Hire Mark Swinton | Organist in Warwick

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From£225

1 hour

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Mark Swinton - Wedding Music demo (piano)

Symphonie Romane, 4th movement (Final) - Widor

About Mark

Organist and pianist based in the Midlands - decades of experience - soloist and accompanist - looking forward to making music for you!

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Organist

Warwick

Public liability insurance of £10 million

Born in Chester, studied Music at the University of York and via the Royal College of Organists. Currently Assistant Director of Music at the Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick, having held similar positions at Kendal Parish Church, Bath Abbey and Clifton College. I have performed as a soloist all over the UK and abroad (France, Holland, Spain, Germany), released solo CDs and appeared on radio and TV broadcasts, both live and recorded. I have also accompanied choirs, soloists and instrumental ensembles in various concert and recording projects, and presented improvised soundtracks for silent film. As a pianist I have performed with outstanding singers and instrumentalists, notably Roderick Williams, Lucy Phillips and Elin Manahan Thomas. I am a Fellow of the Independent Society of Musicians. I have been playing for weddings and funerals for nearly 30 years, in venues ranging from glorious churches to beautiful outdoor settings. I am happy to play for ceremonies or receptions or both, to work solo or with a soloist to add an extra flair to the occasion. Although classically trained with a core repertoire to match, I am happy to play popular music, jazz and other genres. I enjoy unearthing rare neglected musical gems and bringing them to a wider audience; sharing music with others is not simply a job but a passion!

Mark

5 out of 5

2 verified reviews

Mark's Reviews

5 out of 5

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for your beautiful playing on our wedding day. Words cannot express how happy we are, and it was a pleasure to have you at our wedding. Your playing was so delightful and emotive. Your range is incredible, playing patriotic music for my processional music, triumphant recessional music, and a combination of upbeat and fun classical and modern pieces for during our drinks reception. You made things so easy for us, including sourcing music we had requested, working out music timings, communicating regularly, and reducing our overall stress levels by being on the ball. We were blessed with the most glorious summers day, and despite the wind being against us, you played like a maestro even without some of your music! You were there early and when we needed you to be, and stayed to make sure you gave the best service possible. Our music was a huge part of our wedding day, and we are so lucky to have had you there. Elizabeth & Richard

5 out of 5

Dear Mr Swinton, Hope you are well? Just a quick letter to give you a Huge thank you for doing a wonderful job for our wedding. You made the day as special as we wanted it to be! I thought I’d write to you so that you understand how brilliant your musical talent is; we had a lot of compliments on your work and I think that’s important for me to feedback to you. Thank you again and I wish you all the best!

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Mark's Song list

PIANO

All I ask of you (Phantom of the Opera - Lloyd Webber)

Think of me (Phantom of the Opera - Lloyd Webber)

Memory (Cats - Lloyd Webber)

Chiquitita (Mamma Mia - Andersson and Ulvaeus)

Slipping through my fingers (Mamma Mia - Andersson and Ulvaeus)

Can you feel the love tonight (The Lion King - Elton John)

Ol' Man River (Show Boat - Kern)

Pie Jesu (Requiem - Lloyds Webber)

Con te partiro (Time to say goodbye)

All in a garden green (Byrd)

O mistress mine (Byrd)

The Carman's Whistle (Byrd)

The woods so Wilde (Gibbons)

Pavana chromatica (Mrs Katherine Tregian's Pavane - Tisdall)

O ye tender babes (Tallis)

Giles Farnaby's Dreame, His Rest, His Humour (Farnaby)

Sonata in D major (C. P. E. Bach)

Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks (Pictures at an Exhibition - Mussorgsky)

Flower Duet (Lakme - Delibes)

Morning Mood (Peer Gynt - Grieg)

Claire de Lune (Debussy)

Sonata in F major (K274 - Scarlatti)

Sonatas (Cimarosa)

Prelude (Ravel)

Menuet sur le nom de Haydn (Ravel)

Skye Boat Song

Scotland the Brave

Scarborough Fair

Elite Syncopations (Joplin)

Pineapple Rag (Joplin)

Maple Leaf Rag (Joplin)

The Enterainer (Joplin)

Bethena (Joplin)

Unchained Melody (Alex North)

The Night we met (Ben Schneider)

Stairway to heaven (Led Zeppelin - Robert Plant and Jimmy Page)

Paradise (Coldplay - Martin, Berryman, Buckland, Champion, Eno)

Clocks (Coldplay)

California Dreamin' (The Mamas and Papas - John and Michelle Phillips)

Blue Moon (Rodgers)

Concerning Hobbits (Shore)

Moon River (Mancini)

The Heart asks pleasure first (The Piano - Michael Nyman)

Young and beautiful (The Great Gatsby - Nowels and Grant)

Madeleine Waltz (Swinton)

An Elusive Tango (Swinton)

ORGAN

Bridal Chorus (Lohengrin - Wagner)

Con moto maestoso (Sonata No. 3 in A major -Mendelssohn)

Der Tag, der ist so freudenreich "The day is so full of joy" (Bach)

In dir ist Freude “With thee is joy” (Bach)

Herr Gott, nun sei gepreiset "Lord God, now be praised" (Bach)

Paean (Whitlock)

March (Henry V - Walton)

Arrival of the Queen of Sheba (Solomon - Handel)

Hornpipe (Water Music - Handel)

La Marche (Handel)

Edinburgh Fanfare (Jackson)

