Dana & Chad

Congratulations to Dana and Chad on their marriage! Dana and Chad were married on Saturday evening, October 31 in a candlelight wedding ceremony at All Saint's Episcopal Church in Gastonia. There were married in the beautiful sanctuary in renaissance inspired attire. For the prelude, I performed a variety of classical music, including Ave Maria by Bach/Gounod, Sheep May Safely Graze by Bach, and Largo from The Four Seasons by Vivaldi. For the processional, I performed Canon in D by Pachelbel for the entrance of the bridal party and Bridal March from A Midsummer Night's Dream by Wagner for the entrance of the bride. During communion, I performed Stairway to Heaven by Page/Plant. For the recessional, I performed Trumpet Tune by Clarke. I had so much fun performing at this beautiful wedding ceremony! Congratulations again this beautiful couple on their gorgeous October wedding!

October Events!

On Saturday, October 24, I performed at the 21st pastoral anniversary of Bishop Thomas Lee at Senator Bob Martin Agricultural Center in Williamson. I performed at his 20th pastoral anniversary last year and was thrilled to be asked to perform at this special event again! I performed a variety of music during the cocktail hour and dinner, including What a Wonderful World, At Last, Can't Help Falling in Love, Ribbon in Sky, and How Sweet it is (To be Loved by You).I was honored to celebrate this special anniversary with Bishop Lee and this wonderful congregation! Congratulations to Bishop Lee on his 21 years in ministry!

On Sunday, October 25, I performed for the Sunday morning worship service at Martha's Chapel Christian Church in Apex. I performed at this beautiful historic church for Chris and Rebecca's wedding back in June where I met Pastor Bob Brinson. He invited me back to perform for his congregation. I performed a variety of pieces including Be Thou My Vision, Precious Lord Take My Hand, and Peace, Live a River. I had so much fun performing for this wonderful congregation! Thank you Pastor Bob for inviting me to perform at your beautiful church!

Laura & Thomas

Congratulations to Laura and Thomas on their marriage! Laura and Thomas were married on Saturday afternoon, October 10 in a beautiful outdoor wedding ceremony at Lilywell Flower Farm in Hillsborough, North Carolina. They were married in a beautiful garden (known as the "secret garden") in front of an elegant gazedo. For the prelude, I performed a variety of classical music, including Canon in D by Pachelbel, First Arabesque by Debussy, and Giga by Corelli. For the processional, I performed Fantasie-Impromptu, Moderato cantabile by Chopin for the seating of the mothers, Largo from The Four Seasons by Vivaldi for the entrance of the bridal party, and Andante from Violin Sonata No.2 by Bach for the entrance of the bride. For the recessional, I performed Concerto in B-flat Major, Andante Allegro by Handel. I had so much fun performing at this beautiful wedding ceremony! Congratulations again to this gorgeous couple on their beautiful October wedding!

Whitney & Charles

Congratulations to Whitney and Charles on their marriage! Whitney and Charles were married on Saturday afternoon, October 3 in a beautiful wedding ceremony at Tabernacle United Methodist Church in Robbins, North Carolina. For the prelude, I performed a variety of classical and religious selections, including Canon in D by Pachelbel, Sheep May Safely Graze by Bach, and Peace Like A River by Bliss. For the processional, I performed Ave Maria by Bach/Gounod for the seating of the mothers, Giga by Corelli for the entrance of the bridal party, and The Nightingale by Henson-Conant for the entrance of the bride. During the ceremony, I performed with vocalist (and bridesmaid), Shalan Albright. We performed When Love is Found an English Melody after the scripture reading and O Perfect Love by Barnby during communion. For the recessional, I performed How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) by Holland/Dozier/Holland. For the postlude, I performed a variety of popular selections as guests proceeded to the fellowship hall for the reception, including What A Wonderful World by Weiss/Thiele and Over the Rainbow by Arlen/Harburg. I had so much fun performing at this beautiful wedding ceremony! Congratulations to this beautiful couple on their gorgeous October wedding!

