What are some things couples planning their weddings need to think about in terms of music?

There are a lot of options out there for your special day from DJs to full blown ensembles. What you need to think about in planning music for your ceremony, cocktail hour and reception are the following:

• You have to consider what mood you want for each aspect of my wedding event.
• During your wedding ceremony the harp is a traditional instrument choice. It creates an elegant ambiance that sets your ceremony apart from others that play recorded music. You can also have the harp paired with other instruments as well depending on your budget.
• Some couples also like to have a harp during their cocktail hour and/or reception, so decide what kind of ambiance you’d like to create.
• You also need to keep your budget in perspective, but simultaneously make sure that your event is of the quality you and your guests expect. This is a once in a lifetime event, so you have to find a balance between budget and quality. Look for musicians that can work with you and develop a plan around your budget and needs. I offer discounts to nonprofit organizations, and to couples after the first hour as well.
• It’s also important to book your music performance well in advance. Wedding performances get much more difficult to book during summer months and holidays all through out the year.
• Another thing you want to ensure is the quality of the musician you are hiring. In addition to being able to verify a musician’s professionalism and reliability, you need to make sure their music is up to par. Ask for samples, either via DVD or CD, or on their website. You can hear example tracks that I can play for your wedding on my website (http://gisellepedraza.com/music/).

What makes you a better harpist to choose than other local harpists and musicians?

In addition to pricing my services more competitively than other local harpists (of which there are very few), I have a good deal of experience and education that set me apart. I am a professional musician with international performing and teaching experience. I have a Master of Arts degree in music education and harp.

I have also previously recorded with Grammy winning producer Danny Blume as part of a trio I formerly played in. I am a certified (k-12) music teacher in the state of Pennsylvania and served as professor of aural skills, teaching popular guitar at the National Center of Artistic Learning (an arts college) in Havana City, Cuba. I am familiar with many of the local wedding venues and catering facilities and work hard to make your harp performance a special one. I am also fluently bilingual in English and Spanish and am comfortable working with diverse groups of clients.

Who are some of your previous clients? And what do they have to say about your harp performances?

I have performed for many couples and many corporate and institutional clients as well. One of the most recent weddings I performed at was for a client in South Sterling, PA. She was very pleased with her harp performance and sent me the following thank you note: