Ceilidh caller

Anita MacDonald

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(5.0)Read all 11 reviews
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About Anita MacDonald

Funny Scottish person, DBS checked, insured with PAT tested gear. Singer, pianist, ceilidh caller, trio/duo member, choir MD, theatre MD.
Ceilidh caller
Uxbridge
Public liability insurance of £10 million

Hi I'm Anita and I'd love to make your event as memorable as I can, for all the right reasons!. I offer: 1. Classical/jazz/pop singing & piano for functions. I am fortunate to be able to play and sing opera and light classical styles for corporate events and weddings, black tie events and grand openings. I have sung and played piano in huge venues over the years : Albert Hall, Usher Hall, various stadia, National TV, radio etc and even appeared in a Hollywood film as an A lister pianist. 2. I also sing and play jazz, on my own or as part of a big band, so those of you looking for background singer/pianist may wish to click on my jazz reel. 3. I do ceilidhs too; being Scottish I can call Ceilidh dances with backing tracks, or provide a band for larger events, with me calling and playing keyboards. We do have much fun! 4. As part of a duo or trio I play background music with a violinist, cellist or other instrumentalist. I am so lucky to have professional orchestral players as part of the team. 5. I can provide choirs for special occasions and events. 6. I am the MD of a theatre company so can sight read easily for private hires and rehearsals We provide various wedding packages, eg I can sing or play for the Ceremony, background for the meal and then a ceilidh later, once you've digested your food! I have an enhanced DBS check, fully insured and PAT tested (well the electrics are ;-) Own Transport, PA, External generator for outdoor events. Travel, instruments, planning meetings on Meteor video, lists of repertoire are all included. We also provide customised arrangements if there is anything else you'd like, just let me know!

Anita MacDonald
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5 out of 5
11 verified reviews
Satisfaction
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5.0
Professionalism
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5.0
Communication
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5.0
Punctuality
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5.0

Anita MacDonald's Reviews

From Encore customers:

ER
Emily R
23 days ago
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5 out of 5

Anita was FANTASTIC and gave us a wonderful evening. We all enjoyed a good variety of dances and there were smiles on every face for the whole night. Couldn't have asked for a better evening!

Reply from Anita MacDonald
23 days ago

Aww thanks so much Emily, a really fun night! x

MR
Mrs R
4 months ago
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5 out of 5

Anita was an amazing ceilidh caller!! We had such a blast! And managing all my family and friends in the 1 hour, is no easy task but Anita did such an incredible job! Thank you for everything Anita!! ♥️

Reply from Anita MacDonald
4 months ago

Aww thank-you, it was a really lovely day, with everyone participating!

MM
Mike M
6 months ago
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5 out of 5

Great Professional Caller

Reply from Anita MacDonald
6 months ago

Thank-you Mike, hope to see you soon! Anita

NT
Natasha T
1 year ago
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5 out of 5

Everyone had a wonderful time and were even improved dancers by the end. Anita went above and beyond to make the day special.

Reply from Anita MacDonald
1 year ago

Thanks so much for inviting me, a lovely evening. Best regards Anita

Read all 5 reviews

From other customers:

AC
Amy C
2 months ago, for a Wedding in Chelsea
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5 out of 5

Thank-you so much for yesterday's ceilidh, we all had such a brilliant time! Best wishes, Amy.

SA
Susanna A
4 months ago, for a Birthday party in Essex
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5 out of 5

Hi Anita, just wanted to say a huge thankyou for last Saturday. H had the most amazing party. Everyone commented on how good you were and really enjoyed the dancing. We have spent the week watching lots of videos of the evening. Love Susanna.