Kristy & Rob

Congratulations to Kristy and Rob on their marriage! Kristy and Rob were married on Saturday, September 5 at First United Methodist Church in Mocksville, North Carolina. The wedding ceremony was held in the beautiful sanctuary of this historic church in downtown Mocksville. For the prelude, I performed a variety of music, including Sheep May Safely Graze by Bach, Ode To Joy by Beethoven, and The Prayer by Sager/Foster. I performed Canon in D by Pachelbel for the seating of the mothers, Air on the G String by Bach for the entrance of the bridal party, and Bridal March from Lohengrin by Wagner for the entrance of the bride. For the recessional, I performed Wedding March from A Midsummer Night's Dream by Mendelssohn. After the ceremony, I performed at the newlyweds' beautiful wedding reception at the Family Life Center across the street from the church. I performed a variety of music, including How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) by Holland/Dozier/Holland, What a Wonderful World by Weiss/Thiele, and From this Moment On by Twain/Lange. I had so much fun being a part of this beautiful wedding celebration! Congratulations again to this gorgeous couple on their beautiful September wedding!

Summer & Lance

Congratulations to Summer and Lance on their marriage! Summer and Lance were married Saturday evening, August 15 in a beautiful outdoor wedding ceremony at Sapona Country Club in Lexington, North Carolina. For the prelude, I performed a variety of classical and popular music including Over the Rainbow by Arlen/Harburg, Can't Help Falling in Love by Weiss/Peretti/Creatore, and Wonderful World by Thiele/Weiss. I performed La Source by Hasselmans for the seating of the mothers, Ribbon in the Sky by Stevie Wonder for the entrance of the bridal party, and Trumpet Voluntary by Clarke for the entrance of the bride. During the lighting of the unity candle, Katelyn Marks, a talented vocalist from Winston-Salem, performed I Will Be as performed by Leona Lewis and written by Martin/Gottwald/Lavigne. Katelyn make it the 4th round of American Idol in 2008 and performs at events throughout the Southeast! I enjoyed meeting Katelyn and her boyfriend Derek at the wedding and wish them both much success in the future! You can check out Katelyn's music on her MySpace page.
For the recessional, I performed Bittersweet Symphony by The Verve. This fun recessional was a special request by the bride whom heard it played on YouTube by another harpist. I was delighted to honor her request! Since there wasn't a harp arrangement available to purchase, I had fun transcribing a piano arrangement of this piece to the harp! I had so much fun being a part of this beautiful outdoor wedding ceremony! Congratulations again to this gorgeous couple on their beautiful August wedding!

Stephanie & Matthew

Congratulations to Stephanie and Matthew on their marriage! Stephanie and Matthew were married Friday evening, August 14 in a beautiful outdoor wedding ceremony at Matthew's childhood home near Colonial Country Club in Thomasville, North Carolina. The wedding was held in the front yard of the beautiful Tudor style home in facing a gorgeous English garden. For the prelude, I performed a variety of classical and popular selections, including Ode to Joy by Beethoven, Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring by Bach, and Over the Rainbow by Arlen/Harburg. I performed First Arabesque by Debussy for the seating of the mothers, Sheep May Safely Graze for the entrance of the bridal party, and Trumpet Voluntary by Clarke for the entrance of the bride. During the ceremony, I performed You Raise Me Up by Lovland/Graham after the giving of the bride and The Prayer by Sager/Foster during the lighting of the unity candle. For the recessional, I performed How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) by Holland/Dozier/Holland. Afterwards, I played a short postlude as guests proceeded to Colonial Country Club for the reception. I had so much fun being part of this beautiful outdoor wedding ceremony! Congratulations again to this beautiful couple on their gorgeous August wedding!

