Hire Glenda Allaway | Harpist in London

Q: What do your clients love most about your performances?

I go above and beyond to tailor every performance to each individual client. I've created countless bespoke arrangements for brides to walk down the aisle to and even stayed up all night to learn a last minute request for a funeral wake. From start to finish, my priority is to always keep you and your vision at the centre.

Q: Which venues have you performed at in the past?

- Royal Albert Hall - Royal Festival Hall - Symphony Hall, Birmingham - The Gloriana (The Queen's Rowbarge) - The Ritz - The Savoy - The Lanesborough - Jumeirah Carlton Tower - Live on BBC Radio

Q: Which artists have you been most influenced by?

I love and listen to all types of music - that's what makes me such a versatile harpist. At the moment, I love the creativity of Billie Eilish, as well as chart-toppers Stormzy and Dua Lipa. For more classical inspiration, harpist Marie-Pierre Langlamet and conductor Gustavo Dudamel are favourites!

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

There have been such a variety of performances, it's hard to choose! The first time I performed at the Royal Albert Hall was a big moment. Playing at the Mayfair Awards (with Mark-Francis Vandelli sharing my playing to his Instagram), and serenading the Sheikh of Dubai for afternoon tea on his visits to London are also high up on the list!

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

I completely understand when timings change - just pop me a message as soon as you have accurate timings and I can adjust where possible.

Q: How much time do you need to set up?

I always aim to arrive 60 minutes before performance time to ensure that the harp is in and set up well before guests arrive. If you might need a faster set up time, don't worry - just let me know and I can work with what time you have.

Q: Is the transport of your harp included in your quote?

Yes - transport is included in my quote so no need to worry about any hidden extras.

Q: Do you need any equipment provided to play outdoors?

The harp can be taken outdoors but there are some things that are helpful to have. 1. Flat surface - this can either be the ground itself or a board to make sure the harp is steady. 2. Shelter from the elements - gazebo, bandstand, etc.

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

Yes of course! I recommend that most of my clients pick their top 10-15 songs from my repertoire list and that will help guide me to craft a playlist that suits you best. If you prefer to pick every song, you can, but it's a long task and you probably have 100 more important things to be doing in the lead up to your event!

Q: Can you learn specific pieces before the event?

At nearly every event, I create bespoke arrangements for my clients. It means that the music suits you perfectly and it adds that little special something knowing that music was made just for you. Give me as much notice as possible, but even if it's last minute, I'll do my best to get it in!

Check availability and get a free quote now - no commitment to book

From£350

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I Giorni - Ludovico Einaudi (Harp Cover)

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A Thousand Years - Christina Perri (Harp Cover)

About Glenda

"I have to say having Glenda at our wedding was the best decision we made."

3 of 14 photos

Harpist

London

Public liability insurance of £10 million

Verified profile

Glenda Allaway is an award-winning professional harpist and was honoured to be the most booked harpist on Encore in 2022. She specialises in creating bespoke soundtracks to special events, working with clients to craft a one-of-a-kind experience. Currently harpist for the Royal Enclosure at Royal Ascot, Glenda is regularly booked to perform for VIP luxury events. She’s played at venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, the Ritz, and the Savoy, and has serenaded the late Queen Elizabeth, King Charles, countless senior Royals, and celebrities including Simon Cowell, Stephen Fry and Bill Bailey. Glenda’s gold concert harp brings the wow factor to any setting, and her complementing harp accessories bring an extra level of finesse to enhance the visual aspect of the harp. She’s is happy to coordinate her style to suit your event, be that a ball gown, jeans, or something in between! What sets Glenda apart is her passion for bringing clients’ vision to life. She’ll always say yes to trying out new things on the harp because that’s what adds that one-of-a-kind feeling to your event. Nirvana on the harp? Great! Mashup of Mozart and Ed Sheeran? No problem! Whether you’re looking for an edgy, upbeat set or a paired back classical performance, Glenda is a great choice to bring that wow factor to your special event. *NEW FOR SUMMER 2024: LIVE LOOPING HARP SET* Enquire for more details — Why not check out some reviews below?

Glenda

5 out of 5

64 verified reviews

Satisfaction

5.0

Professionalism

5.0

Communication

5.0

Punctuality

5.0

Glenda's Reviews

5 out of 5

Absolutely incredible experience, only disappointed we have no future events to book her for! All our guests had nothing but praise for her music and it was such a magical touch to our wedding day. She blended in perfectly and the harp was stunning! A huge thank you to Glenda for everything!

