Violinist

Karen Jolliffe

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(5.0)Read all 11 reviews
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About Karen

I'm a versatile and experienced Kent-based violinist, passionate about performing beautiful live music for your wedding, concert or event.
Karen Jolliffe's profile picture
Violinist
Canterbury
Public liability insurance of £10 million

ABOUT ME I'm a dedicated and versatile violinist, enjoying a career as a professional violinist and solo, orchestral, chamber and session musician. I have performed at hundreds of concerts, weddings and functions for over 10 years. My performance repertoire is very diverse, ranging from music by Bach and Mozart to Coldplay, Muse and David Guetta. I can learn virtually any song, so if you're after a special request - please just ask. I can play either as a soloist or to an amplified backing track from my own equipment. WEDDINGS AND FUNCTIONS A violinist is a timeless addition to a special event, and I believe that I go the extra mile to ensure your music is unique, bespoke and with a little bit of sparkle. From the moment you book, I will guide you through the whole process. Whether you have questions on music to have as you walk down the aisle to what genre to pick for your reception or function, I am always happy to offer my advice. SESSION MUSICIAN As a session violinist, I have recorded for television and radio including the BBC, and features on several bands' albums, including Coco and The Butterfields and Famyne. I absolutely love working with a variety of artists, and like to think of myself as a versatile musician, able to adapt my sound to suit all styles and genres. LEON STRING QUARTET Karen founded the Leon String Quartet in 2012, which is a professional ensemble that has performed at hundreds of events across the UK. Find more about the quartet by searching 'Leon String Quartet'.

Karen
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5 out of 5
9 verified reviews

Karen's Reviews

From customers:

MS
Martha S
4 years ago, for a Wedding in Lympne
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5 out of 5

It was perfect - thank you so much! Couldn't have asked for more!

GS
Graham S
4 years ago, for a Wedding in Lympne
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
5 out of 5

Perfect - exactly what we asked for! Thank you so much.

Read all 11 reviews
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8th Anniversary
This act has been working with Encore for over 8 years

Karen's Song list

KAREN JOLLIFFE VIOLINIST - FUNCTION REPERTOIRE LIST
CLASSICAL
Bach, J.S – Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin (selection)
Bach, J.S – Air on G
Bruch – Adagio (violin concerto no. 1)
Boccherini – Minuet from string quintet in E
Elgar – Salut d'Amour
Elgar – Chanson d'Matin
Elgar – Chanson d'Nuit
Handel – Water Music
Handel – Violin Sonatas (selection)
Handel – Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
Jenkins – Palladio
Mendelssohn –Wedding March
Moussorgsky – Gopak
Mozart – Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
Pachelbel – Canon in D
Puccini – Nessun Dorma
Puccini – O Mio Babbino Caro
Purcell – Rondeau from Abdelazer Suite
Massanet – Meditation from Thais
Wagner – Wedding March
Vivaldi – Sinfonia in G
Vivaldi – Excerpts from The Four Seasons
FOLK/TRADITIONAL
Ashokan Farewell – Ungar
Londonderry Air (Danny Boy) – Irish
Wedding Reel – Irish
Skye Boat Song – Scottish