Cathy & Brian

Congratulations to Cathy and Brian on their marriage! Cathy and Brian were marred Saturday evening, August 8 in a beautiful outdoor wedding ceremony at Snipes Farm Retreat in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Snipes Farm sits on 54 acres of rustic farmland which used to be a dairy farm. The wedding ceremony was held in front of a huge oak tree overlooking the pastoral farmland. The wedding reception was held afterwards in a big white barn. For the prelude, I performed a variety of classical and sacred music, including Be Thou My Vision, Air on the G String, and Sheep May Safety Graze. I performed La Source by Hasselmans for the seating of the mothers, Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring by Bach for the entrance of the bridal party, and Canon in D by Pachelbel for the entrance of the bride. For the recessional, I performed Ode to Joy by Beethoven. I had so much fun being part of Cathy and Brian's beautiful outdoor wedding ceremony! It was absolutely amazing to play in such a beautiful open space shaded by an enormous oak tree. Snipes Farm is definitely a special place, a perfect mix of rustic elegance! Congratulations again to this gorgeous couple on their beautiful August wedding!

Brook & Chris

Congratulations to Brook and Chris on their marriage! Brook and Chris were married Friday evening, August 7 in a beautiful outdoor wedding ceremony at Barclay Villa in Angier, North Carolina. Barclay Villa is beautiful chateau style home in the historic Barclaysville community. The wedding was held in the beautiful garden area in front of a castle-style gazedo. For the prelude, I performed a variety of classical and popular music. I performed Over the Rainbow by Arlen/Harburg for the seating of the grandmothers, How Beautiful by Paris for the seating of the mothers, Ave Maria by Bach/Gounod for the entrance of the bridal party, and The Nightingale by Henson-Conant for the entrance of the bride. During the ceremony, the bride's sister, Ashleigh, whom is a talented vocalist, performed The Prayer by Sager/Foster. For the recessional, I performed Concerto in B-flat Major, Andante Allegro by Handel. I had so much fun being a part of Brook and Chris's elegant outdoor wedding ceremony! Congratulations again this beautiful couple on their gorgeous August wedding and enjoy your honeymoon in the Dominican Republic!

Jackie & Andrew

Congratulations to Jackie and Andrew on their marriage! Jackie and Andrew were married on August 1 in a beautiful outdoor wedding ceremony at Tuscany Gardens in Browns Summit, North Carolina. They were married in a gorgeous garden area in front of a beautiful white gazebo. For the prelude, I performed a variety of classical and popular music, including Air on the G String by Bach, What a Wonderful World by Weiss/Thiele, and Prelude in C by Bach. I performed Isn't She Lovely by Stevie Wonder for the seating of the mothers, How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) by Holland/Dozier/Holland for the entrance of the bridal party, and Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton for the entrance of the bride. For the recessional, I performed Ain't No Mountain High Enough by Ashford/Simpson. I had so much fun working with Jackie and Andrew! They wanted a popular music program that matched the fun, festive, and elegant atmosphere of their wedding. The music selections were absolutely perfect for their beautiful garden ceremony, complete with hand fans, multicolored wedding programs, and flower print bridesmaid dresses! Congratulations again to this gorgeous couple on their beautiful August wedding!

Pamela & Anthony

Congratulations to Pamela and Anthony on their marriage! Pamela and Anthony were married on Saturday, July 25 in a beautiful outdoor wedding ceremony at Oak Ridge Bed and Breakfast in Oak Ridge, North Carolina. They were married in front of a stunning white gazebo surrounded by beautiful gardens. For the prelude, I performed a variety of classical selections, including Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring by Bach, First Arabesque by Debussy, and Andante from Violin Sonata No.2 by Bach. I performed The Nightingale by Henson-Conant for the seating of the mothers, Sheep May Safely Graze by Bach for the entrance of the bridal party and Canon in D by Pachelbel for the entrance of the bride. During the ceremony, I performed The Prayer by Sager/Foster for the lighting of the unity candle. For the recessional, Pamela and Anthony wanted something completely different to get their guests energized for the reception. Pamela and Anthony had one of their groomsman (whom happened to be deejay) set up a laptop and sound system next to the harp before the ceremony. My job (for the recessional) was to press the "play" button at the appropriate exit time. Their friend had set up a mix of 1, 2, 3, 4 by The Plain White T's. It was so much fun and absolutely adorable! If you haven't heard this song it has the sweetest lyrics. It was completely perfect for Pamela and Anthony! Afterwards, I played a short postlude on the harp as guests proceeded to the reception under a beautiful white tent. I had so much fun being a part of Pamela and Anthony's beautiful outdoor wedding ceremony (and of course playing deejay)! Congratulations again to this beautiful couple on their gorgeous July wedding!

