Pianist

Simon Galfe

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(5.0)Read all 14 reviews
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About Simon Galfe

I use a deluxe portable white piano shell with a lid and gold trim to add elegance to your event. Classical, Popular , Jazz and Bollywood.
Pianist
Basingstoke
Public liability insurance of £10 million

I have performed for The Prince of Wales and The Duke of Edinburgh. I have frequently performed at many of London's leading venues including The Shard, Claridges, Intercontinental, The Dorchester, The Ritz, Harrods and The Wardorf Hilton. I was a piano guest entertainer on the world's most luxurious cruise ships including The Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and The Queen Elizabeth 2. I was a leader of a The Simon Galfe Jazz Trio on The QM2 which performed onboard with the Juilliard School Of Music. I know over a 1000 songs by memory and I am constantly expanding my music library with new additions. I am classically trained and I combine this with a modern touch. For added elegance to your event I have a white and gold portable piano shell. This has a sloping lid and it looks like a baby grand piano. It’s a highly luxurious, weddingesque and photogenic addition to my performance for clients . I use top of the line musical equipment and instruments, incuding Yamaha, Nord, Korg and Fender. I am very organised, professional and all my equipment is PAT tested. I am a full time member of the Musicians Union and I have public liability insurance.

Simon Galfe
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
5 out of 5
14 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

Simon Galfe 's Reviews

From Encore customers:

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Charlotte D
1 month ago
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5 out of 5

Leading up to the event, Simon had timely responses to our questions and helped us choose a song to enter our dinner reception to. Simon arrived with plenty of time to set up for the event and we were able to have a solo performance before heading to the church. He played beautifully and created the most amazing atmosphere for our drinks reception and dinner. He had to shift his piano to a different room and did so with ease and without disruption (with some help of course). Some guests were laughing that one minute he was there and the next he was gone! We could not recommend Simon enough - he was incredible and his piano brings a sense of elegance to any event.

Reply from Simon Galfe
1 month ago

Thank you for your review Charlotte!

MO
Michael O
4 months ago
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5 out of 5

We had the pleasure of having Simon at our wedding and he did an excellent job playing for our guests at the ceremony and reception drinks. We had asked him to learn a track (of which we supplied some pretty ropey references) and he performed the piece beautifully as the bride walked down the aisle. Simon was prompt and needed nothing from us while setting up, self sufficient, polite, well presented and an excellent pianist. We can't recommend him highly enough.

Reply from Simon Galfe
4 months ago

Thank you Michael very much !

HP
Helen P
6 months ago
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5 out of 5

Simon on the piano and Marju on the violin were the perfect duo for both our daughter’s wedding and afterwards at the reception. They were prepared to play anything from classical to contemporary. The quality was superb. Thank you for making our event so special.

Reply from Simon Galfe
6 months ago

Many thanks Helen it was a pleasure 🙏

VC
Vanessa C
7 months ago
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5 out of 5

Excellent piano player. Performed exactly what we want and took a request from my granddaughter. Would request him again . Can wholeheartedly recommend him. Thank you so much for making our celebration of life perfect.

Reply from Simon Galfe
7 months ago

Thank you Vanessa for your review.

Read all 7 reviews

From other customers:

SJ
Steve J
3 years ago, for a Birthday party in Windsor SL4
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5 out of 5

Simon performed at my wife's birthday party. His playing was superb and he is super approachable and highly organised. He can play almost anything. His piano shell looks great.

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Sandra S
3 years ago, for a Wedding in London
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5 out of 5

Simon played a great range of piano music at my daughter's wedding. I would recommend Simon because of his portable white piano that he uses and also his professionalism. He is also a fantastic pianist.

Read all 7 reviews
Encore badges
Lightning fast responses
Average response time under 2 hours
10 gigs
Experienced: 10 bookings through Encore
Saved the day!
Booked for an Encore gig with less than 24 hours’ notice
2nd Anniversary
This act has been working with Encore for over 2 years

