Harpist

Ruth Lee

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(5.0)Read all 13 reviews
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About Ruth

An award-winning harpist and vocalist based in Sheffield and Lincolnshire, providing bespoke music for special events.
Harpist
Sheffield
Public liability insurance of £1 million

Ruth Lee is an award-winning harpist, composer and vocalist, regularly playing in venues across the UK and on TV. Specialising in classical and contemporary music, Ruth creates bespoke arrangements on the harp to offer a one-of-a-kind event experience. From Coldplay to the the Legend of Zelda and everything in-between, Ruth can provide the perfect atmosphere and stunning memory for your event. Ruth has performed at festivals and venues across the UK, winning awards at the United Kingdom Harp Competition, the Wales International Harp Festival and the Edinburgh International Harp Festival. She performed as a soloist at the World Harp Congress 2022 and regularly performs solo concerts across the UK. She is sought after for weddings and events and has appeared on an American Period Drama broadcast on NBC and USANetwork! She maintains a busy schedule of performances alongside her private teaching studio, community workshops, and other compositional work. Ruth can provide a PA system to cater for outdoor events and large spaces.

Ruth
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5 out of 5
13 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

Ruth's Reviews

From Encore customers:

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Lynn T
30 days ago
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5 out of 5

Ruth is an absolutely delightful and extremely talented young lady. Loads of positive comments on the night. Would definitely recommend

Reply from Ruth
26 days ago

Thank you so much Lynn - it was a pleasure to be there. My best wishes to you

AC
Alice C
7 months ago
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5 out of 5

Ruth was very professional, even when we had to move our wedding from outdoors to indoors last minute. Her music was perfect and our friends and family loved it!

Reply from Ruth
7 months ago

Thank you very much for your kind words! It was a joy to play for you, and thank you for inviting me to be a part of your special day. Wishing you and your loved ones all the best.

TH
Tracy H
1 year ago
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5 out of 5

Ruth was excellent, everyone loved her music and she was very personable chatting to my family and even letting the kids have a go of her harp!! My parents enjoyed her performance so much that they are planning to go and watch her again. Thank you so much for making my parents 50th wedding anniversary dinner so special with that extra touch of class and ambiance.

Reply from Ruth
1 year ago

Thank you so very much for inviting me to be a part of the day. It was lovely to meet you all. Please send them my very best (and it was lovely to see them at my concert!)

LB
Liz B
2 years ago
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5 out of 5

Ruth played beautifully at my daughter’s wedding. We had asked Ruth to learn a new tune to Disney’s Up and this she did which was just lovely. Many guests enjoyed listening to her playing afterwards too. Thank you Ruth for making the day extra special.

Reply from Ruth
1 year ago

Thank you very much for your very kind words. It was a pleasure. My apologies that I’ve only just seen that I’m able to reply to reviews on here!

From other customers:

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Ben B
1 year ago, for a Wedding in United Kingdom
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5 out of 5

Ruth played at our wedding and was absolutely brilliant - both on the day and in the run up - including helping us to select various songs for the ceremony and even learning some new compositions specifically for us. She was also really easy to work with throughout - flexible on timings etc. Would 100% recommend.

DE
Danny E
1 year ago, for a Wedding in United Kingdom
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5 out of 5

Ruth played at our wedding this May and was brilliant. We had a garden function and then afternoon tea in a marquee. Ruth is an excellent harp player who created a wonderful atmosphere throughout the day with a wide-ranging repertoire of pieces that we picked out together. Thanks again Ruth!

