Pianist

Karen Newby

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(5.0)Read all 13 reviews
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About Karen

Classically trained, Karen works in diverse musical genres both in the UK and abroad. She was a resident pianist at the Ritz Hotel in London
Pianist
Rochester
Public liability insurance of £10 million

An accomplished, versatile piano/vocalist, with an ever expanding repertoire covering all styles, Karen performs in 5 star venues at home and abroad. Classically trained, she has a flawless piano technique which is equally at home playing jazz standards, show tunes and chart hits. Add mellow vocals and a wicked sense of humour and you have the perfect music for your event. Her skills as an accompanist are as relevant for open mic and 'impromptu guest participation' as they are for opera and classical recitals. As a teacher Karen inspires students to achieve their best, with several professional musicians among her former students.

Karen
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5 out of 5
8 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

Karen's Reviews

From Encore customers:

EY
Evina Y
3 months ago
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5 out of 5

Karen was amazing from the get go, great communication and such a talent! All of the songs we asked for were amazing and Karen did everything more than justice. A great addition to our wedding ceremony and I can’t thank her enough.

Reply from Karen
3 months ago

Thank you Evina. It was a pleasure to play for your wedding. I wish you and Milo every happiness for your future.

From other customers:

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Lauren C
3 years ago, for a Wedding in Kingston upon Thames
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5 out of 5

Karen was absolutely fantastic throughout our ceremony at Lovekyn Chapel. She took our song choices a month before the day and then added her own wonderful pieces throughout whilst guests were being seated and also after the ceremony as we were having a drink outside. She is so talented and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Karen for any event but particularly for a wedding, it adds such a lovely touch to the day which you and your guests will remember forever. 10/10

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Craig P
3 years ago, for a Concert in Rochester
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5 out of 5

I accompanied an exam yesterday, and was sent this lovely review 😊 I recently used Karen for a clarinet pupil that was sitting a grade 8 exam. The first lesson after the first rehearsal, my pupil not only showed significant improvement in her overall playing but her confidence. This continued to improve as they rehearsed together. My pupil found her friendly, approachable and mentioned she gave constructive feedback. For the day of the exam she turned up early, prepared and knew the order in which things were going to happen. Musically, I overheard some of the exam and she played some challenging repertoire and followed a nervous pupil extremely well. The examiner also commented on how well she performed. I'd recommend and hope to work with again. Repertoire:- Brahms Clarinet Sonata in Eb Malcolm Arnold Sonatina Craig Parrott Music with Reeds

Read all 12 reviews
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Experienced: 5 bookings through Encore
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Booked for an Encore gig with less than 24 hours’ notice
8th Anniversary
This act has been working with Encore for over 8 years

