Harpist

Margaret Watson

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About Margaret

A highly experienced harpist with a vast repertoire to suit all tastes. She has delighted numerous audiences throughout the UK.
Harpist
Horsham
Public liability insurance of £10 million
Verified profile

Margaret started harp lessons at the age of fourteen, studying under the late Sidonie Goossens OBE and Helen Arnold with whom she gained a Diploma in Harp Performance. She is now one of the busiest harpists in the South East and performs regularly at concerts, weddings, parties, local groups, charity and corporate events; has played for Royalty, the BBC and at many different venues including The Guildhall in London, The Ritz, The Savoy, National Trust Properties and English Heritage Sites. Her work includes formal concerts, after dinner speeches with music, weddings, corporate functions, charity events and speaking to Probus Clubs, U3A’s, Women’s Institutes, and other groups. She is a member of the charity Music in Hospitals and gives bedside concerts for patients and the mentally or physically disabled in hospitals, hospices, specialist care centres and nursing homes. With her very varied repertoire and often resplendent costumes, Margaret has delighted numerous audiences throughout the UK.

Margaret
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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

Margaret's Reviews

From Encore customers:

LS
Linda S
5 months ago
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5 out of 5

Margaret was fantastic,very professional and the music was first clas. A very lovely, friendly lady . All perfection

PN
Phyllis N
5 months ago
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5 out of 5

Margaret Watson very professionally provided harp music for my birthday party lunch. I thoroughly enjoyed, as did all of my guests. It was the perfect topping to a wonderful day. PN

Reply from Margaret
5 months ago

It was a pleasure to play for such a happy event Phyllis. I’m so pleased the harp music was enjoyed.

VS
Victoria S
1 year ago
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5 out of 5

Margaret was perfect for our day. From the moment of booking Margaret to the actual day, Margaret was a joy to deal with. I’m so glad that we stumbled upon her, and her harp playing was superb and just what we wanted. Thank you Margaret.

Reply from Margaret
1 year ago

Thank you Victoria. It was a pleasure to play for your special day

AQ
Andrew Q
1 year ago
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5 out of 5

Absolutely wonderful! Learnt a song that has no sheet music just for us couldn't recommend her more!

Reply from Margaret
1 year ago

What a great setting for your Ceremony! It was a pleasure to learn something which meant so much to you both. Thank you too for all the help getting the harp into the wood

Read all 8 reviews

From other customers:

3D
3 S
7 years ago

Margaret ...EVERYONE was enthralled by your Professionalism and wonderful choice of music. I personally have never heard such a variation of playing skills on the harp before. I only wish I had met you earlier in life!!! You made each day’s programme so special and I am so thankful that all who came had heard you.

AD
After C
7 years ago

Thank you for a truly inspirational performance this afternoon. As you may gather from the spontaneous applause, we were thoroughly delighted with your repertoire and style of interpretation. Several members commented, privately, that they’d not realised how versatile an instrument was the harp, especially with your amazing arrangements, choice of pieces and vocal accompaniments. A sincere thank you from us all!

Encore badges
10 gigs
Experienced: 10 bookings through Encore
Saved the day!
Booked for an Encore gig with less than 24 hours’ notice
7th Anniversary
This act has been working with Encore for over 7 years