Reply from Glenda

11 months ago

Thank you for such a lovely review, Kerry! It was such an honour to be a part of your special day. Best wishes to you and Kieran for the New Year ✨

5 out of 5

The best decision we made was hiring this extraordinary musician!

5 out of 5

It was such a pleasure to have Glenda playing at our wedding! Great communication and couldn't fault anything! Would highly recommend her! Thank you so much for being part of our wedding! <3

5 out of 5

Can't recommend Glenda highly enough. She was friendly, professional and easy to work with, not to mention incredibly talented. Her beautiful playing was the perfect addition to our luxury, corporate event in October, and having her join us was worth every penny. Thank you again!

Read all 44 reviews

5 out of 5

It was such a pleasure booking Glenda for our Wedding. Her performance at our Wedding was absolutely incredible! She delighted our guests with a variety of songs and they were so thrilled and complimented her performance thoroughly. Unfortunately, our ceremony was slightly delayed but Glenda was the utmost professional and ensured our guests were still entertained by playing additional music to fill in the time. Her professionalism, knowledge and patience made the booking process so easy and I highly recommend Glenda for all bookings. You will not be disappointed!

5 out of 5

Wow wow wow. I can’t even put into words how amazing Glenda is. From our first enquiry to choosing our playlist, to checking in and to performing at our forest wedding, Glenda was everything we had hoped for and more. Her playing was faultless and she even learnt one of our favourite songs. We have had so many amazing compliments about Glenda’s harp playing and we will be forever grateful for making our special day so magical. Thank you Glenda.

Read all 25 reviews

Encore badges

Most booked musician of 2022!

Top 10 booked musician of 2023

50 gigs

Veteran: 50 bookings through Encore

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

Member of the Encore community forum

Glenda's Song list

Note: this example list is not exhaustive. Please feel free to request songs not on the list!

Aaja We Maahiya

Adventure of a Lifetime - Coldplay

Africa - Toto

All Is Found from ‘Frozen 2’

All My Life - K-Ci & Jo Jo

All Of Me - John Legend

Amazing Grace - John Newton

Amelie Theme Music - Yann Tiersen

Angel - Katherine Jenkins / Sarah McLachlan

Angel of Mine - Monica

Angelus - Renie

Another Love - Tom Odell

Arabesque No. 1 - Debussy

Aria from Goldberg Variations - J.S. Bach

Aria from La Wally - A. Catalani

As It Was - Harry Styles

At Last - Etta James

At Last I See The Light from ‘Tangled’ - Alan Menken

Au Matin - Marcel Tournier

Auld Lang Syne - Trad.

Autumn Leaves - Joseph Kosma

Ave Maria - Bach- Gounod

Ave Maria - Schubert

Ay Pilla - Love Story

Bailando - Enrique Iglesias

Balcony Scene from ‘Romeo and Juliet’ - Craig Armstrong

Ballade - Jakez Francois

Beautiful Day - U2

Bella Notte - Einaudi

Berceuse Russe - Tournier

Berlin Song - Einaudi

Better - Khalid

Better Half of Me - Tom Walker

Better Together - Jack Johnson

Billie Jean - Michael Jackson

Bittersweet Symphony - Verve

Blue Fiver - Paul Lewis

Bluebird - Alexis Ffrench

Breezeblocks - Alt J

Bridge Over Troubled Water - Paul Simon

Bright Eyes - Art Garfunkel

Broken Strings - James Morrison

Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison

Burn from Hamilton

But Not For Me from 'Girl Crazy' - Gershwin

Butterfly Waltz - Brian Crain

California Dreamin' - Mamas and Papas

Can You Feel The Love Tonight from 'The Lion King' - Elton John

Can't Help Falling In Love - Elvis Presley

Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You - Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons

