trumpet Voluntary."  When they reached the back of the chapel, I faded out the music so their guests could hear them ringing the steeple bell.  Once that was concluded, I resumed the music for their families to exit.  Then it was off to the reception!

Having harp music for your cocktail hour is the perfect way to extend the ambiance the music creates at the ceremony into the celebration.  The room at Silver Lake Country Club overlooked the golf course, and was decorated in rich gold tones.  The fireplace was burning and was a welcome sight as the day got colder!   The music for the cocktail hour was a variety of popular, jazz, and Broadway songs.  I love to play pieces that people recognize ~ especially ones they don't expect to hear on a harp!

If you are planning a wedding in the Chicago area, visit my website (Chicago Wedding Harpist) for more information on having a harpist for your ceremony and reception.

Studio Recital ~ Harp & Piano Lessons in South Bend

Every Spring, all of my harp & piano students prepare to perform in a formal studio recital.  This year, it took place on April 27th at the Evangelical Covenant Church in South Bend, Indiana. 

Several families had other commitments that night (other performances & a couple of church confirmations), so a few students are missing from our group picture!

The pieces performed included (with students' names in parentheses following the title and composer's name):

• Turkey Talk; Kevin Costley (Anna B.)
• Zoo on Saturday; Mary Leaf (Rylie W.)
• Beginner's Waltz; Laurie Riley (Jaedyn H.)
• Mischievous Monkeys; Elizabeth Greenleaf (Yarden K.)
• Waltz in Fa Majeur; W.A. Mozart (Alyson D.)
• Prelude in D Minor; Elizabeth Greenleaf (Mark B.)
• Little Cloud; Kevin Costley (Claire C.)
• Gymnopedie No. 1; Erik Satie (Camille A.)
• Asturiana from 12 Spanish Dances, Op. 5; Enrique Granados (Camille A.)
• Outplanet: The Final Battle; Edwin McLean (Joseph D.)
• The Enchantment; Edwin McLean (Hadas K.)
• Navajo Legend; Kevin Olson (Lara C.)
• Oh, So Blue!; Christopher Goldston (Emma H.)

Following the recital, awards were given to students who participated in last fall's Achievement in Music festival and who won the Music Passport prizes in the studio.  Afterwards, everyone enjoyed a reception in the lobby with made-to-order coffee beverages from the American Espresso Company's coffee cart.  We've had them for several recitals, and it's always a hit with students and parents!

For more information about lessons, visit:

Harp:  http://www.theclassicharpist.com/html/harp.html
Piano:  http://www.theclassicharpist.com/html/piano.html

Bloomington Illinois Wedding Harpist ~ Doubletree Hotel Ceremony & Reception

Casey and Lorenz planned their wedding in Bloomington, Illinois, from California, and I was delighted to be a part of it!  Their ceremony and reception were both held at the Doubletree Hotel & Conference Center.  Their wedding colors were black and white, with a touch of pink, so the ebony Venus Penti harp fit in with their decor.

I love it when brides use their wedding music to express their personalities and unique tastes!  For the seating of their families, along with the entrance of the groomsmen (and groomswomen!) she chose "Concerning Hobbits" from Lord of the Rings.  The bridesmaids entered to Taylor Swift's "Love Story," and Casey chose "Collide" by Howie Day for her entrance music.

As the couple lit their unity candle and presented roses to their families, I played "Hey There Delilah" by the Plain White T's.  Once they were presented as a married couple, they came back down the aisle to "Throne Room" from Star Wars Episode IV.  It might not be traditional, but it makes a surprisingly good recessional!

Once all of the guests had gone through the receiving line at the conclusion of the ceremony, I moved the harp out into the lobby of the Doubletree for the cocktail hour.  The guests were able to mingle and enjoy drinks while the ceremony room was re-set for the reception.  During this time, I played a variety of popular songs and a few classical pieces, including "Marry Me" by Train, "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban, and Bach's "Sheep May Safely Graze."

The music of the harp is versatile and can provide the music for your ceremony and reception, whether you prefer traditional or contemporary selections.  Visit my website, Bloomington Wedding Harpist, for details!

Terre Haute Wedding Harpist ~ Ceremony at Wasatch Lake, Poland

Levi and Sierra had some great scenery for their ceremony at Wasatch Lake in Poland, Indiana.  The wedding was set in a beautiful, lakeside park at the main clubhouse.

They originally planned for an outdoor ceremony, but as the date got closer, the bride decided to not chance the unpredictable April weather, and made the choice to move everything inside.  Given that the clubhouse was beautifully decorated, it didn't matter whether it was indoors or out!  The bride's choice of the Venus Classic harp also added to the look of the ceremony, as its rose carvings fit with the total decor of the wedding and the lake setting.