Margaret's Song list

CLASSICAL
Air from The Water Music Handel
Air on a G String Bach
Allegro Handel
Andante(Surprise Symphony Haydn
Arabesque No.1 Debussy
Arrival of The Queen Of Sheba Handel
Ave Maria Bach/Gounod
Ballade Goossens
Barcarolle (Tales of Hoffman Offenbach
Bridal March Wagner
Butterfly Waltz Crain
Cantique de Jean Racine Faure
Canon in D Pachelbel
Caro Nome from Rigoletto Verdi
Chanson de Mai Hasselmans
Clair de Lune Debussy
Danse de Corregidor De Falla
El Picaflor Marson
Emperor Waltz Strauss
Eighteenth Century March Anon
Excerpts from The Magic Flute Mozart
Flower Duet Delibes
Gymnopedie No: 1 Satie
Gnossienne No: 1 Satie
Gram’s Lullaby Gustavson
Hornpipe from The Water Musi Handel
Intermezzo Mascagni
Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring Bach
Jupiter from The Planets ……..
(I Vow To Thee My Country) Holst
Larghetto from Rinaldo Handel
La Source Hasselmans
Largo Handel
Largo from Guitar Concerto in Vivaldi
Largo The New World Symphony Dvorak
Largo from ‘Winter’ (Four Seasons) Vivaldi
Le Onde Einaudi
Marble Halls Balfe
Meditation from Thais Massenet
Minuet in G Bach
Nefili Einaudi
Ode To Joy Beethoven
O Isis and Osiris The Magic Flut Mozart
O For The Wings Of A Dove Mendelssohn
O My Beloved Father Puccini
Panis Angelicus Franck
Pavane Faure
Pearl Fishers Duet Bizet
Piano Concerto No: 20 Mozart
Prelude No:1 in C Bach
Prelude No:3 Tournier
Prelude No:7 Chopin
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Rachmaninoff
Romance Rossetti
Romance from Eine Kleine Nachtmusik Mozart
Rondo Rossetti
Sarabande from Suite XI Handel
See The Conquering Hero Handel
Serenade Schubert
Sonata in C Minor Pescetti
Sonatina No. 5 Presto Clementi
Sonatina No:6 in D Minor Naderman
Sleepers Wake Bach
To a Wild Rose Macdowell
Spring/Winter(Four Seasons) Vivaldi
The Ashokan Farewell Ungar
Trumpet Voluntary Purcell
Variations On A Swiss Air Beethoven
Variations On A Theme Of Haydn Brahms
Variations Pastorales Rousseau
Waltz Brahms
Wedding March Mendelssohn
MUSICALS * SHOWS * MOVIES * FILMS *
Aladdin A Brand New World
Blood Brothers Tell Me It’s Not True
Breakfast at Tiffanys Moon River
Cats Memory
Charlie & the Choc Factory Pure Imagination
Dances With Wolves The John Dunbar Theme
Disney (Snow White) Heigh Ho &We Dig Dig Dig
Disney (Snow White) I’m Wishing
Disney (Snow White) With a Smile and a Song
Disney (Jungle Book) The Bare Necessities
Disney (Pinocchio) When You Wish Upon a Star
Evita Don’t Cry For me Argentina
Gladiator Earth
Girl Crazy But Not For Me
Girl Crazy Embraceable You
Gone With The Wind My Own True Love
Ice Castles Through The Eyes Of Love
Life of Brian Bright Side of Life
Lord of The Rings In Dreams
Lord of The Rings Into The West
Lord of The Rings May It Be
Notting Hill She
Notting Hill When You Say Nothing At All
Phantom of The Opera All I Ask Of You
Phantom of The Opera Angel Of Music
Phantom of The Opera Music of The Night
Phantom of The Opera The Phantom of The Opera
Phantom of The Opera Think Of Me
Phantom of The Opera WishingYou Were Somehow Here Again
Robin of Sherwood Everything I do
Showboat Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man
South Pacific Some Enchanted Evening
Tammy Tammy
Tell Me it’s Not True Blood Brothers
The A Team Theme The A Team
The Fantasticks Try To Remember
The Boyfriend I Got Rhythm
The Deer Hunter Cavatina
The King And I Dance of Anna and Sir Edward
The King And I Hello Young Lovers
The Piano The Heart Asks Pleasure
The Sound Of Music Edelweiss
The Sound Of Music The Hills Are Alive
Titanic My Heart Will Go On
Twilight River Flows in You
West Side Story Somewhere
Wizard of Oz Somewhere Over The Rainbow
POPUALR
A Nightingale Sang In Berkley Square Vera Lynn
A Summer Place Percy Faith Orchestra
A Thousand Years Chrisitna Perry
Aint Misbehavin’ Fats Waller
All I Have To Do Is Dream Everly Brothers
All of Me John Legend
Always On My Mind Elvis Presley
And I Love You So Don Williams
Angels Robbie Williams
As Long As I Have You Elvis Presley
Autumn Leaves Johnny Mercer
Beneath Your Beautiful Labrinth
Bewitched Fran Sinatra
Blowin' In The Wind Bob Dylan
Blue Moon Marcels