Read all 9 reviews
Encore badges
5 gigs
Experienced: 5 bookings through Encore
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Booked for an Encore gig with less than 24 hours’ notice
4th Anniversary
This act has been working with Encore for over 4 years
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Demonstrated expertise by completing the Encore Academy
Member of the Encore community forum

Ruth's Song list

Here is a selection of the music which I often perform. If you can't find what you're looking for below, please get in touch. I'm happy to learn a new arrangement for you.
Traditional Processionals/Recessionals
Wedding March (Mendelssohn)
Bridal March "Here Comes The Bride" (Wagner)
Canon in D (Pachelbel)
Trumpet Tune (Purcell)
Trumpet Voluntary (Purcell)
Classical:
Bolero (Ravel)
Cavatina: Theme from the Deer Hunter)
Chorale (Schumann)
Clair De Lune (Debussy)
Duet from the Pearlfishers (Bizet)
Gymnopédie 1 (Satie)
Igiorni (Einaudi)
Intermezzo (Mascagni)
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (Bach)
La Rejouissance, Music for the Royal Fireworks (Handel)
Lullaby (Brahms)
Meditation (Thais)
Melodica Africana II (Einaudi)
Menuet al Rovescio (Haydn)
Minuet from Don Giovanni (Mozart)
Morning (Peer Gynt)
Musetta's Waltz from La Boheme (Puccini)
New World Symphony (Dvorak)
O, My Beloved Father from Gianni Schicchi (Puccini)
Ombre (Einaudi)
On Wings of Song (Mendelssohn)
Passaggio (Einaudi)
Primavera (Einaudi)
Quel che resta (Einaudi)
Questa Notte (Einaudi)
River Flows in You (Yiruma)
Skater's Waltz (Waldteufel)
The Nightingale (Deborah Henson-Conant)
Various others by Einaudi
Hymns
Examples Include:
Abide with Me
Amazing Grace
Ave Maria
Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah/Redeemer
Morning Has Broken
Popular/Jazz:
ABBA (various)
A Thousand Years
All of Me (John Legend)
At Last (Sinatra)
Better Together (Jack Johnson)
Blackbird (The Beatles)
Blank Space (Taylor Swift)
Blue Moon (Sinatra)
Bubbly (Colbie Caillat)
Can't Help Falling in Love
Chasing Cars (Snow Patrol)
Come Away with Me (Norah Jones)
Dancing in the Moonlight
Dandelions (Ruth B)
Dream a Little Dream
Dreams (Fleetwood Mac)
Enchanted (Taylor Swift)
Endless Love (Lionel Richie)
Eternal Flame
Everything (Michael Buble)
Fallin’ for You (Colbie Caillat)
Fearless (Taylor Swift)
Fernando (ABBA)
Fireflies (Owl City)
Fly Me to the Moon (Sinatra)
Golden Slumbers (The Beatles)
Hallelujah
Hey Jude (The Beatles)
Hey Soul Sister (Train)
Holy (Justin Bieber)
How Long Will I Love You (Ellie Goulding)
I Choose You (Sara Bareilles)
I Could Get Used to This (Becky Hill)
I Get A Kick Out Of You (Cole Porter)
I Get to Love You (Ruelle)
I Have a Dream (ABBA)
I Want to Hold Your Hand (The Beatles)
I’m Yours (Jason Mraz)
Into My Arms (Nick Cave)
It’s Been a Long Long Time (Harry James and his Orchestra)
Jazz Lullaby (Tony Robinson & Amanda Whiting)
Just the way you are (Bruno Mars)
La Mer / Beyond the Sea (Charles Trenet)
La Vie en Rose (Edith Piaf)
Let it Be (The Beatles)
Like a Star (Corrine Bailey Rae)
Life on Mars (David Bowie)
Love Story (Taylor Swift)
Lover (Taylor Swift)
Lucky (Jason Mraz/Colbie Caillat)
Make you feel my love (Adele)
Marry Me
Marry You (Bruno Mars)
Misty (Garner)
Moon River (Mercer)
Mr Blue Sky (ELO)
My Girl (The Temptations)
New Blues (Deborah Henson-Conant)
Only Love (Ben Howard)
Over the Rainbow
Paparazzi
Perfect (Ed Sheeran)
Riptide (Vance Joy)
Rule the World
Sailing (Rod Stewart)
Shotgun (George Ezra)
Shut up and Dance
Sky Full of Stars (Coldplay)
Slipping through my fingers (ABBA)
Someone to watch over me
Songbird
Stand by Me
Still Falling in Love (Ellie Goulding)
Summertime (Gershwin)
Super Trouper (ABBA)
