Mary Chester - Harpist

This harpist studied the harp and celtic harp at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama with Sanchia Pielou, a founder member and principal harpist with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra for fifty years and regarded as the 'doyen' of the harp in Scotland. After winning the subject prize for harp and earning a glowing report in the Governors' Recital Competition, she graduated in 1984 with a BA in Music Performance.

After highly acclaimed performances of Mozart's Concerto for flute and harp, A Ceremony of Carols, (Britten's solo harp and choral work), and programmes of Opera with the RSAMD's drama department, she went on to perform Ravel's Introduction and Allegro for harp, flute, clarinet and string quartet. This was immediately followed by an invitation from Scottish Ballet to join the orchestra as principal harpist in 1985.

She has enjoyed playing her harp for guests, from such prestigious venues as Gleneagles Hotel in Scotland to the Hilton in Hong Kong, and is now very much in demand as harpist for weddings, corporate events, private parties and other celebrations.

This harpist can also be booked as a Bollywood Harpist for Asian weddings

Please appreciate that she doesn't play her harp outdoors, so an outdoor ceremony wouldn't work for her. However, for your drinks reception she could sit just inside open patio doors and use her amplifier, depending on the layout of the venue.

View similar acts:

Mary Chester - Harpist Repertoire

Weddings and Civil Partnerships

  • Bach - Arioso
  • Bach - Air on the G String
  • Bach - Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
  • Beatles - I Will
  • Beethoven - Ode to Joy
  • Charpentier - Prelude (Te Deum Laudamus)
  • Franck - Panis Angelicus
  • Handel - March from Scipio
  • Handel - Air from The Water Music
  • Handel - Hornpipe from The Water Music
  • Handel - The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
  • MacKay - Highland Wedding
  • Henry Mancini - Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet
  • Mendelssohn - Wedding March from A Midsummer Night's Dream
  • Pachelbel - Canon in D
  • Purcell - Trumpet Tune
  • Purcell - Trumpet Voluntary
  • Schubert - Ave Maria
  • Stanley - Trumpet Voluntary
  • Wagner - Wedding March (Here Comes the Bride)

Christenings and Naming Ceremonies

  • Brahms - Lullaby
  • Debussy - Maid with the Flaxen Hair
  • Franck - Panis Angelicus
  • Heyman/Young - When I Fall in Love
  • John Lennon - Beautiful Boy
  • Myers - Cavatina (She was Oh, So, Beautiful)
  • Williams - Theme from Harry Potter

Funerals

  • Albert Hay Malotte - The Lord's Prayer
  • Bach - Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
  • Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On from The Titanic
  • Delmas - Priere
  • Dvorak - Largo (Going Home) from The New World Symphony
  • Franck - Panis Angelicus
  • Handel - Theme and Variations
  • Hasselmans - Serenade Melancolique
  • Henry Francis Lyte - Abide With Me
  • Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven
  • John Newton - Amazing Grace
  • Pachelbel - Canon in D
  • Rodgers & Hammerstein - You'll Never Walk Alone (from Carousel)
  • Schmidt - Try to Remember
  • Schubert - Ave Maria
  • Sibelius - Be Still My Soul from Finlandia
  • Sondheim - Send in the Clowns
  • Webster/Brodszky - I'll Walk With God
  • Westlife - Flying Without Wings

Classical Music

  • Beethoven - Fur Elise
  • R. Binge - Elizabethan Serenade
  • Chopin - Moderato from Fantasie-Impromptu
  • Chopin - Nocturne
  • Clarke/Purcell - Trumpet Voluntary
  • Debussy - Arabesque
  • Debussy - Clair de Lune
  • Debussy - Maid with the Flaxen Hair
  • Elgar - Salut d'Amour
  • Giordani - Caro Mio Ben
  • Glinka - Nocturne
  • Handel - The Harmonious Blacksmith
  • Handel - Theme and Variations
  • Handel - Air and Hornpipe from The Water Music
  • Hasselmans - Serenade Melancolique
  • Hasselmans - Trois Petites Bluettes
  • Hasselmans - Trois Petites Pieces
  • Liszt - Liebestraum
  • Mozart - Romance from Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
  • Naderman - Selection of Pieces
  • Parry - Sonata in D
  • Renie - Three Pieces
  • J. Strauss - The Blue Danube Waltz
  • Vivaldi - Allegretto (Spring) from The Four Seasons
  • Vivaldi - Largo (Winter) from The Four Seasons