Brown eyed Girl Van Morrison
Can't Help Falling In Love Elvis Presley
Chatanooga Choo Choo Gen Miller
Chi Mai Ennio Morricone
Crazy Love Van Morrison
Could I Have This Dance? Ann Murray
Earth Song Michael Jackson
Eternal Flame The Bangles
Everybody Hurts REM
Fields of Gold Sting
Fireflies Owl City
Everything I do Bryan Adams
From This Moment Shania Twain
Fly Me To The Moon Frank Sinatra
Flying Without Wings Westlife
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Elton John
Groovy Kind Of Love Phil Collins
Greatest Day Take That
Hallelujah Leonard Cohen
Have I told You Lately Van Morrison
Heartbeat Buddy Holly
Heaven Bryan Adams
Hello Lionel Ritchie
Hero E Eglasias How Long Will Love you? Elli Goulding
Human The Killers
In The Mood Glen Miller
Imagine John Lennon
Juliet The Four Pennies
I Love How You Love Me The Paris Sisters
I Swear All 4 One
I Will Always Love You Dolly Parton
It’s All In the Game Cliff Richard
Kingston Town UB40
Let It Be Me Everly Brothers
Love Is All Around Wet Wet Wet
Love Me Tender Elvis Presley
Love Me With All Of Your Hear Engelbert Humberdinck
Make you feel my love Bob Dylan/Adele
Marry You Bruno Mars
My Way Frank Sinatra
Play that Song Train
Real Love John Lennon
River Flows In You Yiruma
Rhythm Of The Rain The Cascades
Rule The World Take That
She Charles Aznavour
Songbird Eva Cassidy
Sound of Silence Paul Simon
She's The One Robbie Williams
Stairway to heaven Led Zeppelin
Strangers In The Night Frank Sinatra
The power of Love Gabrielle Alpin
The Rose Bette Midler
The Twelfth Of Never Cliff Richard
The Wind Beneath My Wings Bette Midler
There’s a Kind of Hush Carpenters
Thinking Out Loud Ed Sheeran
Time To Say Goodbye Brightman & Bocelli
Tuxedo Junction Glen Miller
Unbreakable Westlife
Under the Bridges of Paris Dean Martin
Unchained Melody Righteous Brothers
Viva la Vida Coldplay
Welcome to my world Jim Reeves
What A Wonderful World Louis Armstrong
What's New Pussycat? Tom Jones
When A Man Loves A woma Lewis
When I Fall In Love Nat King Cole
Wonderful Tonight Eric Clapton
You Raise Me Up Josh Groban
Your’e still the one Shania Twain
SELECTIONS FROM
The Beatles Enya
Pink
CHRISTMAS
Away In A Manger
A Winter's Tale
Coventry Carol
Ding Dong Merrily On High
Do You Hear What O Hear?
Frosty The Snowman
Hark The Herald Angels Sing
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
I Believe In Father Christmas
Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant
In Dulci Jubilo
Infant Holy
In The Bleak Mid Winter
I Saw Three Ships
Jingle Bell Rock
Joy To The World
King Jesus Hath A Garden
Little Donkey
Lo How A rose Is Blooming
Mary's Boy Child
Nos Galan (Deck The Halls)
O Little One Sweet
O Little Town Of Bethlehem
Once In Royal David's City
Rocking Carol
Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
Sans Day Carol
See Amid The Winters' Snow
Silent Night
The Angel Gabriel
The Gloucestershire Wassail
The Cherry Tree Carol
The Little Road To Bethlehem
Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day
Walking In The Air
We Three Kings
We Wish You A Merry Christmas
What Child Is This?
When A Child Is Born
While Shepherd Watched Their Flocks
White Christmas
Winter Wonderland
FOLK * TRADITIONAL * CELTIC *
Eng Trad
Greensleeves
Scottish Trad
Amazing Grace
Kelvin Grove
Loch Lomond
My Love Is Like A Red Red Rose
Loch Tay Boat Song
The Skye Boat Song
Ye Banks and Braes
Welsh Trad
All Through The Night
Ashgrove
David of The White Rock
Hush My Baby
Men of Harlech
Over The Stone
The Dove
Watching The Wheat
Irish trad
Beleive me all those enduring charms
Bendeemers Stream
Brian Boru's March
Carrickfergus
Chanter
Cockles and Mussels
Danny Boy
Down by the Sally Gardens
Eleanor Plunkett
Farewell to Liverpool
Mairis Wedding
The Gartan Mothers' lullaby
The Gentle Maiden
The Kerry Dance
The Lark in the Clear Air
The Ould Plaid Shawl
The Galway Piper
The Rose of Tralee
Rosin' the Bow
Roving Galway Boy
The Spanish Lady
The Spinning Wheel Song
The Last Rose of Summer
She Moves Through the Fair
When Irish Eyes are Smiling
FOLK * TRADITIONAL * CELTIC * Cont.
Maori Trad
Hine e Hine
Pokare kare Ana