Carma & Lonnie

Congratulations to Carma and Lonnie on their marriage! Carma and Lonnie were married on Friday, July 17 in a beautiful outdoor wedding ceremony at Grayln International Conference Center in Winston-Salem, which is managed by Wake Forest University. They were married in the beautiful courtyard of the manor house built in the fabulous 1920’s. For the prelude, I performed a variety of classical and popular music, including Air on the G String, Over the Rainbow, and At Last. I performed Wonderful World by Weiss/Thiele for the seating of the mothers, From this Moment On by Twain/Lange for the entrance of the bridal party, and Ribbon in the Sky by Stevie Wonder for the entrance of the bride. During the ceremony, I performed The Prayer by Sager/Foster for the lighting of the unity candle and Ave Maria by Bach/Gounod for communion. For the recessional, I performed Marvin Gaye’s How Sweet It Is (To be Loved by You) by Holland/Doizer/Holland. I was absolutely delighted with Carma's request to perform Ribbon in the Sky for her entrance. When I met with Carma back in June to discuss music for her wedding ceremony, she told me that her fiancé (now husband) had a dream that she was walking down the aisle to Ribbon in the Sky. Since there wasn't a harp arrangement available to purchase, I had a lot of fun transcribing a piano arrangement of this piece to the harp. It turned out absolutely perfect! I was had so much fun being part of Carma and Lonnie’s beautiful outdoor wedding ceremony! Congratulations again to this gorgeous couple on their beautiful July wedding!

Sarah Beth & Matthew

Congratulations to Sarah Beth and Matthew on their marriage! Sarah Beth and Matthew were married on Sunday, June 28, 2009 at Wyche Pavillion at Larkin’s on the River in downtown Greenville, SC. This beautiful brick venue sits along the banks of Reedy River in the old Gower Coach Factory dating back to the Civil War. It was the perfect backdrop for Matthew and Sarah Beth’s beautiful outdoor wedding ceremony. For the prelude, I performed alongside the Mulfinger String Quartet based in Greenville. I performed a variety of solo harp selections for the prelude, including You Raise Me Up, The Prayer, and Psalms 19. The bride’s brother, Stephen Spainhour sang Shubert’s Ave Maria for the conclusion of the prelude. The string quartet and I accompanied this talented vocalist whom is a former member of the American Boys Choir. The string quartet performed Sheep May Safely Graze by Bach for the seating of the mothers and Air from Water Music by Handel for the entrance of the bridal party. I performed Canon in D by Pachelbel with the string quartet for the entrance of the bride. After the sermon, Stephen sang Every Valley Shall Be Exalted by Handel accompanied by the string quartet. For the recessional, the string quartet performed Rondeau by Mouret and Allegro by Mozart. It was an absolutely beautiful wedding ceremony and I was so honored to work with an exceptionally talented group of musicians! I also performed during the wedding reception for the cocktail hour and pre-dinner music. The wedding reception was held at Devereaux’s located across the street from the Westin Poinsett in downtown Greenville. This restaurant is housed in a century-old cigar factory! I had so much fun being part of this gorgeous wedding ceremony and reception! Congratulations again to this gorgeous couple on their beautiful June wedding and I hope you had a wonderful honeymoon in Italy!

