1 hour of music (Wedding or Corporate Events): £355 |
2 hours of music (Wedding or Corporate Events): £446 |
3 hours of music (Wedding or Corporate Events): £546 |
Alice is a professional Mancunion harpist with a deep enthusiasm for music, available for weddings, corporate events, orchestral work and solo performances.
Alice completed her undergraduate degree on the highly competitive and prestigious Manchester ‘Joint Course’, which involves studying for a Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Manchester and a graduateship at the Royal Northern College of Music simultaneously. In 2018 she graduated with first class honours in music from the University of Manchester and the following year she was awarded an Upper classification as a Graduate of the RNCM (GRNCM). Whilst studying at Manchester University, Alice was awarded the Procter-Gregg prize in both 2016 and 2018 which is awarded annually to the student with the highest mark for performance.
Alice has always had a passion for music and has excelled at the harp from a young age. Prior to joining the RNCM she held a music scholarship at Manchester High School for Girls and became a student at Junior RNCM aged 11, and won numerous prizes including the Chamber Music Prize and the Warburton Music Competition which allowed her the opportunity to perform as a soloist in the Bridgewater Hall. In 2015 she was awarded a Graucob Award for further study.
Alice has a strong interest in contemporary music and frequently works with composers in developing and premiering new works for harp, including a composition for harp and chamber orchestra as part of New Music North West and a collaborative venture involving music and dance. As well as the classical tradition, Alice is passionate about exploring jazz on the harp, and in 2018 travelled to Switzerland to study under acclaimed jazz harpist Park Stickney. In November 2019 she supported the celebrated jazz vocalist and violinist Alice Zawadzki, allowing her the opportunity to perform at London Jazz Festival. She is a founding member of Manchester-based harp duo Rascallity which explores unusual repertoire for two harps, including jazz, latin, and contemporary styles, often through her own arrangements and compositions.
An experienced freelance harpist, Alice performs as a soloist across the North West, and also regularly appears with many orchestras. She regularly entertains at both corporate and occasion events and her wide interest in different genres of music means her performances consist of tailor-made music appropriate to any occasion. While the harp is beautiful acoustically during intimate events, for larger gatherings she is able to amplify her instrument. Skilled in arranging for the harp, Alice is also willing to arrange a particular song request from you.
Based in Altrincham, Greater Manchester
CLASSICAL
A River Flows in You - Yiruma
*Ave Maria - Schubert
*Be Thou My Vision (Hymn)
Canon in D - Johann Pachelbel
Claire de Lune - Debussy
Dido’s Lament - Purcell
Etude No. 3: Sarabande - Bach/Grandjany
Für Elise - Beethoven
Gymnopedie I. - Erik Satie
I Giorni - Einaudi
Flower Duet from Lakme - Delibes
*Jesu, Joy Of Man’s Desiring - J.S. Bach
Jupiter/I Vow To Thee My Country - Holst
Meditation (from Thais) - Massanet
Nessum Dorma - Puccini
O Mio Babbino - Puccini
Pavane pour une Infante Défunte - Ravel
Prelude in C - J. S. Bach
Spiegel im Spiegel - Arvo Pärt
Suzhou River Fantasia - Phil Young
La Fille aux Cheveux de Lin - Debussy
Time To Say Goodbye - Andrea Bocelli
The Entertainer - Scott Joplin
The Seal Lullaby - Eric Whitacre
Theme from Swan Lake - Tchaikovsky
Wedding March - Wagner
Wedding March Recessional - Mendelssohn
MUSICALS / FILM / VIDEO GAMES
A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes (from Cinderella)
All I Ask Of You (from The Phantom of the Opera)
A Million Dreams (from The Greatest Showman)
As The World Falls Down (from Labyrinth)
