Washington DC Wedding Guitarist Andrew - Q &A

Andrew performs weekly in Washington DC for Classical Guitar Ceremonies Inc. Andrew answers a few questions

What is your favorite piece for a wedding ceremony?

It changes depending on the clients - my favorite thing is knowing that the music added a meaningful element for the couple and guests.

When did you start playing guitar?

1996

Why is classical guitar a good choice for weddings ceremonies?

The intimate and warm sound of the guitar helps people to feel at home in a beautiful new space, and the guitar is an effective vehicle for many different musical styles

Do you have any favorite NON classical artists?

I love American folk music - Paul Simon, Anais Mitchell, Fleet Foxes… I also enjoy my local scene in Richmond VA which is diverse and vibrant.

Are there any classical guitar selections you would like to perform more often at events.

Ave Maria by Schubert has a timeless beauty and humble reverence that always gives the perfect touch to processionals

Classical Guitar is a soft instrument, is that an issue for events with larger crowds?

Never — I have multiple amplification systems of different sizes and several that I can run on a small mobile generator. It’s simply part of doing the job well.

What is a planning element that clients frequently overlook for outdoor weddings?

Outdoors with crowds more than 15-25 people, adding a wireless lapel mic for your officiant will allow everyone to hear the ceremony. Another big detail is knowing approximately how long the processions and recessionals are - how many bridesmaids and how many seconds or minutes it will take for the wedding party to do their procession. This helps us customize your musical arrangements. I’ve adjusted the length and form of pieces many times without this info and been successful, but the results are better when I know how much time I should play in advance.

Are you able to perofrm other styles of music other then traditional classical guitar music? 

Yes. I played in Rock bands for years, done Latin and Jazz gigs, co-produced hip hop sessions … it’s all good!

Is there anything else you want to mention?

Thanks for giving me the chance to share the beauty of my favorite instrument on one of the most important days of your life. I won’t let you down!