UK South & South East
Business Focus. Harpist, Helen Radice.
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BUSINESS CATEGORY
Harpist
Helen Radice
Helen Radice is a postgraduate harpist at the Royal College of Music, where she studies with Ieuan Jones.
- Her most recent competition successes are the Thames Valley Young Musicians' Platform 2000, where she won the audience vote, and was selected for further promotion by the judges, and the Oxford Music festival, where she was placed in the 'outstanding' class.
- Helen enjoys orchestral work as much as solo appearances, for example with the Northern Junior Philharmonic, the London Junior Philharmonic and the Durham Sinfonia. Concerto appearances include those by Mozart and Handel. She is also an active chamber musician, particularly in a flute and harp duo with Catherine Goodman.
- She frequently participates in access and education projects, performing in nursing homes, hospitals and schools. Helen is a highly experienced player at all types of functions, weddings, corporate entertainment, etc. She offers classical, light classical and popular selections, tailored to suit the client.
- Requests can usually be accommodated with advance warning, and where possible on spec!
Wedding Music
Wedding music naturally is carefully tailored to the couple's individual wishes. Much classical harp repertoire is highly suitable, for example. Hymns can also be discussed in advance.
Helen is a highly experienced player at all types of functions, weddings, corporate entertainment, etc. She offers classical, light classical and popular selections, tailored to suit the client. Requests can usually be accommodated with advance warning, and where possible on spec!
Advice and help on planning. . . . . .
If music be the food of love…Helen says...." Music plays a crucial part in the vibrant celebration that is a great wedding. Music has always been integral to weddings, from the bride's processional to dancing at the reception. Along with the type of ceremony, venue, décor and reception, it distils the ideas and atmosphere that you want to put across most at your wedding."
"Like all of the above, the choice is endless, and, again as with everything else, it needs to be just right on the big day. I play the harp at weddings up and down the country. It's an unusual instrument as instruments go, but is much loved for weddings. I think this is because it's quintessentially romantic, with a beautiful, ethereal sound and elegant looks. The music that suits it best is equally good for weddings, from soft cascades of notes to triumphantly ringing chords. It also reads the same music as a piano, which means that arrangements of favourite songs, hymns, pop tunes and so forth work well. Again like a piano, it can accompany - I have a harp and flute duo, but it's quite easy to arrange other combinations of instruments too. A harp is neither so soft that you can't hear it nor intrusively loud."
"The harp is surprisingly practical for such a romantic instrument, too. It can go where a piano or larger ensemble might not fit, and copes with all aspects of a ceremony from a traditional processional, to songs chosen by the couple, to background music at the reception. And, of course, its very rarity adds a special focus to an important day. I spend quite a lot of time, when it's wanted, giving fascinated children and adults demonstrations after my set has finished! "
"When a couple contacts me to say they are interested in having a harpist, the first thing to establish is the date. Book your musicians early - I was entirely booked for September by the end of January. If the musician is booked, ask for their recommendations. We always have a lot of phone numbers we can pass on! The next thing I find out is what sort of music the couple want. This sounds obvious, but particularly with something unusual like the harp, people can't be expected to know the many pieces that sound absolutely wonderful at weddings. Quite often couples come to see me to hear for themselves, or I play things down the 'phone. Sometimes people just want to sort the music out quickly and leave the choice of works up to me, which is fine, but I think it is often worth taking time to discuss it in more detail, because of the great possibilities that you would not have known before. Discussion also avoids confusion - so if you want Latin Jazz, you don't end up booking a Big Band, for example. À propos of being clear over what style of music is going to be played, I think it's also worth considering appearances too. I check with the couple if they have a particular colour scheme (so I don't clash!), if they want or don't want me to wear black, etc. If you have strong views on dress, let the musicians know about them, although any musician should turn up smartly dressed as a matter of course."
"Once you decide to go ahead with a booking, the paperwork needs to be sorted out. Different types of music will have their own requirements and you need to get them all clear and in writing well in advance of your wedding day. I send out a contract and an invoice, and ask for a deposit to secure the date. It's worth knowing that if you tell a musician verbally that you definitely want to book them (as opposed to asking for a quote), that is as legally binding as signing a contract is, to allow for the few days it will take to get the contract in the post. Make sure everything you want is on the contract. I put: date, timings, address of venue/s, type of music to be played, fee, travel costs, and playing conditions. For harpists, these conditions usually include the provision of a parking space, assistance if the harp is to be moved up stairs, a short break every hour (or we get backache) and the point that whether or not the harp can be played outside has to rest with the harpist on the day. It is a good idea to have considered all the practicalities by the time of booking, so they can go in the contract. Take a look at the space you've designated for music. Get a realistic idea of how much space the musicians will take up - it's hard to get even a harp into a space much smaller than about two square metres. There needs to be somewhere where covers, bags, and so on can be stored, too. Make sure any sockets or special requirements the musicians may have can be accommodated. "
"Unless it's the middle of summer it is usually much easier to put musicians inside. Rain damages the instrument, music gets blown away, and even if your player is prepared to perform from memory the sound gets eaten up too! The last thing you want to be doing on your wedding day is to have to sort out new places for the music to go because the garden party got rained off. If all the details are worked out in advance, all you have to do is enjoy the music. "
"And finally…where to find the musicians in the first place? There are a lot of excellent agencies and individual websites on the internet ( like mine! www.helenradice.co.uk ). Alternatively, look in the yellow pages, in wedding magazines, ring up local music colleges and ask if your venue knows anyone. Ask any musicians you may know. Wedding fairs are often a good chance to hear the real thing. At the end of the day, ask as many questions as you need to, especially if you like the idea of something a bit unusual, but don't as yet know so much about it. The musicians want to achieve the perfect style as much as you, and the more information we have, the easier that is."
Congratulations and good luck!
Helen can be contacted on........ Tel:- 0794 155 9048
Or, 020 8341 9436 , email:-helen@helenradice.co.uk , web site:-www.helenradice.co.uk
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