Violist
Gillian Townsend
(5.0)Read all 8 reviews
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wedding proposal 20th september 2024
Lord of all Hopefulness
good feeling
About Gillian
I have been teaching and freelancing for around 36 years, playing for orchestras, quartets and ensembles.
LTCL; ALCM; Post Grad Dip NCOS
3 of 25 photos
Violist
Kent
Public liability insurance of £10 million
Gillian
6 verified reviews
Satisfaction
Professionalism
Communication
Punctuality
Gillian's Reviews
From Encore customers:
JR
Jenna R
2 years ago
Reply from Gillian
2 years ago
SS
Sue S
2 years ago
Reply from Gillian
2 years ago
From other customers:
BS
Ben S
15 days ago, for a Wedding proposal in Station Rd
SA
Stan A
2 years ago, for a Funeral / Memorial service in Hawkhurst
Encore badges
Saved the day!
Booked for an Encore gig with less than 24 hours’ notice
8th Anniversary
This act has been working with Encore for over 8 years
Encore expert
Demonstrated expertise by completing the Encore Academy
Member of the Encore community forum
Gillian's Song list
An example of a playlist for a Wedding Drinks Reception:
Paradise
Somewhere only we know
It must be love
All of me
A thousand years
Photograph
Can't help falling in love with you
I'm Yours
Rather be
This will be an everlasting love
Senorita
Michael Jackson medley
Palladio
Star ships
Get a good feeling
Bitter sweet symphony
Hey Soul Sister
Shape of you
Chasing Cars
I say a little prayer for you
Happy
Memories
Stop this flame
Havanna
Dance Monkey
LOVE
Blinding lights
Best part of HER
Bridge over troubled water
Moves like Jagger
Bad habits
Perfect
Mamma Mia
The Greatest Showman medley
Light Classical:
Allegretto (Haydn)
Air on the G string (Bach)
Arioso (Bach)
Air (Handel)
Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod)
Ave Maria (Schubert)
Canon in D (Pachelbel)
Chanson de Matin (Elgar)
Jupiter (from The Planets) (Holst)
Adagio (Khachaturian)
Serenade (Cassado)
La Cinquantaine (Gabriel-Marie)
Largo (Dvorak)
Largo (Vivaldi)
Meditation (Massenet)
Nessun Dorma (Puccini)
Prelude from Te Deum (Charpentier)
Oh! Mio Babbino Caro (Puccini)
Jesu Joy of Mans desiring (Bach)
Pavane (Faure)
Rondeau (Mouret)
Rondeau (Purcell)
Trumpet Tune (Purcell)
Trumpet Voluntary (Clarke)
Palladio (Jenkyns)
Musical Theatre:
All I ask of you (Phantom)
I could have danced all night (My Fair Lady)
Cheek to Cheek (Top Hat)
For Me and My Gal (Me and My Gal)
Over the Rainbow (The Wizard of Oz)
To Life (Fiddler on the Roof)
Somewhere out there (An American Tail)
Sunrise Sunset (Fiddler on the Roof)
Sabbath Prayer (Fiddler on the Roof)
If I were a rich man (Fiddler on the Roof)
Bring him home (Les Miserables)
Medley from The Greatest Showman
The Hills are Alive (Sound of Music)
Chim Chiminee (Mary Poppins)
Ashokan Farewell (Ungar)
Can you feel the love tonight (The Lion King)
Popular:
All of me (John Legend)
Can't help falling in love (Elvis Presley)
Chasing Cars (Snow Patrol)
Eleanor Rigby (Beetles)
Halo (Beyonce)
The greatest day (Take That)
Titanium (Guetta)
The Prayer (Sager and Foster)
Hey Soul Sister (Monahan)
Get a good feeling (Flo Rider)
Bad Habits (Ed Sheeran)
Michael Jackson Medley (arr Stirling)
Paradise (Coldplay)
Aint no sunshine (Withers)
Come on Eileen (Dexys Midnight Runners)
This will be an everlasting love (Natalie Cole)
I'm yours (Jason Mraz)
She (Elvis Costello)
Bittersweet symphony (Verve)
Senorita (Cabello and Mendez)
Happy (Ferrell Williams)
I say a little prayer for you (Aretha Franklin)
It must be love (Madness)
You are the reason (Calum Scott)
Perfect (Ed Sheeran)
Photograph (Ed Sheeran)
Shape of you (Ed Sheeran)
Somewhere only we know (Lily Allen)
Starships (Nicki Minaj)
Moves like Jagger (Maroon 5)
Bridge over troubled water (Simon and Garfunkle)
Best Part H.E.R
L-O-V-E (Nat King Cole)
Blinding Lights (The WeekNd)
Dance Monkey (Tones and I)
Stop this flame (Celeste)
Mamma Mia (Abba)
Beautiful (Linda Perry)
Reach for the stars (S Club 7)
The Tide is High (Holt, Barrett, Evans, Padley and Godfrey)
What can I do (The Corrs)