The Beatles (various)
The Best Day (Taylor Swift)
The Only Exception
Tickled Pink (Savourna Stevenson)
Time After Time (Cyndi Lauper)
Titanium (Sia)
Thank You For Loving Me (Bon Jovi)
Thinking out Loud (Ed Sheeran)
Thousand Years (Christina Perri)
Today was a Fairytale (Taylor Swift)
Until I Found You (Stephen Sanchez)
Walk of Life (Dire Straits)
What a Wonderful World
Wildest Dreams (Taylor Swift)
With Or Without You (U2)
Wonderwall (Oasis)
Yellow (Coldplay)
You and I (ingrid Michaelson)
You are the best thing (Ray Lamontagne)
You Are The Reason (Calum Scottt)
You Belong with Me (Taylor Swift)
Your Song (Elton John)
You're Still the One
Disney/Musical/Film
A Dream is A Wish Your Heart Makes (Cinderella)
A Million Dreams (The Greatest Showman)
A Whole New World (Aladdin)
All In The Golden Afternoon (Alice in Wonderland)
As the World Falls Down (David Bowie – Labyrinth)
Baba Yetu (The Theme from Civilization)
Baby Mine (Dumbo)
Bella Notte (Lady and the Tramp)
Can You Feel The Love Tonight (The Lion King)
Colours of the Wind (Pocahontas)
Comptine d’un autre ete l’apres-midi (Amelie)
Concerning Hobbits (LOTR)
Edelweiss (Sound of Music)
Ev'rybody Wants To Be A Cat (The Aristocats)
He's A Tramp (Lady and the Tramp)
I See The Light (Tangled)
Into The Unknown (Frozen II)
Kiss The Girl (The Little Mermaid)
Lord of the Rings - May It Be (Enya)
Love (Robin Hood)
Love Is A Song (Bambi)
Married Life (Up)
Part of Your World (The Little Mermaid)
Reflection (Mulan)
Some Day My Prince Will Come (Snow White)
Tale as Old as Time (Beauty and the Beast)
The Bare Necessities (The Jungle Book)
The Second Star to the Right (Peter Pan)
Theme from Jurassic Park
Theme from Indiana Jones
Under The Sea (The Little Mermaid)
When You Wish Upon A Star (Pinocchio)
Winnie The Pooh
You Matter to Me (Waitress)
Zelda's Lullaby
Kate Rusby Songs:
Awkward Annie
Bitter Boy
John Barbary
High on a Hill
Farewell
Planets
The Old Man
Andrew Lammie
The Streams of Lovely Nancy
Daughter of Heaven
Blooming Heather
The Game of All Fours
The Lark
No Names
Mary Blaze
A Ballad
The Elfin Knight
Bonnie House of Airlie
Moon Shadow
Wandering Soul
Fare thee well
Little Jack Frost
The Good Man
The Daughter of Megan
Let me be
Cruel
The Blind Harper
The White Cockade
Young James
Falling
Bring me a Boat
Polly
Sweet William’s Ghost
Underneath the Stars
Over You Now
Christmas:
All I Want for Christmas is You
All is Well
Believe (Polar Express)
Angels from the Realms of Glory
Angels we Have Heard on High
Away in a Manger
Blue Christmas
The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting)
The Chipmunk Song
C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S
Christmas Time is Here
Do they know it’s Christmas?
Deck the Hall
Do you hear what I hear?
Frosty the Snowman
Feliz Navidad
Happy Holiday
The First Noel
Go tell it on the Mountain
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Good King Wenceslas
Have a Holly Jolly Christmas
Happy Xmas (war is over)
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
The Holly and the Ivy
I’ll be Home for Christmas
In the Bleak MidWinter
Infant Holy Infant Lowly
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
Jingle Bells
Joy to the World
Let it Snow
Little Drummer Boy
Mary’s Little Boy Child
Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Mistletoe (Justin Bieber)
O Christmas Tree
O Come all ye Faithful
O Holy Night
O Little Town of Bethlehem
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer
Santa Tell Me (Ariana Grande)
Silent Night
Silver and Gold
Silver Bells
The Twelve Days of Christmas
Somewhere in my Memory (Home Alone)
We Three Kings
We Wish you a Merry Christmas
While Shepherds Watched