Opera Favourites

  • Bizet - Habenera from Carmen
  • Delibes - Flower Duet
  • Lehar - Waltz from the Merry Widow
  • Lehar - Vilja from the Merry Widow
  • Massenet - Meditation from Thais
  • Offenbach - Barcarolle from The Tales of Hoffman
  • Puccini - Nessun Dorma (from Turandot)
  • Puccini - O Mio Babbino Caro from Gianni Schicchi
  • Puccini - Musetta's Waltz from La Boheme

Popular

  • Aerosmith - I Don't Want to Miss a Thing
  • Bryan Adams - Everything I Do
  • Bryan Adams - Heaven
  • Harold Arlen - Somewhere over the Rainbow
  • Burt Bacharach - I Say a Little Prayer
  • Burt Bacharach - This Guy's in Love With You
  • Beatles - I Will
  • A.Bilk - Stranger on the Shore
  • David Bowie - China Girl
  • Michael Buble - Everything
  • Michael Buble - Wonderful Tonight
  • Eva Cassidy - Songbird
  • K-Ci & JoJo - All My Life
  • S.Ciani - Andalusian Dream
  • Coldplay - Clocks
  • Nat King Cole - When I Fall in Love
  • Elvis Costello - She
  • Des'ree - Kissing You (from Romeo and Juliet)
  • Celine Dion - Immortality
  • Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On from The Titanic
  • Dix - What Child is This (Greensleeves)
  • Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers - Islands in the Stream
  • Dylan/Adele - Make You Feel My Love
  • Gershwin - The Man I Love
  • Gershwin - Summertime
  • Gilbert & Sullivan - Frederick's Aria (from the Pirates of Penzance)
  • Gilbert & Sullivan - Tit Willow (from the Mikado)
  • Marvin Hamlish - Theme from Ice Castles
  • P.Hanseroth - The Story
  • George Harrison Here Comes the Sun
  • J.Horner - For the Love of a Princess (from Braveheart)
  • Irving Berlin - Always
  • Michael Jackson - Got to be There
  • Michael Jackson - The Lady in my Life
  • Elton John - Your Song
  • Norah Jones - Come Away with Me
  • Kahn - It Had to be You
  • Kamen - Theme from Band of Brothers
  • Kings of Leon - Use Somebody
  • Lai - Theme from Love Story
  • Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven
  • Mancini - Moon River from Breakfast at Tiffany's
  • Mancini - Love Theme From Romeo and Juliet
  • Myers - Cavatina from the Deer Hunter
  • A. North - Unchained Melody
  • M. Nyman - The Heart Asks Pleasure First (from The Piano)
  • Cole Porter - I Get a Kick out of You
  • Cole Porter - Night and Day
  • Elvis Presley - Can't Help Falling in Love
  • Rodgers and Hammerstein - Edelweiss (from The Sound of Music)
  • Rodgers and Hammerstein - I Could Have Danced All Night (from The King and I)
  • Rodgers and Hammerstein - You'll Never Walk Alone (from Carousel)
  • S. Romberg - Serenade from The Student Prince
  • Rota - Love Theme from the Godfather
  • Rota - Love Said Goodbye from the Godfather part 2
  • Satie - Gymnopedie No. 1
  • Savage Garden - I Knew I Loved You
  • Simon and Garfunkel - Scarborough Fair
  • Schmidt - Try to Remember
  • Sondheim - Send in the Clowns
  • Sting - Fields of Gold
  • Take That - Rule the World
  • Shania Twain - From This Moment On
  • Van Morrison - Have I told you Lately
  • N. Westlake - When You Taught me How to Dance (from Miss Potter)
  • Webber - All I Ask of You from Phantom of the Opera
  • Webber - Music of the Night from Phantom of the Opera
  • Webber - Think of Me from Phantom of the Opera
  • Westlife - Flying Without Wings
  • John Williams - Theme from Harry Potter
  • Robbie Williams - Angels
  • Robbie Williams - She's the One
  • Wilson - 'til There Was You
  • Stevie Wonder - Isn't She Lovely

Traditional Music

Scottish

  • Iain of Glen Cuaich
  • The Eight Men of Miodart
  • The Royal Lament
  • Tay Mouth
  • Ballachulish Glen
  • Strathspey and Reel
  • Princess Augusta
  • General Monroe's Lamentation
  • The Marquis of Tullibardine
  • The East Neuk of Fife
  • The Earl of Lauderdale
  • Teviot Bridge
  • My Home (Mo Dhachaidh)
  • Blind Mary
  • Ben Dorain
  • Kitty Tyrell
  • The Cockle Gatherer
  • The Mingulay Boat Song
  • Lady Sutherland's Reel
  • Auld Lang Syne
  • The Corn Riggs are Bonny
  • My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose
  • The Misty Island (Eilean a'Cheo)