Careless Whisper - George Michael

Carrickfergus - trad. Irish

Cavatina from 'The Deerhunter' - Stanley Myers

Chaconne - Clarke

The Chain - Fleetwood Mac

Chahun Main Ya Naa - Aashiqui 2

Chal Le Chal

Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol

Chasing Pavements -Adele

Cheap Thrills - Sia

Cider House Rules Main Theme - Rachel Portman

City of Stars from La La Land

Clair de Lune - Debussy

Clara's Theme from 'Doctor Who' - Murrey Gold

Clocks - Coldplay

Colours of the Wind from 'Pocahontas' - Alan Menken

Come As You Are - Nirvana

Consider Me - Allen Stone

Cosmic Love - Florence & the Machine

Cry Me A River - Justin Timberlake

Dance Monkey - Tones & I

Dangerous Game from 'Thunderbirds' - Barry Gray

Danny Boy - trad. Irish

Danse D'Autrefois - Renie

Deep River - trad. African-American

Despacito - Fonsi

Dietro Casa - Einaudi

Dil Chahta Hai

Do, Do, Do from 'Oh, Kay' - Gershwin

Dog Days Are Over - Florence & the Machine

Don’t Stop Believing - Journey

Don’t Want To Miss A Thing - Aerosmith

Dos Oruguitas from Encanto

A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes from 'Cinderella' - Mack David