Read all 6 reviews
Encore badges
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10 gigs
Experienced: 10 bookings through Encore
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Booked for an Encore gig with less than 24 hours’ notice
2nd Anniversary
This act has been working with Encore for over 2 years
Member of the Encore community forum

Anita MacDonald's Song list

If it isn't on the list, just request it! I can download anything and learn it with a few hours notice, so this is just an example list below. If you are looking for Ceilidh dances, please scroll to the end of this list, or look at my ceilidh band listing, as this is my soloist profile.
I play: classical, MT (musical theatre), blues, jazz, folk, ceilidh, pop, film, disney, old party time, palm court, as a soloist or as part of a trio/duo/quartet/choir/ceilidh band
Almost Like Being In Love - Musical Theatre piano solo
A Change in Me- voice & piano
A Million Dreams. - Film voice & piano
A Nightingale Sang. - 1940s voice & piano
A Part Of That -Musical Theatre voice & piano
A Whole New World - Disney voice & piano
A Woman's Worth - Pop piano
A Thousand Years. - pop voice or piano solo
Absolute Beginners - pop piano
Alfie - film voice & piano
All I ask Of You - Musical Theatre voice & piano
All Of Me - pop piano
Always Starting over - Musical Theatre voice & piano
An Die Nachtigall - Classical voice & piano
Angel Eyes - jazz piano
Any Dream Will Do- Musical Theatre voice & piano
As If We never Said Goodbye- Musical Theatre voice & piano
As Long As He Needs Me- Musical Theate voice & piano
Ascot Gavotte - piano trio
At The End Of The Day - Musical Theatre voice/choir/piano
Auld Lang Syne- any combo of instruments/ceilidh/nye
Autumn Leaves- background piano
Ave Maria - voice & piano or violin & piano
Baby Its Cold Outside- voice and piano
Bach Air on a G String- violin and piano duo
Back To Black- piano
Bal Masque- piano trio
Ballade Pour Adeline - piano solo
Ballet Music- piano
Barcarolle- piano trio
Begin the Beguine- piano
Bella's Lullaby - piano solo background
Berceuse- piano trio
Berlin. Song - piano solo background
Best of Bond - piano or choir/piano
Big Spender - voice & piano
Bizet Minuet - piano trio
Blue Christmas - voice and piano
Brahms Intermezzo - piano duo or trio
Burn - MT voice & piano
Can you Feel The Love Tonight- piano background
Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man- voice & piano
Canon in D- violin/piano
Chanson Triste - violin/piano
Chasing Pavements- piano
Christmas Waltz- violin/piano
Close To You - piano
Comptine D'Un Autre Ete- piano
Consider Yourself- voice/choir/piano
Crazy In Love- piano
Cristofori's Dream- piano
Crystallize- piano
Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy- violin piano duo/trio
Dancing With The Devil
Dancing Queen- voice & piano
Debussy - Arabesque/ Clair De Lune- Classical piano
Defying Gravity- Wicked voice & piano
Dietro Casa- piano
Disney Dazzle- choir/piano
Dmitri Shostakovish Waltz- piano trio
Dont Let the Sun Go Down On Me- piano
Dont Know Why- voice & piano
East At Glendart - ceilidh
Easy On Me- Adele- voice & piano
Empire State Of Mind- pop voice & piano
Everything I know - MT voice & piano
Fallin' - Alicia Keys
Falling- Harry Styles - pop
Fascination- 1940s
Fearless- Taylor Swift
Feel Pretty - classical voice & piano
Feeling Good- voice & piano
Feodora- violin & piano