Trumpet Voluntaries / Trumpet Tunes (Clarke / Purcell / Johnson / Stanley)

Movements from Music for the Royal Fireworks (Handel)

Menuet Gothique (Suite Gothique - Boëllmann)

Toccata in F (Bach)

Toccata in G (Dubois)

March (Richard III - Walton)

Crown Imperial (Walton)

Intrada (Daniel in Babylon - Jackson)

Fanfare (Whitlock)

Pièce d’Orgue - Fantasia in G (Bach)

Preludes and Fugues (Bach)

Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 (including "Land of hope and glory" - Elgar)

Pomp and Circumstance March No. 4 (Elgar)

Ein Feste Burg "A mighty fortress" (Bach)

Carillon-Sortie (Mulet)

Fanfare (Lemmens)

Choral Song and Fugue (Wesley)

Mohrentanz “Moorish Dance” - Susato

Prelude and Fugue in B major (Dupre)

Final (Symphonie No. 2 - Widor)

Final “Toccata” (Symphonie No. 5 - Widor)

Final (Symphonie No. 1 - Vierne)

Radetzky March (Strauss)

Overture (The Marriage of Figaro - Mozart)

Sun Dance (Chilcott)

Pageant (Jackson)

Wedding March (A Midsummer Night’s Dream - Mendelssohn)

Prelude and Fugue (Jongen)

Toccata (Jongen)

Imperial March (Elgar)

Prière à Notre Dame “Prayer to Our Lady” (Suite Gothique - Boëllmann)

Cantilène Nuptiale (Dubois)

Lied “Song” (Vierne)

Berceuse “Cradle Song” (Vierne)

Benedictus (Lloyd Webber)

Touch her soft lips and part (Henry V - Walton)

Chant de May (Jongen)

Sonata in Bb (J. C. Bach)

Georgian Suite (Jackson)

Sheep may safely graze (Bach)

Andante in F (Mozart)

Est-ce Mars? (Sweelinck)

Carol (Whitlock)

Folk Tune (Whitlock)

Scherzo (Whitlock)

Prelude on East Acklam (Jackson)

Scherzetto Pastorale (Jackson)

Mark's Prices

Last updated: 2024

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

Performance duration	Price
Short performance (up to 15 min)	£37.50
Up to 1 hour	£225
Up to 2 hours	£325
Up to 3 hours	£425

Drinks reception

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

£312.50

Wedding ceremony

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

£437.50

Wedding ceremony + Drinks reception + Dinner

- Music before the service begins, music during the signing of the register, and music as guests leave. - 2 x 45 min performances at the drinks reception. - 2 x 45 min performances as dinner is being served.

£625

Customer questions

What do your clients love most about your performances?

My playing has been described by many clients as beautiful and sensitive. Clients have appreciated my working with them to ensure the right music is chosen and well-placed in proceedings. With the music in my hands, some have felt they had one less thing to be worried or stressed about on the day!

Which venues have you performed at in the past?

Caswell House, Kendal Parish Church, Blenheim Palace, Reading Town Hall, York Minster, Coventry Cathedral, Guild Chapel at Stratford-upon-Avon ... even at EuroDisney!

Which artists have you been most influenced by?

David Briggs, Gillian Weir, John Scott Whiteley Elton John, Glenn Gould, Andre Previn, Freddie Mercury, The Beatles

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

Live Easter Day broadcast on BBC TV.

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

I can accommodate changes of timing with at least two weeks' notice.

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

I do not provide these services but will be happy to enquire within my network of professional friends and colleagues to help you if required.

How much time do you need to set up?

For organ playing, I usually need access to the venue at least two hours beforehand. For piano playing, I usually need access to the venue at least one hour beforehand. Any travel on a separate date in advance will be surcharged to the cost of return mileage.

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

My set list is not exhaustive or prescriptive; I will work with you to come up with the right programme and timings for the event, making sure that I include anything you especially want - and leave out anything you don't!

Do you bring all the equipment you need to perform?

For organ playing, it is important to check with the venue to make sure that the instrument is playable and will be in tune. I can do this for you, soon after you have booked me to play. For piano playing, you would be responsible for hiring a piano (acoustic or electric) if the venue doesn't already have one, and making sure it's in tune on the day.

Can you learn specific pieces before the event?

I am always happy to consider special requests, subject to an additional fee of £50 to allow for sourcing of sheet music and preparation time.

Musicianship

Genres:

Classical, Contemporary Christian, Traditional church music, Christmas, Baroque, Classical crossover, Contemporary classical, Early music, Film / TV music, Medieval music, Musical theatre, Opera, Renaissance, Easy listening, Light music, Marching, French music, German music, Italian music, Russian music, Scottish music, Tango, Folk, Traditional English folk, Traditional Irish folk, Traditional Scottish folk, Welsh folk, 1920s era music, 1980s era music, 1990s era music, 1940s era music, 1930s era music, 1960s era music, 1970s era music, 1950s era music, Gospel, Ragtime, Pop, Covers, Acoustic

See all genres

Instruments:

Organ, Piano

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Event types:

Wedding, Funeral / Memorial service, Church service, Hotel / Restaurant event, Private event, Corporate event, Charity event, Concert, Recording session, Theatre / Show, Virtual event, Wedding proposal

See all event types

Other skills:

Arranger, Composer, Orchestrator, Transcription, Accompanist, Fluent sight-reader, Fluent improviser, Repetiteur, Perfect pitch, Instrumental teaching, Theory teaching, Musicologist

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