FILM/TV/MUSICALS
All I ask Of You – Phantom of the Opera
A Whole New World – Aladdin
Can You Feel The Love Tonight – The Lion King
City Of Stars – LaLa Land
Everybody's Free – Romeo and Juliet
Fawlty Towers Theme – Fawlty Towers
Gabriel's Oboe – The Mission
Game Of Thrones – Game of Thrones Theme
Hoppipolla – Sigur Ros, Planet Earth
Let it Go – Frozen
My Heart Will Go On – Titanic
Over The Rainbow – Wizard of Oz
Tale As Old as Time – Beauty and the Beast
The Music Of the Night – Phantom of the Opera
The Rose – The Rose (Midler)
This Land – The Lion King
Under The Sea – The Little Mermaid
When You Wish Upon a Star – Pinocchio
You've Got a Friend in Me – Toy Story
JAZZ/EASY LISTENING
Anything Goes – Cole Porter
At Last – Warren, arr. Cohen
Beyond the Sea – Trenet
Blue Moon – Rogers and Hart
Fly Me to the Moon – Bart Howard
I Got Rhythm – Gershwin
It Don't Mean a Thing – Ellington
La Vie en Rose – Gugliemi arr. Cohen
Lets Do It – Cole Porter
Lullaby – Gershwin
Maple Leaf Rag – Joplin
Mood Indigo– Ellington
Moon River – Mancini
Nocturne – Grappelli
Over the Rainbow – Arlen
Summer Time – Gershwin arr. Brown
What a Wonderful World – Armstrong
When I Fall in Love – Victor Young
POP/ROCK/INDIE
A Thousand Years – Christina Perri
Africa – Toto
All You Need is Love – Beatles
Bittersweet Symphony – The Verve
Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
Can't Help Falling in Love – Elvis Presley
Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol
Charlie Brown – Coldplay
Clocks – Coldplay
Don't Wanna Miss a Thing – Aerosmith
Don't You (Forget About Me) – Simple Minds
Don't Stop Believin' – Journey
Eleanor Rigby – Beatles
Everglow – Coldplay
Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometimes – Korgis
Every Teardrop is a Waterfall – Coldplay
Fireflies – Owl City
Fix You – Coldplay
From the Heart – Another Level
Fugue on a Theme of 'Michelle' – Beatles
Greatest Day – Take That
Halo – Beyoncé
Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen
Happy – Pharrell Williams
Heaven – Bryan Adams
Here Comes the Sun – Beatles
Here Comes Your Man – Pixies
Hoppipolla – Sigur Ros
Human – The Killers
How Long Will I Love You – Ellie Goulding
I Giorni – Einaudi
I Gotta Feeling – Black Eyed Peas
I'm Yours – Jason Mraz
In My Place – Coldplay
It Must Be Love – Madness
I Want To Hold Your Hand – Beatles
Just the Way You Are – Bruno Mars
Just Give Me a Reason – Pink
Kissing You – Des'ree
Knights of Cydonia – Muse
Latch – Sam Smith
Love Me Tender – Elvis Presley
Make You Feel My Love – Dylan/Adele
Mamma Mia – Abba
Marry You – Bruno Mars
Mr Brightside – The Killers
One Day Like This – Elbow
Paradise – Coldplay
Perfect – Ed Sheeran
Pompeii – Bastille
Resistance – Muse
Rolling in the Deep – Adele
Send Me On My Way – Rusted Root
She's Always a Woman To Me – Billy Joel
Smooth Criminal – Michael Jackson
Something – Beatles
Something Just Like This – Coldplay
Somewhere Only We Know – Keane
Songbird – Eva Cassidy
Starlight – Muse
The Rain Song – Led Zeppelin
Sweet Child O' Mine – Guns N' Roses
The Rose – Amanda McBroom
Take On Me – A-Ha
Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
Titanium – David Guetta
Toxic – Britney Spears
Viva La Vida – Coldplay
Waiting For a Star to Fall – Boy Meets Girl
Whatever – Oasis
With or Without You – U2
Yellow – Coldplay
Your Song – Elton John
You Are the Reason – Callum Scott


Karen'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)£140
Up to 1 hour£180
Up to 2 hours£225
Up to 3 hours£325

Add-ons

Bespoke music arrangement
+£50
Customer questions

Do you have different line-up options?

I am a solo violinist, but you can also book my quartet, Leon String Quartet, in Encore. We are available as a duo, trio or quartet.

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

I'm very flexible! As long as I have a few weeks notice, Im sure to be able to accommodate your changes in timing. Just let me know when you can!

How much time do you need to set up?

I require 30 minutes set up time.

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

Yes, absolutely! You have complete control. The setlist on my page is just a guide - I can play almost anything as long as I receive the requests a few weeks in advance.

Do you bring all the equipment you need to perform?

Yes, although I will need one chair without arms provided by the venue.

Can you learn specific pieces before the event?

Yes! Please just ask and I'll see what I can do.

What do your clients love most about your performances?

Clients have told me that I have a very unique and versatile set! I can source all kinds of music and arrange it myself, so it means that the possibilities are endless when it comes to performing music that clients love.

Which venues have you performed at in the past?

More than I could possibly count! Some that pop into my head: Concert venues: Cadogan Hall St John's, Smiths Square Canterbury Cathedral The Marlowe Theatre Rochester Cathedral Chelmsford Cathedral Leicester Guildhall Colyer Fergusson Hall Wedding venues: Grovesnor House Hotel Chilston Park Leeds Castle Hayne House Lympne Castle Winters Barns

Which artists have you been most influenced by?

I love Russian music, particularly Shostakivich and Prokofiev. I love playing Muse and Coldplay when it comes to the more current repertoire!

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

Performing to a packed Canterbury Cathedral nave was probably up there.
Musicianship
Genres:
Christmas, Traditional church music, Classical, Baroque, Classical crossover, Contemporary classical, Early music, Fanfare, Film / TV music, Medieval music, Musical theatre, Opera, Renaissance, 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, Welsh folk, Jazz, Blues, Easy listening, Light music, Originals, Pop, Acoustic, Ambient pop, Americana, Covers, Disco, Funk, Funk rock, Hip Hop, Motown, Karaoke, R&B, Soul, Tribute, Top 40, Vintage, Rock, Alternative rock, Britpop, Classic rock, Glam rock, Pop rock, Post rock, Indie, Progressive rock, Rock 'n' Roll, World music, Bossa nova, French music, Jewish music, Klezmer, Latin, Tango, Scottish music, Samba
See all genres
Instruments:
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Event types:
Wedding, Wedding proposal, Funeral / Memorial service, Church service, Hotel / Restaurant event, Private event, Corporate event, Charity event, Concert, Recording session, Theatre / Show, Burns night, Birthday party, Christmas party, New Year's Eve
See all event types
Other skills:
Perfect pitch, Instrumental teaching, Theory teaching
See all skills