Fly Me To The Moon - Buble version /other version
Fly Fly Away- Catch Me If you Can- film voice & piano
For All We Know- Carpenters - pop
For Your Eyes Only- James Bond - film
Forrest Gump-film theme - piano
Frank Bridge- Miniatures for piano, violin and cello
From Now On- Greatest Showman- piano
Galway Girl- Irish Folk
Game of Thrones- film- piano
Georgia on my mind - Blues voice & piano
Get Me to The Church- Wedding- piano or band
Girl On Fire- Alicia keys- piano
Give Peace A Chance- Beatles
Glasgow- Theme from Love Actually- Film, piano
Gloria in D Major- choir
Golden- Harry Styles -piano
Good Morning Baltimore- Musical theatre
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road- Elton John
Granda- Spanish
Halo- Beyonce- pop
Hang Your Lights- Jamie Cullum, jazz
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
He Was Beautiful
Heaven Is A Place On Earth- Belinda Carlisle
Hello Again- Neil Diamond
Here I am- Musical theatre
Hey Jude
Hit the Road jack
Holding Out for a Hero- Bonnie Tyler
Holly Jolly Christmas
Hopelessly Devoted To You- Grease
Hotel California
How are Things? -1940s
How Could I ever know- Musical theatre
Humoresque
Hungarian Dance
Hymn For The Weekend- Coldplay
I Could Be Happy With You- The Boyfriend
I Could Have Danced All Night
I Dreamed a Dream- Musical Theatre
I Drink Wine- Adele
I Have Nothing- Whitney Houston
I Heard It Through The Grapevine
I Say A Little Prayer For You
I Wanna be Like You
I Want It That Way
I Will Always Love You
I Wont Dance
I Have A Dream
I'd Give My Life For You
I'm Gonna Be a Country Girl Again
I'm Gonna Wash That Man
If the World Turned Upside DownIf I Ain't Got You
If I Were A Boy- Beyonce
Il Postino- film
Imagine- John Lennon
Interstellar
Into The Unknown- Frozen
Irish Blessing
Islands In The Stream
It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas
It's Only a Paper Moon
Its Not Unusual- Tom Jones
James Bond Theme- film
Jaws
Jealous Of The Angels
Jealousy
Jessica's Theme
Jesus Loves Me- Whitney Houston -piano
Jurassic Park- Film background piano
Just Can't Get Enough
Just The Way You Are- background piano
Just The Two Of Us- background piano
Kashmiri Song- piano duo/trio
Killing Me Softly- piano
Kiss The Rain- piano
Knockin' On Heaven's Door- piano
Lake Erie Rainfall- background
Lara's Theme- piano
Lay All Your Love On me- piano
Lazy
Lean on Me
Levitating
Libertango
Light My Fire
Listen
Lost Cause
Love Of My Life
Love On The Brain
Lovin' You
Lush Life
Mambo Inn
Mamma Mia
March from Dr Finlay
Marie Elena
Marilyn Monroe
Married Life
Maty Poppins - choir or piano solo
Melodies of Life
Melody in F - violin & piano
Memory- piano solo
Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence - piano solo
Metamorphosis 2
Minecraft- gaming theme for piano
Mister Snow - voice & piano
Misty- Ella Fitzgerald - voice & piano
Moonlight Sonata - piano
Mozart pieces (various)- piano background
Mrs Robinson- Simon & Garfunkel- voice & piano
My Favourite Things - voice & piano
My heart and I- voice and piano
My Heart Will Go On - film voice & piano
My Girl - piano background
My Guy
My Turn Now - Voice & piano
Naughty - piano background
Never Enough - piano or voice & piano
Never Gonna Give You Up- piano
Newton's Cradle- piano
No-one -Alicia Keys- piano or voice & piano
Now the Dancing Sunbeams Play - classical voice & piano
Nuvole Bianche- piano film
Ob-La-Di- piano background
Old Shep - TV theme
On The Steps Of The Palace- musical theatre