Irish

  • Fields of Athenry
  • Donald
  • Strathspey Jig and Reel Lament for Owen Roe
  • The Londonderry Air (Danny Boy)
  • The Little and the Great Mountain
  • Caitlin Triall
  • Planxty Irwin
  • Heman Dubh
  • The Minstrel Boy
  • Mrs Maxwell
  • The Rose of Tralee

Welsh

  • Megan's Daughter
  • All Through the Night
  • The Minstrel's Farewell to his Native Land
  • Lady Owen's Delight
  • Watching the Wheat
  • The Men of Harlech
  • David of the White Rock
  • The Ash Grove

Bollywood

  • Medley of Hai Guzarish / Khuda Jaane / Singh is Kinng
  • Tu Hi Meri Shab Hai (You Are My Night, My Dawn)
  • Chand Sitare Phool Aur Khushboo (Moon, Stars, Flowers and Fragrance)
  • Tere Bina Jiya Jaaye Na (I Can't Live Without You)
  • Chadni O Meri Chadni (My Moonlight)
  • Tumko Hi Chahenge Hum (Only Pine For You)
  • Chalo Tumko Lekar Chale (Come, Let Me Take You Away)
  • Ek Ladki Ko Dekha (I Saw A Girl)
  • Mere Mehboob Mere Sanam (My Beloved, My Darling)
  • Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna (Keep Your Henna Applied)
  • Main Hoon Khushrang Henna (I am the Colourful Henna)
  • Tere Liye from Veer Zara
  • Ringa Ringa
  • Tum Aa Gaye Ho Noor Aa Gaya Hai (Your Arrival has Brought with it the Light)
  • Raat Ki Hatheli Par (On the Palm of the Night, Moon Glitters)
  • Kaho Naa...Pyaar Hai (Say it's Love)
  • Hey Shona from Ta Ra Rum Pum

Christmas

  • Away in a Manger
  • Deck the Halls
  • Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
  • Jingle Bells
  • Oh, Christmas Tree
  • Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
  • Silent Night
  • We Wish You a Merry Christmas
  • White Christmas

Mary Chester - Harpist Feedback

“Just like to say that the guests at the wedding thought you were amazing and very professional, as did we. It was a lovely touch to the wedding and it added to the ambiance of the drinks reception. The whole experience from booking you to your performance on the day was top class. We can't tell you how pleased we were to have a harpist at the wedding and pleased we picked someone as talented as you. Thank you once again. ”

Elaine Bingham, Weston Hall Hotel, Wedding (August 2018)

“We are so happy that we chose you to play at our wedding. It sounded completely magical and really added a sparkle to our wedding day. Mary was so friendly and professional and a pleasure to have at the wedding. All the guests commented on how beautiful the music was. Thank you so much! ”

Amy MacDermott & Toby, Stratton Court Barn, Oxfordshire, Civil Ceremony & Drinks Reception (September, 2017)

“Our guests absolutely loved Mary! The only regret we have is that we didn't book her for longer! Mary was helpful, professional and totally put mind at ease! I would highly recommend booking Meredith for any event. Thank you Mary for being a part of our most special day!! ”

Bianca Lindgren-Phillips & Matthew, Brockencote Hall, Worcestershire, Wedding Drinks Reception (August, 2017)

“Mary we cannot thank you enough for entertaining us so beautifully at our ladies night. We have had so many lovely comments from the evening telling us how nice it was to be able to listening to your music before and during the meal. The music you played suited the event so well and I truly believe it made our event extra special. We cannot thank you enough and really hope that for future events we will be able to book you again. Thank you Mary from all of us. ”

Emma & Scott McGann, Moseley Masonic Hall, Birmingham, Masonic Ladies Night (September, 2017)

“I would like to confirm how wonderful your contribution to the evening was. Just the right choice of music, beautifully played, and it was lovely to meet you. Our friends thoroughly enjoyed your music, especially as some of them were involved in local music-making. I'll certainly spread the word about your lovely performance. Thank you. ”

Victoria Banbury, Woodstock Town Hall, Oxfordshire, Golden Wedding Anniversary & 80th Birthday (September, 2017)

“Great service and communication, our harpist, Mary was amazing and played exactly what we wanted. Thank you so much. ”

Adrian & Lucy, Church of St Michael the Archangel, Somerset, Church Ceremony (September, 2017)

“Thank you so much. Having you there playing, absolutely made it for us. It was so classy and lovely and far better than any CD! The whole day was perfect and we could not have asked for anything more. You were most definitely worth every penny. ”

Rob and Natalie Lees,

“You are already a virtuoso harpist, and I would say that you could develop a virtuoso career ”

Leonard Friedman,

Mary Chester - Harpist Videos