Ruth's Prices

Last updated: 2024

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)£2.50
Up to 1 hour£375
Up to 2 hours£500
Up to 3 hours£625
Packages
Wedding Ceremony
This includes music before the service begins and for the processional, during the signing of the register, and the recessional. It includes learning up to four bespoke requests of your choice to cover those all-inportant moments!
£375
Wedding ceremony + 1hr Drinks reception
- Music before the service begins, and for the processional, during the signing of the register, and the recessional. Up to four bespoke requests to cover all the key ceremony moments. - Up to 60min performance at the drinks reception. (Total booking up to 2hrs)
£500
Wedding ceremony + Drinks reception + Dinner
- 30mins of music before the service begins, music during the entrance, signing of the register, and exit. - 1hr performance at the drinks reception. - 2 x 50 min performances as dinner is being served.
£687.50
Customer questions

What do your clients love most about your performances?

“The ceremony was perfect… the great timing on my entrance, it was just how I imagined” “You gave the day a cinematic air and the wedding will be remembered all the more for the atmosphere you gave”

Which venues have you performed at in the past?

I perform at venues predominantly across the North East Midlands and Cambridgeshire including stately homes, churches and more intimate settings of gardens and restaurants. Bookings are also possible further afield across the UK. Churches, estates, historic sites or village halls - indoor or outdoor - the harp is a wonderful addition to an event.

Which artists have you been most influenced by?

I mostly create my own arrangements for music for weddings and events - I’m inspired by such a wide range of artists from pop to folk and classical, so creating my own arrangements for harp for these, as well as classical transcriptions of favourites is a joy.

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

You might notice me performing on an American TV series currently streaming on Peacock and NBC! For hospitality events, especially weddings, every single ceremony/reception is unique and a privilege to play. As a solo concert performer, I’m most looking forward to performing my recital at the World Harp Congress in 2022 - it’s a very significant event!

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

I will always try my best to help ensure your event runs as smoothly as possible. Please let me know as soon as possible if there is a slight change to your predicted timings.

How much time do you need to set up?

Ideally, I need 30 minutes before the performance in order to set up and tune. For most settings, playing acoustically will be very effective but in some cases, amplification may be needed. If amplification is needed for your event, I can liaise with you and the venue and provide the equipment needed. This will take slightly longer than the standard time.

Is the transport of your harp included in your quote?

Absolutely - The transport of my harp is included in my quoted travel expenses.

Do you need any equipment provided to play outdoors?

I am happy to play outside but the harp needs to be stood on hard ground, or a flat, firm surface. I will need shelter to perform if it is raining or in direct sunlight as my instrument is valuable and could be damaged. For most settings, playing acoustically will be very effective. In some cases, amplification may be needed - I can provide the equipment.

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

I'm happy to discuss the music choices which will best suit the style and tone of your event - my repertoire includes a mixture of classical and contemporary pop and jazz styles.

Can you learn specific pieces before the event?

If a piece isn't included in my example list there may still be a chance that I already know it. If it's not in my existing repertoire, I can learn up to two requests for your event. If you have further additional requests, then we can discuss an extra fee in order to accommodate for sheet music fees and extra rehearsal time.
Musicianship
Genres:
Classical, Contemporary classical, Christmas, Folk, Musical theatre, Film / TV music, Jazz, Pop
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Instruments:
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Event types:
Wedding, Wedding proposal, Funeral / Memorial service, Church service, Hotel / Restaurant event, Bar / Club / Venue event, Private 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:
Composer, Arranger, Orchestrator, Actor, Live looping
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