Karen's Song list

Pop
60s
Beatles - anything
Something Stupid - Frank & Nancy Sinatra
Sunshine of my life - Stevie Wonder
Baby Love - The Supremes
Stand By Me - Ben E King
River Deep, Mountain High - Tina Turner
My Guy - Mari Wells
I Say a Little Prayer - Aretha Franklin
That's Amore - Dean Martin
The air that I breathe - The Hollies
Can’t take my eyes off you - Andy Williams
Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel
Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond
70s
Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
Sunshine of my life - Stevie Wonder
Don't Go Breaking My Heart - Elton John & Kiki Dee
Withering Heights - Kate Bush
Your Song - Elton John
Hotel California - Eagles
For All We Know - The Carpenters
Piano Man - Billy Joel
Drift Away - Dobie Gray
Just the Way you Are - Billy Joel
I Only Have Eyes for You - Art Garfunkel
Jolene - Dolly Parton
How Deep is Your Love - Bee Gees
Evergreen - Barbra Streisand
Nobody does it better - Carly Simon
Superstition - Stevie Wonder
Let's Stay Together - Al Green
Total Eclipse of the Heart - Bonnie Tyler
Brass in Pocket - The Pretenders
Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton
Dancing Queen - Abba
Street Life - Randy Crawford
American Pie - Don McLean
Easy - Commodores
New York, New York - Frank Sinatra
80s
Sweet Dreams - Eurythmics
Tainted Love - Soft Cell
La Isla Bonita - Madonna
Lady in Red - Chris de Burgh
I Wanna Dance With Somebody - Whitney Houston
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
Get Here - Oleta Adams
You Can't Hurry Love - Phil Collins
9 to 5 - Dolly Parton
Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Queen
It Must Be Love - Madness
Love is all around - Wet Wet Wet
Karma Chameleon - Culture Club
Love of my Life - Queen
Always - Atlantic Starr
Perfect - Fairground Attraction
Right Here Waiting - Richard Marx
The Power of Love - Jennifer Rush
Have I Told You Lately - Van Morrison
Walking in Memphis -Marc Kohn
90s
Don't Want to Miss a Thing - Aerosmith
Don't Look Back in Anger - Oasis
Believe - Cher
When you tell me that you love me - Diana Ross
A million love songs - Take That
Promise Me - Beverly Craven
Angels- Robbie Williams
I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston
Everything I do (I do it for you) - Brian Adams
My heart will go on (theme from Titanic) - Celine Dion
Bed of Roses - Bon Jovi
Wonderwall - Oasis
Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinead O'Connor
Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me - Elton John/George Michael
Zombie - The Cranberries
From This Moment - Shania Twain
Killing me Softly - Fugees
Breakfast at Tiffany's - Deep Blue Something
When you say nothing at all - Ronan Keating
Don't Speak - No Doubt
00s
Can't Fight the Moonlight - LeAnn Rimes
Uptown Girl - Westlife
A Thousand Miles - Vanessa Carlton
Eternal Flame - Atomic Kitten
Light My Fire - Will Young
Mercy - Duffy
If I Ain't Got You - Alicia Keys
If You're Not the One - Daniel Bedingfield
You're Beautiful - James Blunt
Crazy - Gnarls Barkley
I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker - Sandi Thom
American Boy - Estelle
Ne-Yo - Closer
This is the Life - Amy McDonald
Sex On Fire - Kings of Leon
Back to Black - Amy Winehouse
Greatest Day - Take That
10s
A Thousand Years - Christina Perri
All of me - John Legend
The Edge Of Glory - Lady GaGa
Thinking Out Loud - Ed Sheeran
Picking Up The Pieces - Paloma Faith
Perfect - Ed Sheeran
Happy - Pharrell Williams
Someone Like You - Adele
Just the Way You Are (Amazing) - Bruno Mars
Roar - Katy Perry
Symphony - Clean Bandit feat Zara Larsson
Chandelier - Sia
Make Your Own Kind of Music - Paloma Faith
Stay With Me - Sam Smith
Take Me to Church - Hozier
Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
Price Tag - Jesse J
When I Was Your Man - Bruno Mars
To Make You Feel My Love - Adele
Clown - Emeli Sandé
Someone You Loved - Lewis Capaldi
20s
Flowers - Miley Cyrus
Padam Padam - Kylie Minogue
Running Up That Hill - Kate Bush
Cuz I Love You - Lizzo
Vampire - Olivia Rodrigo
Stage & Screen
Wicked
Defying Gravity
Popular
I'm Not That Girl
Hamilton
Burn
You'll Be Back
Waitress
You Matter To Me
She Used to be Mine
In The Heights
Breathe
The Lion King
Can you feel the love tonight
Circle of Life
Cats
Memory
Beautiful Ghosts
A Star is Born
Shallow
Look What We Found
The Greatest Showman
A Million Dreams
This is Me
Phantom of the Opera
Phantom of the Opera
All I Ask of You
Music of the Night
Les Miserables
Do You Hear the People Sing
On My Own
I Dreamed a Dream
Bring Him Home
Master of the House
High School Musical
Breaking Free
Rent
Seasons of Love
Follies
Losing My Mind
Dreamgirls
Listen
And I am Telling You
Funny Girl
Don't Rain on my Parade
A Chorus Line
What I did for love
One
Chicago
All that Jazz
When You're Good to Mama
Mr Cellophane
Mack and Mabel
I won’t send roses
Sound of Music, King and I, Oklahoma, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Mikado, My Fair Lady, Oliver - all songs
A Nightingale sang in Berkeley Square - Sherwin
Jazz Standards
All the things you are - Jerome Kern
Besame Mucho - Velasquez
Blue Moon - Rodgers/Hart
Embraceable You - Gershwin
Fever - Peggy Lee
I’m in the mood for love - Jimmy McHugh
I’ve got you under my skin - Cole Porter
It had to be you - Harry Connick Jr
Let there be love - Nat ‘King’ Cole
La vie en Rose - Edith Piaf
Misty - Errol Garner
My baby just cares - Nina Simone
My funny valentine - Rodgers/Hart
Our love is here to stay - Gershwin
Someone to watch over me - Gershwin
Strangers in the night - Frank Sinatra
Summertime - Gershwin
The nearness of you - Hoagy Carmichael
Unforgettable - Nat ‘King’ Cole
When I fall in love - Nat ‘King’ Cole
Bewitched - Rodgers/Hart
Classical
Für Elise - Beethoven
Peer Gynt Suite - Grieg
Nocturnes, Waltzes, Mazurkas etc - Chopin
Clair de Lune - Debussy
Moonlight Sonata - Beethoven
Die Fledermaus + other waltzes - Johann Strauss
Tango de España - Albeniz
The Entertainer + other rags - Scott Joplin
Habañera, Toreador's Song (Carmen) - Bizet
Ave Maria - Schubert
Ave Maria - Bach/Gounod
O Mio Babbino Caro - Puccini

Karen's Prices

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

Customer questions

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

I am happy to work with you to ensure your event runs as smoothly as possible. Just let me know of any changes.

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

Background music via iPad between sets can be provided.

How much time do you need to set up?

I would usually arrive an hour or more before the performance time, and require 20 minutes to set up.

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

Yes I would be happy to use the piano at your venue, provided it is in tune and in fully working order.

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

My repertoire covers a huge range of styles and eras. As well as choosing songs from my set lists, you can request any music at all before your event and I will be happy to play it.

Are you able to bring your own piano or keyboard?

Of course. I have a Yamaha digital piano which I can bring.

Can you learn song requests before the event?

Yes, of course.

Which venues have you performed at in the past?

Ritz Hotel (resident pianist)
Musicianship
Genres:
Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Christmas, Classical crossover, Contemporary classical, Film / TV music, Musical theatre, 1920s era music, 1930s era music, 1940s era music, 1950s era music, 1960s era music, 1970s era music, 1980s era music, 1990s era music, Cabaret, Latin jazz, Easy listening, Light music, Originals, Covers, Karaoke, Soul, Vintage, Acoustic, Classic rock, Bollywood, French music, German music, Italian music, Bossa nova, Gypsy jazz, Traditional Irish folk
See all genres
Instruments:
See all instruments
Event types:
Private event, Wedding, Wedding proposal, Funeral / Memorial service, Hotel / Restaurant event, Corporate event, Charity event, Theatre / Show, Cruise, Birthday party, Christmas party, New Year's Eve
See all event types
Other skills:
Arranger, Orchestrator, Songwriter, Transcription, Fluent sight-reader, Repetiteur, Perfect pitch, Fluent improviser, Instrumental teaching, Theory teaching, Accompanist
See all skills