Cellist

Fionnuala Donnelly Schmidt

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About Fionnuala

Cellist living in South Yorkshire, used to playing solo gigs or with quartets/small ensembles. Can play a range of styles.
Cellist
Sheffield
Public liability insurance of £1 million

I am originally a Cellist from Belfast but have been living in Yorkshire for over 20 years now and consider it my home. I have been playing Cello since the age of 8 and currently perform solo at events, as part of a string quartet and as part of the Huddersfield Philharmonic Orchestra.

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Booked for an Encore gig with less than 24 hours’ notice
Member of the Encore community forum
7th Anniversary
This act has been working with Encore for over 7 years
5 gigs
Experienced: 5 bookings through Encore
Musicianship
Genres:
Classical, Jazz, Folk, Pop, Rock, Christmas, Traditional church music, Musical theatre, Contemporary classical, Classical crossover, Traditional English folk, Traditional Irish folk, Acoustic, Covers
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Instruments:
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Event types:
Wedding, Wedding proposal, Funeral / Memorial service, Church service, Hotel / Restaurant event, Bar / Club / Venue event, Private event, Corporate event, Charity event, Recording session, Theatre / Show, Cruise, Birthday party, Christmas party, New Year's Eve
See all event types
Other skills:
Instrumental teaching, Theory teaching
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Fionnuala's Song list

BRIDAL PROCESSIONAL
Canon - Pachelbel
Gabriel’s Oboe - Morricone
Falling Slowly (from the film Once)
Glasgow Love Theme (from Love Actually)
Portuguese Love Theme (from Love Actually)
A Thousand Years - Christina Perri
All Of Me - John Legend
Caribbean Blue - Enya
Only Time - Enya
How Long Will I Love You - Ellie Goulding
Secrets - One Republic
“Intermezzo” (from Cavalleria Rusticana) - Mascagni
Bridal March - Wagner
For The Love of a Princess (from Braveheart)
Now We Are Free (from Gladiator)
She Moved Through The Fair
Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen
Here, There and Everywhere - The Beatles
Hoppipolla - Sigur Ross
HYMNS
All Things Bright And Beautiful
Amazing Grace
As The Deer Pants For The Water
Be Not Afraid
Be Still, For The Presence Of The Lord
Be Thou My Vision
Before the Throne Above
Dear Lord And Father of Mankind
Give Me Oil In My Lamp
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
Here Is Love Vast As The Ocean
How Deep The Father’s Love For Us
I Danced In The Morning (Simple Gifts)
I Want To Walk With Jesus
In Christ Alone My Hope Is Found
Jerusalem
Jesus is Lord, The Cry That Echoes Through Creation
Jesus All For Jesus
Knowing You Jesus
Lead Us Heavenly Father
Lord, The Light Of Your Love Is Shining (Shine Jesus, Shine)
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
Morning Has Broken
O God of Love, To Thee We Bow
O Perfect Love
Praise My Soul, The King Of Heaven
Sing To The Mountains, Sing To the Sea
The King Of Love My Shepherd Is
The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want
There Is a Redeemer
Thine Be The Glory
What A Friend We Have In Jesus
When I Survey The Wondrous Cross
SIGNING OF THE REGISTER:
Songbird - Eva Cassidy
Gabriel’s Oboe - Morricone
We’ve Only Just Begun - The Carpenters
Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen
Over The Rainbow (Eva Cassidy) - Arlan
Fields of Gold - Sting
All I Ask of You (from Phantom of the Opera) - Lloyd-Webber
You Raise Me Up
Let It Go (from Frozen - Kristen Anderson-Lopez
Beautiful Day - U2
Greatest Day - Take That
Now We Are Free (from The Gladiator)
For The Love of A Princess (from Braveheart)
Run - Snow Patrol
Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol
I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing - Aerosmith
Your Song - Elton John
Have I Told You Lately - Van Morrison
Can’t Help Falling In Love - Elvis Presley
The Kiss (from Last Of The Mohicans)
Best Day Of My Life - American Authors
All I Want Is You - U2
Fix You - Coldplay
Halo - Beyonce
Love Story - Taylor Swift
It Must Be Love - Madness
I Will Wait - Mumford and Sons
Marry You - Bruno Mars
Rather Be - Clean Bandit
Next To Me - Emeli Sande
Sky Full Of Stars - Coldplay
Stand By Me - Ben E. King
Starlight - Muse
Tenerife Sea - Ed Sheeran
Thinking Out Loud - Ed Sheeran
Perfect - Ed Sheeran
Viva La Vida - Coldplay
RECESSIONAL
Wedding March - Mendelssohn
Trumpet Voluntary - Jeremiah Clarke
“Spring” (from the Four Seasons) - Vivaldi
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba - Handel
La Rejouissance - Handel
P.M’s Love Theme (from Love Actually) - Craig Armstrong
Book Of Days - Enya
All You Need Is Love - The Beatles
Beautiful Day - U2
Greatest Day - Take That
Best Day Of My Life - American Authors
Starlight - Muse
The Kiss (from Last Of The Mohicans)
(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life - Bill Medley & Jennifer Warner
Let It GO (from Frozen) - Kristen Anderson-Lopez
Build Me Up Buttercup - Michael D’Abo
I Will Wait _ Mumford and Sons
It Must Be Love - Madness
Love Story - Taylor Swift
Marry You - Bruno Mars
Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now - Starship
Rather Be - Clean Bandit
Sky Full Of Stars - Coldplay
Gloria - Vivaldi
One Day Like This - Elbow
Viva La Vida - Coldplay
I Do, I Do, I Do - Abba
Don’t Stop Me Now - Queen
Hornpipe - Handel
Customer questions