Dreams - Stevie Nicks

Drivers License - Oliva Rodrigo

The Earth Prelude - Einaudi

Easy On Me - Adele

Elegy for the Arctic - Einaudi

Embraceable You from 'Girl Crazy' - Gershwin

Endless Love - Lionel Richie

The Engagement Party from La La Land

Esquisse - Renie

Everybody Wants to be a Cat from Aristocats

Every Breath I Take - The Police

Everything I Do from 'Robin Hood' - Bryan Adams

Everything I Wanted - Billie Eilish

Experience - Einaudi

Fairytale - Einaudi

Falling - Harry Styles

Fantasie - Spohr

Fantasie Sur Un Theme De Eugene Onegin - Tchaikovsky / Walter-Kuhne

Fields Of Gold - Sting / Eva Cassidy

Filhaal

Firebabe - Stormzy

Fireflies - Owl City

Firestone - Kygo

Flightless Bird, American Mouth from "Twilight" - Iron & Wine

For The Love Of A Princess from 'Braveheart' - James Horner

Game of Thrones Main Title - Ramin Djawadi

Get Lucky - Daft Punk

Giorni Dispari - Einaudi

Glasgow Theme from 'Love Actually' - Craig Armstrong

Glimpse of Us - Joji

Gnossiénes - Satie

God Only Knows - The Beach Boys

The Godfather Theme - Nino Rota

Golden Hour - JVKE

Golden Moments - David Snell

The Greatest Day - Take That

The Greatest Love of All - Whitney Houston

Ground Variations in F - Purcell

Gymnopedies - Satie

Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen

Halo - Beyonce

Havana - Camilla Cabello

Heartbeats - Jose Gonzalez

Hedwig's Theme from 'Harry Potter' - John Williams

Hello - Adele

Here Comes The Sun - The Beatles

Hero - Enrique Iglesias

Hey Brother - Avicii

Hey Jude - The Beatles

Hold My Girl - George Ezra

How To Save A Life - The Fray

Hoyna Hoyna - Nani’s Gang Leader

Humnava Mere

I Dreamed A Dream from Les Miserables

If I Ain’t Got You - Alicia Keys

If We Hold On Together from The Land Before Time - James Horner

I Get To Love You - Ruelle

I Giorni - Einaudi

I Have A Dream - ABBA

I Just Called To Say I Love You - Stevie Wonder

I’ll Be There - Jackson 5

I Love My Love In The Morning - trad. Irish

Imagine - John Lennon

Impromptu - Faure

Impromptu Caprice - Pierne

Interstellar Theme - Hans Zimmer

Iridescent - Linkin Park

I Say A Little Prayer - Aretha Franklin

I See The Light from Tangled

I Wanna Know - Joe

I Want It That Way - Backstreet Boys

I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston

I Won't Give Up - Jason Mraz

I've Got A Crush On You from 'Strike Up The Band' - Gershwin

John Anderson My Jo - trad. Scottish

Just The Way You Are - Billy Joel

Just The Way You Are - Bruno Mars

Karma Police - Radiohead

Kaun Tujhe - M. S. Dhoni

Killing Me Softly - Roberta Flack

Kiss From A Rose - Seal

Kiss The Rain - Yiruma

Kissing You from 'Romeo and Juliet' - Des'ree

La Source - Hasselmans

Last Request - Paulo Nutini

La Valse d’Amélie - Yann Tiersen

Le Matin - Yann Tiersen

Le Onde - Einaudi

Let Her Go - Passenger

Let It Go from Frozen

Life On Mars - David Bowie

Light of the Seven from Game of Thrones

Llwyn Onn - trad. Welsh

Londonderry Air - trad. Irish

Lord Of The Rings - Howard Shore

Love Is Here To Stay from 'An American in Paris' - Gershwin

Lovely Day - Bill Withers

Love Me Like You Do - Ellie Goulding

Love Me Tender - Elvis Presley

Love Story - Taylor Swift

Mad World - Tears for Fears

Marry Me - Train

Marry You - Bruno Mars

Meditation from 'Thais' - Massenet

Memory from 'Cats' - Andrew Lloyd Webber

Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence - Ryuichi Sakamoto

A Million Dreams from ‘The Greatest Showman’

Mona Lisa - Nat King Cole

The Moon Represents My Heart - Teresa Teng

Moon River - Henry Mancini

Moonlight Sonata - Beethoven

Motion - Khalid

Mr Brightside - The Killers

My Baby You - Marc Anthony

My Heart Will Go On from 'Titanic' - James Horner

My Love Is Like A Red, Red Rose - trad. Scottish

My Way - Frank Sinatra

Naive - The Kooks Need You Now - Lady Antebellum

Nefeli - Einaudi

New Leaves - Kim Robertson

The Nightingale - Deborah Henson Conant

No Hay Milpa Sin Cuitlacoche - Cesar Secundino

Nocturne - Glinka

No One Knows Me Like The Piano (Sampha)