Once You Lose Your Heart- piano
One Love- piano
One Moment In Time- voice and piano or piano background
One For My Baby - voice and piano
Over The Rainbow- voice & piano
Overpass- Ed Sheeran - piano
Papillons- piano
Paradise- Coldplay -piano
Part Of Your World- Disney voice & piano
Part Time Lover- Stevie Wonder - piano
People Will Say We're In Love - voice & piano
Perhaps, Perhaps, - piano
Piano Man- piano
Pie Jesu- voice & piano or violin & piano
Popular- Wicked - voice & piano or piano
Price Tag- Jessie j- piano
Primavera- Einaudi- piano
Raiders of the Lost Ark- film piano
Red Roses- piano background
Rewrite The Stars- Greatest Showman piano
River Flows In You- piano
Rocket Man- Elton John- piano background
Romance- piano duo
Say you, Say me- Lionel Richie - piano background
Schindler's List- violin & piano
Senorita- piano
Shallow- Lady gaga- voice & piano
Sign of The Times- Harry Styles - piano
Singin In The Rain- voice & piano
Single Ladies- Beyonce - piano
Sixteen Going On Seventeen- voice & piano
Skinny Love- Birdy- piano
Skyfall- Adele -voice & piano
Slipping Through My Fingers- Abba
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
So Far Away- Dire Straits
Someone Like You- Adele
Someone To Watch Over Me- Ella Fitzgerald
Somewhere In Time
Somewhere Thats Green- MT voice & piano
Somewhere Over the Rainbow- voice & piano
Song For Guy- Elton John- piano
Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word- piano
Stand By Me- piano
Star Wars- film - piano/keyboards
Stars and the Moon- Songs For A New World
Step Inside Love
Stop The Rain
Succession theme tune
Superstition
Sweden- Minecraft
Sweet Child O Mine
Sweet Creature- Harry Styles
Sweet Lorraine
Take me Home, Country Roads
Take a Chance On me
Take Five
Take Me To The Church
Tango
Tears In Heaven
Tell Me On A Sunday
Thank-you For The Music- Abba
That Don't Impress Me much- Shania Twain
The Closest Thing To Crazy
The Cradle
The Dark Island- Scottish
The Godfather- film
The John Dunbar theme- film
The Lady Is a Tramp
The Perfect Nanny
The Pink Panther
The Rosary
The Water Diviner
The Girl I Mean To Be
The Sound Of Silence
Theme From Sabrina
Three Times a Lady
Tides
Time Lapse
Time To Say Goodbye
Tiny Dancer
Tomorrow
Tonight
Too Beautiful For Words
Top Of The World
Try A Little Tenderness
Turkey In The Straw
Una Mattina
Underdog
Vivaldi variations
Volare
Wake Me up Before You Go Go
Walk
Watermark
Watermelon Sugar
We've Only Just begun
We'll Keep a Welcome- 1940s voice & piano
Wet hands- gaming- piano background
What I did For Love- voice & piano
What More Do I need
Whatever Lola Wants
When We were young
When I Grow Up
When I was Your Man
Where Did The Rock Go?
White Christmas
Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again
With Joy In My heart
With You
Writings On The Wall- Sam Smith
Ye Banks And Braes O Bonnie Doon
Yesterday Once More- Carpenters
You Are My Sunshine
You Belong To Me
You Learn To Live Without
You Raise me Up
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life
Your Song- Elton John
Zip A Dee Doo Dah
Ceilidh Dances: takes ten minutes to teach steps, then another 10 to dance it, so if you are pushed for time, we can choose large two group dances and three smaller)
GayGordons
Strip the Willow (trad & Orcadian versions)
Virginia Reel
Dashing White Sergeant
St Bernards Waltz
Military Two- Step
Canadian Barn Dance
Paul Jones
Eightsome reel

