Yesterday was a very special day for two people who I have known for quite some years now: Luke Clayton and Liv (Olivia) Riseley.
Despite my "busy" schedule (stop laughing), I do still find the time now and then to be an events pianist, and so I was delighted to be asked to play for the wedding breakfast at Colshaw Hall, Over Peover.
So, up I showed - armed with my trusty digital piano and speaker and an iPad loaded with a score playlist of pop songs including 'A Thousand Years', 'Can't Help Falling in Love', 'My Girl' and 'I'm Yours' and - of course - songs from the musicals, such as 'For Forever', 'All I Ask of You', 'Helpless' (Hamilton is a very interesting score to piano-fy!), 'Shallow' and 'As Long As You're Mine' (it's an important month to be a Wicked fan!)
The latter category of songs from the shows was especially important for the happy couple, given that they met during the rehearsals for the Macclesfield Majestic Theatre Group's 2016 pantomime 'Aladdin' - of which I was musical director (in fact, it was here I met Liv. I had already known Luke for a few years by that point!)
So, it mustn't come as a shock to you to know that the two of them are enormously talented when it comes to singing, dancing and acting!
Therefore, it didn't come as much of a shock to me when Luke asked if I could accompany a 'spontaneous' performance of him singing 'Amazed' by Lonestar. We had previously rehearsed it, of course, but despite his self confessed nerves (enormously understandable) he gave one of the most perfect performances of his life! It was truly an honour to be the accompanist here, and it isn't just because I already knew Luke that I agreed to this: I always like to go the extra mile for people when playing at an event for them, whether that be playing a special song at a certain point or - as in this case - accompanying.
Huge congratulations to Luke and Liv and thank you for allowing me to be part of your special day!
If you need inspiration as to whether or not you would like to book me as your own wedding pianist, try the video below of me playing 'Perfect' by Ed Sheeran:
Jack Mitchell Smith is a piano teacher based in Congleton, Cheshire. Click here to find out more.
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