The Noon Day Sun from "The Thunderbirds" - Barry Gray

Nothing Else Matters - Metallica

Nuvole Bianche - Einaudi

Ocean Eyes - Billie Eilish

1+1 - Beyoncé

O Mio Babbino Caro - Puccini

Oh, Lady Be Good - Gershwin

One More Light - Linkin Park

On My Own from Les Miserables

Ordinary People - John Legend

Otherside - Red Hot Chili Peppers

Over The Rainbow - Eva Cassidy

Over And Over Again - Nathan Sykes & Arianna Grande

Paradise - Coldplay

Pehla Nasha - Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar

Perfect - Ed Sheeran

Photograph - Ed Sheeran

Piano Man - Billy Joel

Pointless - Lewis Capaldi

The Portrait from "Titanic" - James Horner

The Prayer - Celine Dion & Andrea Bocelli

Prelude In C - J.S. Bach

Primavera - Einaudi

Rainbow Connection from the Muppets

River Flows In You - Yiruma

Runaway - AURORA

Runaway - Kanye

Running Up That Hill - Kate Bush

San Martino from "The Thunderbirds" - Barry Gray

Sarabande from ‘Violin Paritita No 1’ - J.S. Bach

Say You Won’t Let Go - James Arthur

Scarborough Fair - Simon and Garfunkel

Schindler’s List - John Williams

The Scientist - Coldplay

Seventeen Going Under - Sam Fender

Sheebeg and Sheemore - trad. Irish

She's Always A Woman - Billy Joel

Shallow from A Star Is Born

Shotgun - George Ezra

Signed, Sealed, Delivered - Stevie Wonder

Skyfall - Adele

A Sky Full of Stars - Coldplay

Sleep Sonn Ida Mornin' - trad. arr. Kim Robertson

Someone Like You - Adele

Someone To Watch Over Me from "Oh, Kay" - Gershwin

Somewhere Only We Know - Keane

Sonata in D - Parry

Sonata in Darkness from Batman

Sonata in G - C.P.E. Bach

Songbird - Eva Cassidy

Stand By Me - Ben E. King

Stay With Me - Sam Smith

Suraj Hua Maddham

'S Wonderful from "An American In Paris" - Gershwin

Symphony - Clean Bandit ft. Zara Larsson

Tale As Old As Time from "Beauty and the Beast" - Alan Menken

Tenerife Sea - Ed Sheeran

Thinking Out Loud - Ed Sheeran

Tiny Dancer - Elton John

A Thousand Miles - Vanessa Carlton

A Thousand Years - Christina Perri

Thunderbirds are GO - Barry Gray

Tiny Dancer - Elton John

Titanium - David Guetta

Tujh Mein Rab Dikhta Hai

Tum Hi Ho - Aashiqui 2

Unchained Melody - Righteous Brothers

Up Theme - Michael Giacchino

Valse d’Amelie - Yann Tiersen

Viejo Zortzico - Guridi

Vienna - Billy Joel

Wake Me Up - Avicii

Water Is Wide - trad. arr. Kim Robertson

Watermelon Sugar - Harry Styles

We Belong Together - Mariah Carey

We Don’t Talk About Bruno - Encanto

What The World Needs Now Is Love - Burt Bacharach

When September Ends - Green Day

When She Loved Me from Toy Story

When The Party’s Over - Billie Eilish

Where Do I Begin? from Love Story

Where Is My Mind? - The Pixies

A Whole New World from Aladdin

Wildest Dreams - Duomo / Taylor Swift

The Winner Takes It All - ABBA

Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton

Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong

Wonderwall - Oasis

You’ll Never Walk Alone - Rodgers and Hammerstein

You Raise Me Up - Josh Groban

Your Song - Elton John

You're Beautiful - James Blunt

You’re My Best Friend - Queen

Glenda's Prices

Last updated: 2024

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

Wedding ceremony (2024)

This includes music before the service begins, music during the signing of the register, and music as guests leave.

£500

Drinks reception (2024)

Two performances of up to 45 mins each during your drinks reception

£550

Wedding breakfast (2024)

3 performances of up to 40 minutes each during your wedding breakfast

£725

Customer questions

What do your clients love most about your performances?

I go above and beyond to tailor every performance to each individual client. I've created countless bespoke arrangements for brides to walk down the aisle to and even stayed up all night to learn a last minute request for a funeral wake. From start to finish, my priority is to always keep you and your vision at the centre.

Which venues have you performed at in the past?

- Royal Albert Hall - Royal Festival Hall - Symphony Hall, Birmingham - The Gloriana (The Queen's Rowbarge) - The Ritz - The Savoy - The Lanesborough - Jumeirah Carlton Tower - Live on BBC Radio

Which artists have you been most influenced by?

I love and listen to all types of music - that's what makes me such a versatile harpist. At the moment, I love the creativity of Billie Eilish, as well as chart-toppers Stormzy and Dua Lipa. For more classical inspiration, harpist Marie-Pierre Langlamet and conductor Gustavo Dudamel are favourites!

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

There have been such a variety of performances, it's hard to choose! The first time I performed at the Royal Albert Hall was a big moment. Playing at the Mayfair Awards (with Mark-Francis Vandelli sharing my playing to his Instagram), and serenading the Sheikh of Dubai for afternoon tea on his visits to London are also high up on the list!

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

I completely understand when timings change - just pop me a message as soon as you have accurate timings and I can adjust where possible.

How much time do you need to set up?

I always aim to arrive 60 minutes before performance time to ensure that the harp is in and set up well before guests arrive. If you might need a faster set up time, don't worry - just let me know and I can work with what time you have.

Is the transport of your harp included in your quote?

Yes - transport is included in my quote so no need to worry about any hidden extras.

Do you need any equipment provided to play outdoors?

The harp can be taken outdoors but there are some things that are helpful to have. 1. Flat surface - this can either be the ground itself or a board to make sure the harp is steady. 2. Shelter from the elements - gazebo, bandstand, etc.

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

Yes of course! I recommend that most of my clients pick their top 10-15 songs from my repertoire list and that will help guide me to craft a playlist that suits you best. If you prefer to pick every song, you can, but it's a long task and you probably have 100 more important things to be doing in the lead up to your event!

Can you learn specific pieces before the event?

At nearly every event, I create bespoke arrangements for my clients. It means that the music suits you perfectly and it adds that little special something knowing that music was made just for you. Give me as much notice as possible, but even if it's last minute, I'll do my best to get it in!

Musicianship

Genres:

Christmas, Contemporary Christian, Traditional church music, Classical, Classical crossover, Contemporary classical, Film / TV music, Musical theatre, Opera, 1960s era music, 1970s era music, 1980s era music, Folk, Traditional Irish folk, Traditional Scottish folk, Easy listening, Light music, Pop, Acoustic, Covers, Vintage, Scottish music

See all genres

Instruments:

Harp, Celtic harp

See all instruments

Event types:

Private event, Wedding, Wedding proposal, Funeral / Memorial service, Church service, Hotel / Restaurant event, Bar / Club / Venue event, Corporate event, Charity event, Concert, Recording session, Theatre / Show, Cruise, Burns night, Birthday party, Christmas party, New Year's Eve

See all event types

Other skills:

Arranger, Instrumental teaching, Theory teaching, Live looping, Transcription

See all skills