Connie Wollenhaupt, Harpist - Bradford Athey, Violinist

Connie Wollenhaupt
310 Circle dr
Fort Scott, Ks.
66701

Connie Wollenhaupt
1-913-708-2971

15

About 80%

No, I do not attend rehearsals unless prior arrangements have been made for an additional fee. It is not necessary for professional musicians to attend rehearsals as we 'fit' each song to match the length of time it takes for the wedding party to walk down the aisle.

Yes and if a violin accompanist is requested, Brad Athey will be performing also.

I play a Grand Concert Harp called a "VENUS Harp". This harp has been hand-crafted by the W&W Musical Instrument Company.

• Classical
• Romantic
• Contemporary
• Gospel
• Love Songs
• Folk Music
• Traditional Celtic Tunes
• Broadway Tunes
• Holiday Music
• Jazz

A wedding is $350 for the harp and $150 to add the violin. The cost for the harp only for the wedding reception is $200 for the first hour and $100 per hour after that. There is a discount of $100 given to the brides who book both the wedding and the reception. There is a two hour minimum if booking the harp for the reception only or for any event other than a wedding.

Playing any harp solos during the wedding ceremony is included in the cost of the wedding.

You may book a flute and/or violin with the harp for an additional cost of $150 each. You do not have to book the duet/trio at the time of the initial booking of the harp, however, I recommend that you call me to book them at least two weeks before the wedding. The sooner, the better!

The cost of a duet for the wedding reception is dependent upon the length of the reception and whether the wedding has been booked also. There is a discount given to those who book the wedding and the reception.

I dress in formal attire, usually in black.

I carry my own insurance on my harp.

My microphone is permanently attached to the inside of my soundboard and can either be plugged into my own sound system or into the sound system of the church or building.

This is a very good question, because without amplification harp music can easily become lost when only a few guests are talking during the prelude or at receptions. It is frustrating to only "see" a harpist, but to be unable to hear them. I have seen this happen when a harpist does not have or use a sound system Which is why I almost always use my sound system.

My sound system is a Fostex speaker with an equalizer that I control. My speaker is small and non-intrusive, but, will fill a large cathedral or church with a full, rich harp sound and will project a long way in outdoor ceremonies. For instance, at Longview Mansion when I play ceremonies down by the fountain, the brides are happy that they are able to hear my prelude music inside the mansion as they get ready.

If the reception is one or two hours then I don't need to take a break. If the reception is longer than two hours then I take a 10 minute break every hour beginning at the second hour. How long are they? 10 minutes each. If there is to be a speech or other talking during the reception, I will take my break at that time.

My Angel Song CD may be played during the break or you may do what we musicians call 'clearing the air' and not play any music during that time which allows your guests to more fully appreciate the live music.

A 50% nonrefundable deposit is due upon booking with the remaining balance due at the event. The balance needs to be paid before I begin playing the prelude music. It is too difficult to try to find the person responsible for paying after the ceremony is over and the wedding party is out of the area. Paying your vendors is a job that should be relegated to either your Wedding coordinator or the best man.

The deposit is nonrefundable and the balance is due in full if the event is canceled one week before the event. Any outdoor event will be considered to be canceled (even if the wedding proceeds) with payment due in full if steps have not been taken by the bride/groom to protect the harp from ANY moisture either from the ground or falling in the form of rain, mist or dripping onto the harp from any overhang. A piece of plastic covering wet ground will not work as the harp will start sinking and will not be able to stay upright. A piece of plywood board approx. 4X4 feet usually works well to protect the harp from wet grass and will keep it from sinking into soggy ground. A covering of some sort needs to be provided to protect the harp and harpist in the event of rain, mist or even a light sprinkling.

Remember this concert grand harp took almost a year for the master wood craftsmen to hand carve and like any concert grand harp, costs tens of thousands of dollars. To put this whole 'raining during the ceremony' scenario into proper prospective, I have played over 500 weddings and special events, many of them in outdoor venues, and only ONCE did it ever rain during the actual ceremony. In that case, we simply moved the harp and wedding indoors and the ceremony proceeded. If the event has to be canceled because of inclement weather which makes traveling treacherous, then the deposit is still nonrefundable, but, the remaining balance will not be due.

In the over 500 weddings and other numerous events that I have played, I have only had to cancel twice. Once was due to a severe ice storm and the highways were closed (the event planners eventually decided to get some common sense and canceled the event) and the other was due to a death in my family. In the latter case the deposit was refunded to the bride.