Donna & Jerry

Congratulations to Jerry and Donna on their marriage! Jerry and Donna were married on Saturday, June 27, 2009 at Woodmill Winery in Vale. The wedding was held on the back deck of the main building overlooking the beautiful rolling countryside. It was a perfect backdrop for their intimate outdoor wedding ceremony. For the prelude, I performed a variety of classical and popular music. I performed First Arabesque by Debussy for the seating of the mothers and grandmothers, Trumpet Voluntary by Purcell for the entrance of the bridal party, and Canon in D by Pachelbel for the entrance of the bride. During the sand ceremony, I performed The Prayer by Sager/Foster. For the recessional, I performed All You Need is Love by McCartney/Lennon. This fun recessional was a special request by the bride. She heard this piece performed on the “Beatles for Harp” CD which is Beatles music transcribed and performed by Jim Palmer. I e-mailed Jim Palmer and was able to purchase the exact music that was played on the CD to perform at Jerry and Donna’s wedding. It was a definite hit amongst the guests! I had so much fun being a part of this beautiful wedding (and performing Beatles tunes)! Congratulations again to this beautiful couple on their gorgeous June wedding!

Chris & Rebecca

Congratulations to Chris and Rebecca on their marriage! Chris and Rebecca were married on Saturday, June 20 at Martha’s Chapel Christian Church in Apex. They were married in the beautiful sanctuary of this historic church built in 1804. The sanctuary was filled to capacity with over 100 friends and family gathered to celebrate Chris and Rebecca’s wedding day. This intimate wedding ceremony was officiated by The Reverend Bob Brinson of Apex. I performed a variety of musical selections for the prelude, including The Prayer, Sheep May Safely Graze, and Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring. I performed Wonderful World by Weiss/Thiele for the seating of the mothers; Canon in D by Pachelbel for the entrance of the bridal party; and Bridal March from Loghenrin by Wagner for the entrance of the bride. I performed You Raise Me Up by Lovland/Graham for the lighting of the unity candle and Ode to Joy by Beethoven for the recessional. I had so much fun being a part of this beautiful wedding ceremony! Congratulations again to this gorgeous couple on their beautiful June wedding!

Greaton & Jessica

Congratulations to Greaton and Jessica on their marriage! Greaton and Jessica were married on Saturday, June 13 at the Gassaway Mansion in Greenville, South Carolina. It was a perfect day and a beautiful wedding ceremony! They were married in an outdoor wedding ceremony on the front steps of the mansion surrounded by over 100 friends and family! Jessica has been my friend since our freshman year at Converse College. She started dating Greaton during our sophomore year. They are truly a beautiful couple and I was not surprised in the least when Greaton proposed to Jessica last year. I was honored to be asked to provide music for their wedding ceremony. Since Jessica and I were planning weddings around the same time (two weeks apart) we have had so much fun sharing ideas and stories about the adventures of wedding planning!


Jessica and Greaton with the bridesmaids (and harpist) at the rehearsal dinner at Stax's Pepper Mill in Greenville

I performed a variety of classical and popular music during the prelude. I performed Sheep May Safely Graze by Bach for the seating of the mothers and grandmothers, You Raise Me Up by Lovland/Graham for the entrance of the bridal party, and Air on the G String by Bach for the entrance of the bride. I performed Marvin Gaye’s How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) by Holland/Doizer/Holland for the recessional. This was a special request from the bride and groom. I had never heard this song played on the harp and there was no harp arrangement published, so I purchased the piano music and transcribed it to the harp. I was so excited with the finished product, a fun, energetic, and slightly jazzy arrangement of this 1960’s Motown hit! It was definitely a hit amongst the bridal party and wedding guests! I had so much fun being a part of Jessica and Greaton’s beautiful wedding! Congratulations again to this gorgeous couple (and my dear friends) on their beautiful June wedding and enjoy your honeymoon in Mexico!

James & Rebecca

Congratulations to James and Rebecca on their marriage! James and Rebecca were married on Saturday, June 6 in the beautiful sanctuary at Lakeview Baptist Church in Hickory. I performed a variety of classical and religious music selections for the prelude. I performed When Peace, Live a River by Bliss for the seating of the mothers and grandmothers; Canon in D by Pachelbel for the entrance of the bridal party, Trumpet Voluntary for the entrance of the bride; and Wedding March from A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Mendelssohn for the recessional. Also, the beautiful hymn Surely the Presence by Wolfe was performed by vocalists, Laura and Joel Harris during the ceremony. James and Rebecca chose to do something truly unique during their ceremony. After the exchange of rings they chose to seal their vows with a salt covenant. This is a wedding tradition in James’ family and I was happy to be introduced to this symbolic covenant! I had so much fun working with Rebecca and James and enjoyed being a part of their wedding celebration! Congratulations again to this beautiful couple on their gorgeous June wedding!

