Weddings

Would you like live music for your ceremony or drinks reception? I can play solo cello for your service or as background music whilst you and your guests enjoy drinks before you sit down to eat. I will provide an ambient and relaxing musical background to your celebrations and I will provide you with a repertoire list to peruse so that you can choose some of your favourites; or just sit back, relax and allow me to tailor a programme that I think will suit you and your guests.

Should you wish to have a cellist for your service, I can play pre-ceremony whilst guests are arriving and you can choose a piece for the entrance of the bride/groom, signing of the register and when you both leave the church or ceremony room.

It is possible for me to play outside but, being an acoustic instrument, there are some weather conditions that I am unable to play in.

I have no amplification and, whilst the sound of my cello carries very well for the most part, it tends to get a little lost during the wedding breakfast because guests are usually quite vocal by then and it would be a shame to not be heard! For this reason, I have decided to offer just ceremony (either church or civil) and drinks reception. I have a minimum booking of one hour. As a rough guide the time required would be as follows:

Civil Ceremony – 1 hour, which would allow for time when the guests arrive and start to be seated in the ceremony area and the actual ceremony itself.

Church Ceremony – 1 to 1 ½ hours as a church ceremony is usually longer than a civil ceremony.

Drinks reception – 1 – 2 hours depending on how many photographs will be taken. Of course, every wedding is different, and timings usually become clearer once arrangements get underway.


Fees:

1 hour - £175
1 ½ hours - £225
2 hours - £275

All prices are fully inclusive within a 50-mile radius of my house (LE17). Travel outside this range may incur a small fee to cover fuel costs. Prices are from the first notes to the last and include any time travelled between venues (for example church to reception venue).

Functions

Functions My instrument is purely acoustic and so does not work for very large gatherings where there will be lots of loud chatter. However, if you are having a garden party, birthday or anniversary bash or any celebration where ambient, background music will add to the atmosphere then solo cello will work for you. I also think that the cello is particularly beautiful when played at funerals.

Please contact me for further information as to how you think my music might work for you.

Fees are as follows:

1 hour - £175
1 ½ hours - £225
2 hours - £275

Cello and Piano Tuition

I have been teaching both the cello and the piano for nearly thirty years and I combine my knowledge of performance together with my vast experience and ability to understand the needs of each and every pupil. I have taught in schools in London, Nottingham, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire, which include Trent College and the Nottingham High School for Girls. Alongside private and school teaching, mainly on a one-to-one basis but also in groups (cello only), I also have a long career in coaching ensembles, from quartets to cello sectionals to larger string groups. Students of all ages are welcome, although I advise that a child should be no younger than five to start either instrument. I teach from a fully equipped studio at home and I am able to teach the cello to all ages and abilities, from beginner to diploma standard. Students would need to buy or rent a cello and would also need to have a few basic books and pieces of equipment, all of which I can advise on. I can teach piano from beginner to grade 5 and all students would need a keyboard or piano at home so that they are able to practice in between lessons. They would also need to purchase some music books from which to learn, which I will advise on.

Students

Students are required to pay for half a term in advance and to give half a term’s notice if they wish to cease lessons. I am more than happy to give a pupil a few ‘taster’ lessons to see if they are going to enjoy the challenge of learning a new instrument.

I am fully insured and hold full and current DBS (CRB) checks.

Music

Below are some clips from my repertoire.

Bach - Arioso

Arioso is a type of solo vocal piece, usually occurring in an opera or oratorio, falling somewhere between recitative and aria in style. Literally, arioso means airy. The term arose in the 16th century

Summertime for Piano

Written in 1934, ‘Summertime’ was one of the first compositions George Gershwin worked on for his brand-new opera Porgy and Bess.

The Swan

The Swan, is the 13th and penultimate movement of The Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saëns. Originally scored for solo cello accompanied by two pianos, it has been arranged and transcribed for many instruments but remains best known as a cello solo.