Margaret'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)£100
Up to 1 hour£200
Up to 2 hours£300
Up to 3 hours£400
Customer questions

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

If your event timing changes, just let me know as I will always try and accommodate any amendments.

How much time do you need to set up?

I always arrive with at least and hour an a half before your event starts which gives me time to unload the harp, tune up etc. I am then 'in situ' and ready to start playing when your guests arrive.

Is the transport of your harp included in your quote?

Yes. This is all covered in my quote.

Do you need any equipment provided to play outdoors?

My harp was built for solo work so very rarely requires amplification outside . If it is very sunny, I would need protection from direct sunlight as it can damage the gilding . If it is wet or there is a strong possibility of of rain, I would have to play indoors as it is a valuable instrument and easily damaged by damp and water

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

Of course! My playlist changes regularly , so I am very happy to chat through your requirements .

Can you learn specific pieces before the event?

It's surprising what can be played on a harp so if you have a 'special piece' , do let me know (the sooner the better) and I can certainly see what I can do for you.

What do your clients love most about your performances?

From experience, people like tunes they know! I try and cover all genres of music - and am sympathetic to the age group and type of event and this is often very much appreciated.

Which venues have you performed at in the past?

I have performed at many different venues and I've listed some of them below: Wimbledon Tennis Championships, The Ritz and Savoy Hotels, City Guildhall, Southwark, Guildford and Chichester Catherdrals, Shepperton Studios, Clarence House, The Royal Courts of Justice, Gatwick and Southampton Airports and Covent Garden.

Which artists have you been most influenced by?

The Spanish Harpist Marisa Robles had a profound influence on me - not only her mastery on the harp but also her vivacious personality. Harpo Marx is another - and although he looked as if he was 'clowning around' - the harp was putty in his hands and he had the ability to entertain as well as master the harp - a true genius!

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

Probably a Christmas Charity Concert in Eaton Square, London a couple of years ago where there were many famous personalities present - including: Joanna Lumley, Prunella Scales, Miriam Margoyles, Julie Etchingham and Timothy West
Musicianship
Genres:
Christmas, Contemporary Christian, Military, Traditional church music, Classical, Baroque, Classical crossover, Medieval music, Film / TV music, Traditional Irish folk, Gospel, Swing, Easy listening, Light music, Pop, Acoustic, Vintage, Pop rock, Classic rock, Jewish music, Scottish music, German music
See all genres
Instruments:
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Event types:
Concert, 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, Birthday party, Christmas party, New Year's Eve, Virtual event, Cruise, Burns night
See all event types
Other skills:
Arranger, Music therapy, Community music worker
See all skills