The Big Day

I just wanted to share with everyone the news that I married the ever so handsome, Tim Ludtke on Saturday, May 30, 2009 at Rock Barn Country Club in Conover! We were married outside on the back patio under a beautiful white tent. I have played the harp at weddings since the age of fifteen and it was definitely a surreal experience celebrating my own wedding day. I would like to share with you the musicians and musical selections I choose for my own wedding. For the wedding ceremony, I selected Les Amis “The Friends” Ensemble from Hickory to perform. The members of this string quartet are all talented high school students. The members include Savannah Sowers, Violin (my talented cousin); Haley Huckabee, Violin; Ashley Knapp, Viola; and Flynn Bolick, Cello. They performed prelude music, Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel for the entrance of the bridal party, Prelude from Te Deum by Marc-Antoine Charpentier for the entrance of the bride, and Arrival of the Queen of Sheba by George Frideric Handel for the recessional. They are an exceptionally gifted group of young musicians and did an absolutely fantastic job!



For the seating of the mothers, two of my friends from my student days at Converse College’s Petrie School of Music, Kristin Williams and Katherine Woodward, performed an accapella vocal duet of Dome Epais (also known as The Flower Duet) from Lakme by Leo Delibes. Kristin is a graduate of the Boston Conservatory of Music with a Master’s degree in vocal performance. Katherine is a second year graduate student at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore pursuing a Master’s degree in vocal performance. They are both incredibly talented vocalists and I was honored to have them perform at the wedding ceremony!



There was also a musical interlude during the wedding ceremony. My husband and I met in England on May 30, 2005. He was there studying the British healthcare system and I was on tour with the Petrie School of Music. On the tour, I accompanied the chamber choir on Dirait-On from Les Chansons des Roses by Morten Lauridsen. I choose to perform this piece during the wedding ceremony. Following the sermon, I accompanied Kristin and Katherine on the harp to this beautiful French piece. I felt that it was the perfect representation of that fateful trip to England.



We have such an incredible wedding celebration and worked with an amazing group of individuals that helped us create a perfect wedding day! I will post some of our wedding vendors contact information soon in hopes that it might help you create your own perfect celebration!

Gerald & Kelli

Congratulations to Gerald and Kelli on their marriage! Gerald and Kelli were married on Saturday, May 2 at the Hampton Roads Convention Center in Hampton, Virginia. They were married in an elegant ballroom filled to capacity with their family and friends! I performed a variety of classical and popular music selections for the prelude, including Prelude in C, Can’t Help Falling in Love, and Wonderful World. I performed Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring by Bach for the seating of the mothers; Canon in D by Pachelbel for the entrance of the bridal party; Bridal March from Loghenrin by Wagner for the entrance of the bride; and Wedding March from A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Mendelssohn for the recessional. I had so much fun performing at this beautiful afternoon wedding ceremony! Congratulations again to this beautiful couple on their gorgeous May wedding!

Holiday Inn Express

On Thursday, April 30, I performed at the Holiday Inn Express in Mount Holly for their 10th anniversary celebration! This Holiday Inn Express ranks #1 in the Charlotte Metro area. There were over 150 people in attendance to honor the staff and supporters of the hotel. There were dignitaries and local celebrities present, including the Mayor of Mount Holly, Robert Whitt; Miss Mount Holly, Lauren Workman; and Mount Holly’s Outstanding Teen, Tiffany Payne. During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Tiffany performed a beautiful rendition of the national anthem. I wish her and Lauren the best of luck at the Miss North Carolina and North Carolina’s Outstanding Teen pageant this summer. During the reception, I performed a variety of classical and popular music, including Clair de Lune, Wonderful Tonight, and At Last. I had so much fun performing at this event and chatting with the guests about the harp! It was truly a fabulous event and I wish the Holiday Inn Express many more years of success!