Do you have different line-up options?

No, it is just me, however I can be flexible if you would like me to play alongside/with another group e.g Organ / Singers

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

I will book out the day for your wedding, so timing changes will not be a problem.

How much time do you need to set up?

Not long. I need a place where I can store my Cello case (usually reception will have somewhere) and a chair. I take about 15-20 minutes to tune up and check levels if am using a backing track.

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

I am open to suggestions and will try and play your favourite song. I will also try and appeal to the room, so if there are lots of kiddies, I will throw some disney in. If there are more older generations, I will throw some Beatles and jazz numbers in.

Do you bring all the equipment you need to perform?

Yes, all I need is a chair.

Can you learn specific pieces before the event?

Yes, within reason.

What do your clients love most about your performances?

They love the fact that I can source songs that they have requested. They love that I produce a wonderful sound but take up very little space. They like that I am flexible to playing indoors and out.

Which venues have you performed at in the past?

Churches, hotels, private houses.

Which artists have you been most influenced by?

Bach, Beethoven, Jacqueline du Pre, Tchaikovsky,

What is the most high profile gig you've performed?

Garden Party for a very influential person in York,

Fionnuala's Prices

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)£150
Up to 1 hour£250
Up to 2 hours£400
Up to 3 hours£600
Packages
Wedding ceremony
My fixed fee for a ceremony only is £250. This means that no matter how late you are or what ever delays might occur, I will not charge more. I will be present half an hour before the service is due to start and will stay until all the guests have left.
£250
Drinks reception
My fixed fee for the drinks reception again is only £250. Again, I will be present before guests arrive at the venue and will stay until they are called into the Wedding Breakfast.
£250
WeddingCeremony & Drinks Reception
If you would like to have me play for both ceremony and drinks reception, then my package deal is £450. I play solo cello but would use a backing track for more popular/modern pieces
£450
NEW!Virtual services
Personalised Music Message
Book me to create a unique music video for you to send to a friend as a gift. This could be a birthday message, first dance song for a wedding anniversary, or just your friend's favourite song to cheer them up.
£15
Fionnuala
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5 out of 5
6 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

Fionnuala's Reviews

From Encore customers:

MO
Michelle O
1 year ago
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5 out of 5

Just beautiful, made our day so much more special, she was amazing! Thankyou x

SC
Steve C
1 year ago
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5 out of 5

We’re so happy we booked Fionnuala for our wedding! As an experienced cellist, she knew which musical arrangements would work on the day — we were grateful for her advice and flexibility. We would definitely recommend. Thanks!

R
Rima
2 years ago
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5 out of 5

Fantastic performance during our reception, beautiful, so many guests commented on it . Would highly recommend

From other customers:

LH
Lucy H
4 years ago, for a Wedding in Millhouse Green
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5 out of 5

We were thrilled to be able to have a local quartet play at our wedding. The Fern Quartet had a great selection of music to choose from and Fionnuala was so helpful in sourcing the extra pieces we wanted. The service itself was absolutely beautiful and I loved walking down the aisle to such a wonderful sound. The musicians were absolute professionals. Fionnuala was so helpful in the run up to the wedding. She regularly communicated with me and sent examples of what the music would sound like. When I struggled to imagine the hymns she even sent me a recording of her singing them- amazing! All in all she reassured me during my worried bride moments. Thank you so much- we can't wait to frame the sheet music and it will always be a special memory for us." Lucy and Matt

GP
Gillian P
4 years ago, for a Wedding in Crathorne Hall
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5 out of 5

The Fern Quartet played for my sons wedding and they were just amazing and perfect for the occasion. We definitely recommend

Read all 5 reviews