Your Surrey Wedding - April/May 2022 (Issue 94)

64 MEET HARPIST MARK LEVIN hello@weddingharpistmark.com www.weddingharpistmark.com I’m a harpist with more than 14 years of experience playing a 29 string Celtic harp. Live credits range from St James’ Palace and The Dorchester to solo sets at Glastonbury and Latitude Festivals, as well as a Made In Chelsea celebrity wedding. I specialise in a contemporary style, arranging pop, rock and soul classics from the present day going back to the 50s and 60s. My sets are like a DJ set on the harp with the music mixing in and out of everything from Bob Marley, Michael Jackson and The Beatles to Kings Of Leon, Ed Sheeran and Adele. I’m happy to learn requests for your ceremony, and I can send video clips of my arrangements. I’ve played at weddings held in churches, hotels, castles, hip London clubs, as well as festival-style weddings in muddy fields. One thing that I’ve learnt is that no two weddings are ever the same. However you plan to have your day, I will do what I can to make it special with a personal performance for you. In one weekend in 2022, I'll be playing a Disney-themed wedding for a couple one day, followed by a ballroom-themed wedding the next day for a bride and groom who found each other in their 70s. The most unique wedding I ever played at was a church ceremony where the only guests attending were the couple, the vicar, myself and their pet dog who walked with the bride down the aisle. I stood as a witness as well as their harpist. During lockdown 2020, when live music was suspended, I came up with the idea of ‘Live On Your Drive’, which saw me perform surprise pop up harp concerts at the end of people’s driveways (all outdoor and at a safe social distance) to help people celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions. This ended up taking off across Surrey and was picked up by the BBC and local press. Throughout lockdown, I played at more than 100 concerts and I still get enquiries about this now. As well as weddings and events, I also lead music sessions in children’s hospital wards during the week, performing live harp concerts for patients, families and NHS staff. I’m a resident harpist at Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital. I’m proud of this part of my work as I love that the music can help alleviate some stress and create a happy memory for people during a tough time in their lives. MEET PAUL HOLGATE FROM SUGARTOWN & SO SINATRA www.sugartown.co.uk and www.sosinatra.com Here at Sugartown & So Sinatra, we have celebrated 20 years of providing top-class entertainment for weddings and events. It’s been a fantastic journey, working with fellow professionals at some of the best wedding venues in Surrey, the UK and abroad. We’re a husband and wife team. I’m the performer with my So Sinatra and DJ shows, whilst my wife, Lucy, books the acts and takes care of all the contracts and travel requirements. Working on events has been the perfect way to meet other professionals and build a portfolio of go-to acts that we can offer to our Sugartown agency clients. Sugartown can offer professional bands and DJs that will fill a dancefloor, surprise dinner performers that will transform a simple meal into a lifetime memorable event, atmospheric harpists, background acts and roaming acts from magicians to fire eaters. Sugartown has done it all and we’re keen to share our experience and knowledge with couples planning their weddings. Why not give us a call or email to discuss your plans and find out how So Sinatra & Sugartown can add the wow factor to your big day?

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