Mark & Ashley

Congratulations to Mark and Ashley on their marriage! Mark and Ashley were married on Saturday, April 25 in the beautiful courtyard at Revolution Mill Studios in Greensboro, North Carolina. It was a gorgeous day and a beautiful wedding ceremony! For the prelude, I performed a variety of classical and popular music, including Spring from The Four Seasons by Vivaldi, Sheep May Safely Graze by Bach, and The Prayer by Sager/Foster. I performed Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring by Bach for the seating for the mothers, Psalm 19 by Marcello for the entrance of the bridal party, and Canon in D by Pachelbel for the entrance of the bride. I also performed Over the Rainbow by Arlen/Harburg for special music after the invocation and before the exchange of vows. For the recessional, I performed Wedding March from A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Mendelssohn. The wedding ceremony was coordinated by Lee Kirkman, also known as “The Wedding Guy.” He was absolutely delightful to work with! I had so much fun being a part of this gorgeous outdoor wedding. Mark and Ashley were so much fun to work with! Congratulations again to this gorgeous couple on their beautiful April wedding!

Christian & Nicole

Congratulations to Christian and Nicole on their marriage! Christian and Nicole were married on Saturday, April 4 at Hilltop Free Will Baptist Church in Fuquay Varina. I have known Christian’s mother, Beth, and his sister, Lindsay, for several years and was delighted to be asked to provide music for Christian and Nicole’s elegant reception following their afternoon wedding ceremony. The reception was held in the church fellowship hall and decorated in the couple’s wedding colors (pink and green). I performed a variety of music on the harp, including Wonderful World, Can’t Help Falling in Love, The Way You Look Tonight, and At Last to set the joyful, romantic mood of the event! I had so much fun performing at this elegant reception, and admiring the gorgeous details of the decor, from the table decorations to the candy bar to the gorgeous cake! Congratulations again to this beautiful couple on their gorgeous April wedding!

David & Emilie

Congratulations to David and Emilie on their marriage! David and Emilie were married on Saturday, March 21 at St. Stephen’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hickory, North Carolina. This was the same church where Emilie’s mother and grandmother were married. The theme for David and Emilie’s wedding was “Carolina Blue.” This was exceptionally fitting as David and Emilie are both graduates of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. For the wedding prelude, I performed a variety of classical and religious selections, including Air on the G String, Meditation from “Thais,” and Amazing Grace. I played Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring by Bach for the seating of the mothers and grandmothers and Sheep May Safely Graze by Bach for the entrance of the bridal party. I also performed The Prayer by Sager/Foster for the lighting of the unity candle. The organist, Sue Anne Adams, performed Canon in D by Pachelbel for the entrance of the bride and Entrance of the Queen of Sheba by Handel for the recessional. I had so much fun being a part of this gorgeous wedding! Emilie was so much fun to work with and gave me some great ideas for my own wedding coming up this May! Congratulations again to this beautiful couple on their gorgeous “Carolina Blue” wedding and enjoy your honeymoon in St. Lucia!

William & Vicki

Congratulations to William and Vicki on their marriage! William and Vicki were married on Saturday, March 7 at the beautiful Grandover Resort in Greensboro, North Carolina. They were married in the elegant Grandview ballroom which was filled to capacity with their family and friends! I performed a variety of classical and popular selections during the prelude, including Canon in D, The Prayer, and You Raise Me Up. I performed The Lord's Prayer by Malotte after the exchange of rings. After the ceremony, I performed for the cocktail hour which was set up outside of the ballroom in an elegant foyer overlooking the golf course. I had so much fun being a part of this elegant wedding! Congratulations again to this beautiful couple on their March wedding!