Anita MacDonald's Prices

Last updated: 2024

Note: prices may vary based on travel distance. For an exact quote, click “Check availability”.

Standard Prices
Performance durationPrice
Short performance (up to 15 min)£125
Up to 1 hour£187.50
Up to 2 hours£312.50
Up to 3 hours£437.50
Packages
Drinks reception
Two performances of up to 45 mins each during your drinks reception
£200
Wedding ceremony + Drinks reception + Dinner
- Music before the service begins, music during the signing of the register, and music as guests leave. - 2 x 45 min performances at the drinks reception. - 2 x 45 min performances as dinner is being served.
£400
WEDDING PACK
I play Classical/requested pieces for your journey up and down the aisle, background music through the meal, then round off the evening with a ceilidh, where I teach you the dances! Saves you the hassle of booking more than one musician! These are really popular so do message me if interested
£500
Customer questions

What if my timings change after I've booked you?

Just message me and I will try to accommodate as much as possible. I am happy to take a break so audiences can be fed, (as long as you include the band!) but if booking ceilidh, remember that they rarely want to do as much dancing afterwards! A 2 hour ceilidh is perfect, as It is very aerobic exercise!

Can you provide an iPod/DJ service before and between your sets?

Yes, I just put a playlist on, in whatever style you'd like. If I am doing a wedding I will do a bespoke list for you, after a telephone or video consultation. Do let me know exactly which artists you'd prefer to hear and which genres.

How much time do you need to set up?

It really depends which service- if it is ceilidh calling, around 30 min to set up PA and soundcheck it. If piano and there is one there, then just ten minutes. I do tend to get there early though, as I like to feel relaxed when we start, and chat to you about any last minute alterations

If I have a piano at my venue, are you happy to perform on that?

Yes, just send me a quick video to check if it is in tune, I wouldn't want to spoil your big day with a honky tonk piano- if in doubt, I will bring one. This becomes more necessary if I am playing with strings, as we need to be in tune with each other.

Can I pick the songs you play from the set list?

Of course, but these are examples, I can play most things, so please feel free to request something special to you. I've been performing for years and so have an extensive collection of pieces and songs, so have tried to identify which genre they are from on my set list (see profile, songlist)

Are you able to bring your own piano or keyboard?

Yes, I have a piano, keyboard, clavinova and/or silent generator for outdoor gigs, or places with no electricity. I have my own PA system and radio mics. I have a larger clavinova for more classical music. Or I have a white grand piano which can be transported in a van with more time, for high-end weddings and functions where you'd like maximum classy shots!

Can you learn song requests before the event?

Yes, easily, usually takes ten minutes, sometimes 20 if tricky, so please just let me know what you'd like. Happy to download it or arrange as required for either piano, voice, fiddle and piano etc I don't charge for learning an additional song, as it will be added to my repertoire.
Musicianship
Genres:
Classical, Christmas, Traditional church music, Contemporary Christian, Military, Baroque, Classical crossover, Contemporary classical, Early music, Fanfare, Opera, Musical theatre, Medieval music, Film / TV music, Renaissance, Electronic, Ambient, 1920s era music, 1930s era music, 1940s era music, 1950s era music, 1960s era music, 1970s era music, 1980s era music, 1990s era music, Folk, Bluegrass, Ceilidh, Country, Folk rock, Irish rock, Traditional Irish folk, Traditional Scottish folk, Traditional English folk, Jazz, Cabaret, Blues, Swing, Gospel, Ragtime, Easy listening, Light music, Originals, Avant garde, Marching, Pop, Acoustic, Covers, Karaoke, Top 40, Tribute, Vintage, R&B, Motown, Funk rock, Disco, Rock, Alternative rock, Britpop, Classic rock, Glam rock, Pop rock, Post rock, Synth rock, Rock 'n' Roll, Progressive rock, World music, Scottish music
See all genres
Instruments:
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Event types:
Wedding, Virtual event, Wedding proposal, Funeral / Memorial service, Church service, Hotel / Restaurant event, Bar / Club / Venue event, Cruise, Theatre / Show, Recording session, Concert, Charity event, Corporate event, Private event, Burns night, Birthday party, Christmas party, New Year's Eve
See all event types
Other skills:
Arranger, Transcription, Songwriter, Musical comedy, Accompanist, Repetiteur, Perfect pitch, Instrumental teaching, Theory teaching, Singing teaching, Examiner, Composition teaching
See all skills