A Whole New World (from Aladdin)
Baby Mine (from Dumbo)
Beauty and the Beast - Alan Menken
Bella’s Lullaby (from Twilight)
Bring Him Home (from Les Miserables)
Can You Feel The Love Tonight (from The Lion King)
City of Stars (from La La Land)
Edelweiss (from The Sound of Music)
Fairy Fountain (from The Legend of Zelda)
Feed The Birds (from Mary Poppins)
Glasgow Theme (from Love Actually)
Harry and Hermione (from Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince)
Hushabye Mountain (from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang)
I Dreamed A Dream (from Les Miserables)
Married Life (Theme from Up)
Merry Go Round of Life (from Howl’s Moving Castle)
My Heart Will Go On (from Titanic)
Part Of Your World (from The Little Mermaid)
Pure Imagination (from Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory)
Rewrite the Stars (from The Greatest Showman)
Memory (from Cats)
Moon River (from Breakfast At Tiffany’s)
My Heart Will Go On (from Titanic)
Once Upon A December (from Anastasia)
Over The Rainbow (from The Wizard of Oz)
Send In The Clowns (from A Little Night Music)
Some Day My Prince Will Come (from Snow White and the Seven Dwarves)
Somewhere (from West Side Story)
The Second Star To The Right (from Peter Pan)
When You Wish Upon A Star (from Pinocchio)
POPULAR / JAZZ
All My Life - K-Ci and JoJo
All You Need is Love - The Beatles
A Thousand Years - Christina Perri
And So It Goes - Billy Joel
At Last - Etta James
Autumn Leaves - Joseph Kozma
Breathe Me - Sia
California Dreamin’ - The Mamas and Papas
Cannonball - Damien Rice
Can’t Help Falling in Love - Elvis Presley
Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol
Dream a Little Dream of Me - Andre & Schwandt
Everything I Do - Bryan Adams
Fields Of Gold - Sting
Fireflies - Owl City
From This Moment On - Shania Twain
Fly Me To The Moon - Frank Sinatra
Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen
Here Comes The Sun - The Beatles
I Just Called To Say I Love You - Stevie Wonder
Imagine - John Lennon
If I Ain’t Got You - Alicia Keys
Isn’t She Lovely - Stevie Wonder
I Will - The Beatles
I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston
Landslide - Fleetwood Mac
Let It Go - James Bay
Love Me Like You Do - Ellie Goulding
Lovin’ You - Minnie Riperton
Morning Has Broken - Cat Stevens
May It Be - Enya
Misty - Errol Garner
My Romance - Richard Rodgers
Perfect - Ed Sheeran
Photograph - Ed Sheeran
Runaway - The Corrs
Shape of You - Ed Sheeran
Simple Man - Barbara Streisand
(Simply) The Best - Tina Turner
Skinny Love - Bon Iver/Birdy
Smile - Charlie Chaplin
Somewhere Only We Know - Keane
Summertime - Gershwin
Sweet Child O’ Mine - Guns N’ Roses
The A Team - Ed Sheeran
The Long and Winding Road - The Beatles
The Only Exception - Paramore
The Sound of Silence - Paul Simon
Thinking Out Loud - Ed Sheeran
Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper
True Colours - Cyndi Lauper
What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton
Wonderwall - Oasis
Yesterday - The Beatles
You Are The Reason - Callum Scott
You Raise Me Up - Josh Groban
You’re Still The One - Shania Twain
TRADITIONAL / FOLK
Amazing Grace (American trad.)
Ashokan Farewell - Jay Ungar
Danny Boy (Irish trad.)
Greensleeves (English trad.)
Isle of Aigas (Scottish trad.)
Lisa Lan (Welsh trad.)
My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose (Scottish trad.)
Sands of Hosta - Ailie Robertson
Scarborough Fair (English trad.)
Suo Gan (Welsh trad.)
Swan LK243 - Catriona McKay
The Water Is Wide (Scottish trad.)
Wild Mountain Thyme (Scottish trad.)
Ye Banks and Braes (Scottish trad.)
I will need a space of about 2.5m squared to perform and a parking space for my car. No other technical requirements :)
I bring my own battery operated amplifier when needed so I can always be heard. Because it doesn’t require mains power I am able to use it outside or in locations that don’t have access to a power socket, so I am completely self-contained.