In My Life (Beetles)
A Time for us (Love theme)
We've only just begun (Carpenters)
Folk/Jazz:
Highland Cathedral
Danny Boy (Irish Air)
Misty (Garner)
The girl from Ipanema (Jobim)
One note samba (Jobim)
Autumn leaves (Kosma)
Minor Swing (Reinhardt)
Cossack Dance (Kraemer)
Take Five (Desmond)
Drowsy Maggie (Irish Reel)
Tam Lin (Celtic)
Suerte Negra (Argentinian Tango)
Swing in Minor (Hot Club Tune)
Rose Room (Hickman)
Take Five (Desmond)
Libertango (Piazzolla)
Hymns:
Amazing Grace
Ten Thousand Reasons (Matt Redman)
Oh Happy Day (Hughes)
Sing Hosanna (Trad)
Still (Hillsong)
Lord of the Dance (Carter)
Nearer my God to Thee (Lowell Mason)
Strength will rise (Everlasting God)
Sacred Songs:
A Clare Benediction (Rutter)
Lord of all hopefulness (Irish arr Bullard)
The Lord bless you and keep you (Rutter)
Gillian's Prices
Last updated: 2024
Note: prices may vary based on travel distance. For an exact quote, click “Check availability”.
Standard Prices
Performance duration | Price | |
Short performance (up to 15 min) | £260 | |
Up to 1 hour | £325 | |
Up to 2 hours | £375 | |
Up to 3 hours | £500 |
Packages
Wedding ceremony
This includes music before the service begins, music during the signing of the register, and music as guests leave.
£287.50
Wedding Ceremony and Drinks Reception
This includes music before the service begins, music during the signing of the register, and music as guests leave.
One hour of music for the drinks reception.
£312.50
Customer questions
What do your clients love most about your performances?
My clients love most about my performances is firstly that I tailor make my songs to suit their special occasion, and secondly they are wowed by electric violin.
Which venues have you performed at in the past?
In orchestras I have played at :
The Royal Albert Hall, Henry Wood Hall, BBC Maida Vale, St John Smith Square, Purcell Room (South Bank Centre), Brompton Oratory, Bloomsbury Theatre, De La Warr Pavilion, Winter Gardens (Eastbourne), Sheldonian Theatre (Oxford)
Which artists have you been most influenced by?
Many.
What is the most high profile gig you've performed?
Played in an orchestra for Her Majesty the Queen.
Played in an orchestra appearing on The One Show.
Do you have different line-up options?
My line up is as follows:
Electric violin.
I also can offer violin or viola.
What if my timings change after I've booked you?
I will always try to be flexible to help ensure your event runs as smoothly as possible.
If the timings change slightly in the run up to the event just let me know.
How much time do you need to set up?
I usually allow up to one hour before the performance time. As soon as my PA is set up I can provide a short free playlist before the live performance if required.
Can I pick the pieces you play from the set list?
Yes of course.
Do you bring all the equipment you need to perform?
Yes, I bring my electric violin, computer and amp.
Can you learn specific pieces before the event?
If a song isn't included in my song list there may be a chance I already know it. If there is a special song you'd like me to arrange and learn I am happy to do that for you.
Musicianship
Genres:
Classical, Christmas, Contemporary Christian, Traditional church music, Baroque, Classical crossover, Contemporary classical, Film / TV music, Musical theatre, Opera, Early music, 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, Traditional English folk, Traditional Irish folk, Traditional Scottish folk, Gypsy jazz, Easy listening, Light music, Acoustic, Covers, Argentinian, French music, German music, Italian music, Russian music, Electro-Swing, Pop rock
See all genres
Event types:
Wedding, Wedding proposal, Funeral / Memorial service, Church service, Hotel / Restaurant event, Private event, Corporate event, Charity event, Recording session, Theatre / Show, Cruise, Birthday party, Christmas party
See all event types
Other skills:
Instrumental teaching, Theory teaching, Singing teaching, Examiner, Songwriter
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