For the wedding ceremony, the bride choose to mix in classical wedding music with some more modern pop hits.  The bridesmaids entered to "Sheep May Safely Graze" by J.S. Bach, while the bride came down the aisle to "Canon in D."  For the unity candle, Sierra selected "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz and "Fields of Gold" as the recessional music.  For prelude and postlude, I provided the wedding guests with background music selections from both more modern pop pieces and standard wedding classics.

If you would like to know more about having harp music for your wedding ceremony, visit my website, Central Indiana Wedding Harpist.

Grand Rapids Harpist ~ Wedding at Eve at the B.O.B.

The first few months of the year are slower for weddings, but starting mid-April, we typically have at least one event to share with you every week!  My first wedding of the season was held at Eve, the night club on the top floor of the B.O.B. in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The intimate ceremony was held in the Heat room.  The attendants were the children of the bride and groom, and the bride's daughter walked her down the aisle to "Canon in D."  The groom, along with his son and daughter, entered to "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring."  After the ceremony, they exited to the first movement of  "Spring" from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons.

Once all of the guests had exited the ceremony room, they made their way to the main part of the night club, where the reception followed.  I continued to provide harp music during the cocktail hour, with music ranging from Scottish folk songs to The Beatles.  Some of the pieces included:

• All You Need is Love
• Amazing Grace
• At Last
• Because You Loved Me
• Chapel of Love
• Come Sail Away
• Falling Slowly
• In My Life
• Glitter in the Air
• I Swear
• Loch Lomond
• Love Song by The Cure
• Marry Me by Train
• Only Time
• Sweet Child o' Mine
• There is Love (The Wedding Song)
• Unchained Melody
• When You Wish Upon a Star
• What a Wonderful World
• You Raise Me Up
• Your Song

Eve provided the perfect non-traditional venue for Cindy & Brian's wedding.  The modern style of the Penti harp - and their varied music selections - complemented the setting.  If you are planning a wedding in Grand Rapids, contact me at 1-877-HARP-578 to learn more about including harp music in your event.  You can also find additional information on my website ~ Grand Rapids Harpist.  Live harp music is always an excellent choice!

Chicago Harpist ~ Church Dinner in Willowbrook

The Friday evening before St. Patrick's Day, the members of the Victory Orthodox Apostolic Faith Church gathered at Ashton Place in Willowbrook to celebrate their new pastor's first year with the congregation.  With honored guests from throughout the Chicago area and downstate Illinois, the appreciation dinner was a great success! 

I played harp music ~ mostly hymns and spirituals ~ during dinner service, and then a special piece to honor the pastor.  For that moment, I chose the beautiful "Deep River, My Home is Over Jordan."  It's not only a lovely piece, but is very well adapted to the harp! 

If you are planning a corporate reception, family dinner, or any special occasion, having a harpist provide the music for your guests adds an extra touch of elegance and sophistication.  Visit my website, Chicago Harpist, for details!

Chicago Harpist | Leap Day Wedding in Naperville

Stacy & Alec will never forget their anniversary ~ February 29th!  Even though Leap Day fell on a Wednesday this year, they chose the memorable date to gather with family and friends and celebrate.  The venue for the entire event was Naper Settlement in Naperville, Illinois.  The ceremony took place in the Century Memorial Chapel, then the reception followed just a short walk away in the Pre-Emption House Tavern.

Century Memorial Chapel was built in 1864, and was relocated to Naper Settlement in 1970.  It's a beautiful venue for a wedding!  The ceremony got started a little behind schedule due to a left-behind flower girl dress, but I just kept the prelude music going until the officiant let me know that everyone was ready to begin.  The families and bridal party all entered to Pachelbel's "Canon in D," and Stacy chose the traditional "Here Comes the Bride" for her processional. 

During the ceremony, the couple surprised their parents by presenting them with roses as I played "The Prayer" from Quest for Camelot.  After the vows and ring exchange, the couple lit the unity candle to "Winter" from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons.  The recessional was "Trumpet Tune," which sent guests out of the chapel and over to the reception.

Guests enjoyed appetizers and cocktails in the Tavern of the Pre-Emption House.  This building also serves as the visitor center for Naper Settlement museum village, and is a re-construction of the original 1834 building.  As everyone gathered, I played a variety of popular, Broadway, and Irish folk songs. 

Planning a wedding in Chicago?  A harpist can provide all of the music for your ceremony, cocktails, and dinner!  Visit my website, Chicago Wedding Harpist, for information on wedding packages, song lists, and venues.