February!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Valentine’s Day! I had a wonderful Valentine’s Day weekend, performing at a fundraiser, anniversary party, dinner party, and church service! On Friday, February 13, I performed at the American Heart Association Fundraiser at Carlyle & Co. Jewelers in Greensboro. This event was held at their new store on Battleground/Cornwallis. The new store is beautiful! It features a bar in the back for entertaining, which is near where I set up for the performance. The catering was provided by The Painted Plate in Greensboro, and guests enjoyed drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and the chance to win a beautiful David Yurman bracelet. I had so much fun performing at this event and browsing the beautiful jewelry displays!

On February 14, I performed at the Golden Anniversary Party of Don and Noreen in the Fellowship Hall of Mount Tabor United Methodist Church in Madison. They were married on February 13, 1959. I had so much fun performing at this special event, and talking with guests about the harp. It was truly a beautiful celebration, and I wish Don and Noreen many more happy years together! After the party, I traveled to the Cardinal Golf & Country Club in Greensboro to perform at their Valentine’s Day Dinner. The guests enjoyed a fabulous candlelight dinner in their ballroom. The manger of the club is also a Converse College alumna. She was a vocal performance major in the Petrie School of Music, and I had fun talking with her about our student days at Converse. I had so much fun being a part of these special Valentine’s events and had a WONDERFUL Valentine’s Day!

On Sunday, February 15, I performed at the 8:00am and 10:30am services at Mount Pisgah Lutheran Church in Hickory. I performed for the prelude, special music, offertory, communion, and led the children’s sermon. I am always delighted when Pastor Mike asks me to lead the children’s sermon. This Sunday, I talked to the children about talents and using our talents (whether is be singing, dancing, drawing, playing games, etc) to help other people and shared the biblical story of David soothing King Saul’s headaches with harp music. I then gave the children an opportunity to play the harp like David. I let each of them strum on the harp, which delighted the children and congregation! During the service, I performed with vocalist, Meredith Presley. I have had the opportunity to accompany Meredith on several occasions, and I am always delighted to able to perform with her!

Also, I wanted to share with you a performance engagement that I had in January that I have yet to write about. On Tuesday, January 13, I performed for the Art Club at Thornton Elementary School in Newton. The group consists of 4, 5, and 6 graders that love the visual and performing arts. I was so excited to have the opportunity to teach the students about the harp. I performed several songs for them, talked about the harp, and led a rhythm game to demonstrate that rhythm creates music. I had so much fun facilitating this program for them! The students were so excited, attentive, and asked excellent questions! I’d like to thank Lana Lineberger for inviting me to be their special guest artist!

I hope that you enjoyed this update. I'm looking forward to performing at many more exciting events planned in the upcoming months!

Happy New Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! My final performance of the holiday season was on Sunday, December 28. I held a Holiday Concert at the Spirit Place at Abernethy Laurels in Newton. This year, I invited some of my talented family members to participate. I was joined by Anne Wepner, Soprano; John Wepner, Piano; Iva Wepner, Harp; Savannah Sowers, Violin; Mary Catherine Sowers, Violin; and Amanda Barringer, Piano. We performed solo and ensemble music, including performances of Winter Wonderland, Silver Bells and O Holy Night. We concluded our program with a sing-a-long of Christmas favorites, including Joy to the World, O Come All Ye Faithful, and Silent Night. It was a wonderful conclusion to the holiday season!

On Friday, January 2, I performed at my first event of the New Year. I performed at the surprise 40th Anniversary Party of Dean and Sandy at Friendly Avenue Church of Christ in Greensboro. When the surprised couple entered the church they were greeted with cheers from family and friends! There were some guests that had traveled from California and Texas to be part of this special event. I gave the couple a fanfare and launched into playing Wonderful World as they entered the fellowship hall for a fabulous buffet dinner catered by Culinary Visions in Greensboro. I performed a variety of music during dinner, including Can’t Help Falling in Love, Over the Rainbow, and Amazing Grace. After dinner, the guests stood up and shared their fondest memories of Dean and Sandy. There was laughter, tears, and lots of hugs and kisses. I had so much fun being part of this special event, and wish Dean and Sandy many more happy years together!