Any useful directions to help me find the venue, as well as relevant details about loading in and out with a car. If parts of the venue aren't wheelchair accessible (ie. flights of stairs, no lift), please let me know.
I am happy to use a Spotify playlist of harp music while I am taking breaks, please let me know if this is something you would be interested in.
The harp is quite mobile as it travels on a pushable trolley. Moving between rooms during the course of the day shouldn’t be a problem, however I will seek help for moving up and down flights of stairs as I can’t lift the harp on my own. If your reception or wedding breakfast is at a different venue to the ceremony please let me know. I may charge additional travel expenses, but so long as they are both reasonably accessible venues and I am given time to travel and set up there shouldn’t be a problem.
My most memorable gig was definitely on the slopes of the Acropolis in Athens in an open-air venue called the Odeon of Herodes Atticus performing with the iconic Manchester rock band James. A truly unforgettable experience, although we were all battling the heat at the time!
My longtime teacher Eira Lynn Jones definitely needs a mention, but in terms of the music I listen to: I'm always amazed by the understated mastery of musicians like Gillian Welch. As a harpist, I have a real appreciation for artists who can cut incredibly deeply with their music, even though its on the quieter side.
I have been playing since I was nine and began performing professionally when I was fifteen. I can honestly say I've never wanted to do anything else, and I feel my unwavering devotion to the instrument comes through in my playing. I'm very lucky to do what I love.
I love performing at all kinds of events but I think weddings are my favourite. It's such an honour to be a part of such a special moment in a person's life and I'm always so grateful to be a part of it.
I normally try to arrive around an hour before I'm due to begin playing. When I'm playing, I take a 10 minute break every hour to protect myself from strain. I can play for up to three hours with breaks before needing a longer break across the day.
Yes, however this is weather permitting and depends on certain factors. The harp will need to be placed on a hard, flat surface to make sure it won’t be accidentally knocked over, and it cannot be placed on bare grass due to water retained in the ground. Patio flooring or decking would be perfect. I unfortunately can’t play outdoors if there’s risk of rain or if it is very windy due to the risk of the harp getting damaged. Please bear this in mind if you choose to book me for an outdoor celebration, and feel free to get in touch with any additional questions you may have.
I absolutely encourage picking pieces from my song list. I’m a firm believer in making your wedding as special and meaningful for you and your partner as possible so I’m happy to take your lead on song selection, but if you would like my own song recommendations I am always happy to advise. I am also able to arrange specific requests from you. I'm eager to make my service as personalised as possible, so I encourage you to let me know if there's a particular song missing from my song list that you would like to hear.
Previous testimonials have mentioned the soulful, relaxing ambience of the harp. As well as this, I am regularly complimented on the freedom of song choice on a more unusual instrument, including songs from rock, jazz, and pop genres.
For the wedding ceremony, typically I will need one song choice for the bridal entrance, up to three songs for the signing of the wedding register, and one song as an exit for the married couple. I’m a firm believer in making your wedding as special and meaningful for you and your partner as possible so I’m happy to take your lead on song requests, but if you would like my own recommendations as to which songs work well in each context I am always happy to advise. For drinks receptions and wedding breakfasts I play background music throughout the celebration, and I’m very happy to have specific requests made for this if there are particular songs that interest you.
James (Manchester rock band)
Gruff Rhys (Welsh rock musician)
Matthew Halsall (spiritual jazz trumpeter)
Jasmine Myra (jazz saxophonist)
Alice Zawadzki (jazz vocalist and violinist)
Good Habits (folk duo)
Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg
Royal Albert Hall, London
Barbican Hall, London
Union Chapel, London
New Century Hall, Manchester
Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
O2 Apollo, Manchester
RNCM Concert Hall, Manchester
Symphony Hall, Birmingham
St David's Hall, Cardiff
Glasgow Sec Armadillo, Glasgow
O2 City Hall, Newcastle
Howard Assembly Rooms, Leeds
City Hall, Sheffield
Blackpool Opera House, Blackpool
Usher Hall, Edinburgh
York Barbican, York
Bath Forum, Bath
Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool
Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham
Brighton Dome, Brighton