Simon Galfe 's Song list

About a Quarter to Nine
After You've Gone
Ain't Misbehavin'
All Alone
All of Me
All the Things You Are
Among My Souvenirs
Angel Eyes
April in Paris
As Time Goes By
Autumn Leaves (Les Feuilles Mortes)
Bag's Groove
Begin the Beguine
Black Coffee
Body and Soul
But Not for Me
Ballin' the Jack
Best Thing for You
Born to Be Blue
Call Me Irresponsible
Caravan
Charleston
Cheek to Cheek
Cherokee
China Boy
Come Rain or Come Shine
Crazy Rhythm
Christmas Song, The
Darn That Dream
Dream a Little Dream of Me
(Mamas & Papas arr.)
Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans
Don't Be That Way
Don't Blame Me
Don't Get Around Much Anymore
Don't Take Your Love from Me
Drop Me Off in Harlem
East of the Sun
Embraceable You
Estate
Fly Me to the Moon
Flying Home
Foggy Day, A
Frim Fram Sauce, The
Georgia on My Mind
Ghost of a Chance,
Girl from Ipanema, The
(Garota de Ipanema)
Groovin' High
Here's That Rainy Day
Honeysuckle Rose
How Am I to Know?
How Deep Is the Ocean?
How High the Moon
I Can't Believe That You're in Love with Me
I Can't Get Started
I Cover the Waterfront
I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)
I Got Rhythm
I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart
I Should Care
I Wish You Love
I Won't Dance
If I Had You
I'll Remember April
I'll See You in My Dreams
Indian Summer
Indiana
Isn't It Romantic
It Could Happen to You
It Had to Be You
It Might as Well Be Spring
Joint Is Jumpin', The
Just Friends
La Vie En Rose
Laura
Lester Leaps In
Let's Fall in Love
Let's Get Lost
Louisiana Fairytale
Love for Sale
Love Is Here to Stay
Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?)
Lush Life
Man I Loved, The
Manhã de Carnaval
(also known as A Day in the Life of a Fool)
Maple Leaf Rag
Mean to Me
Memories of You
Misty
Mr. PC
My Funny Valentine
My Romance
My Ship
Nardis
Nearness of You, The
Night and Day
Night in Tunisia
Nightengale Sang in Berkeley Square, A
Oh, Lady Be Good
Old Country, The
On a Misty Night
On a Slow Boat to China
On the Sunny Side of the Street
Only the Lonely
Over the Rainbow
Out of Nowhere
Perdido
Pick Yourself Up
Poinciana
Prelude to a Kiss
Puttin' on the Ritz
Que reste-t-il de nos amour?
Rosetta
Round Midnight
Royal Garden Blues
Satin Doll
Secret Love
Sentimental Journey
September Song
Shiny Stockings
Skylark
Smile
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
Sophisticated Lady
Someone to Watch Over Me
Sonnymoon for Two
St. James Infirmary
St. Louis Blues
Stardust
Stars Fell on Alabama
Stella By Starlight
Stompin' at the Savoy
||
(alt chart)
Summertime
Sweet Georgia Brown
Sweet Lorraine
Take the 'A' Train
Taking a Chance on Love
Tea for Two
There Is No Greater Love
There Will Never Be Another You
||
(alt chart)
These Foolish Things
They Can't Take That Away from Me
This Can't Be Love
Topsy
Turn Out the Stars
The Two Lonely People
Two Sleepy People
Walkin My Baby Back Home
Way You Look Tonight, The
What Is This Thing Called Love?
What's New?
When You're Smiling
Where or When
Willow Weep for Me
Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams
Yesterdays
You Go to My Head
Pop songs:
Ed Sheeran -
Thinking Out Loud
Perfect
Photograph
Afterglow
Shape of You
Bad Habits
Shivers
Castle on The Hill
Dua Lipa-
Physical
New Rules
Levitating
Don’t Start Now
One Kiss ft Calvin Harris
Cold Cold Heart ft Elton John
Adele-
Hello
Rolling in the Deep
Make you feel my love
Easy on me
Someone like you
Lewis Capaldi-
Before you Go
Someone you loved
Coldplay-
Yellow
Fix you
Scientists
Viva la Vida
Paradise
Hymn for the Weekend
Everglow
Every teardrop is a waterfall
Maroon 5
Girls like you
Memories
Moves like Jagger
The Weeknd
Blinding Lights
Save your tears
Take my breath
Billie Eilish
Bad Guy
Ocean Eyes
Lovely
No time to die
When the party's over
The tones and I
Dance Monkey
Avicii
Wake me up
Hey Brother
Bruno Mars
Marry you
Uptown Funk
Sigala
Came here for love
Clean Bandit
Rockabye
Solo
Rather be
Symphony
Sam Smith
Stay with me
Writings on the wall
I’m not the only one
Marshmallow
Happier
Pharell Williams
Happy
Britney Spears- Toxic
John Legend-All of Me
Michael Jackson-
Black or White
Billie Jean
Smooth Criminal
Human Nature
A-Ha-Take on me
Elton John-
Can You Feel The Love Tonight
Yellow Brick Road
Candle in the wind
Sacrifice
Your Song
Don’t let the sun go down on me
Cold Cold Heart
Rocket man
George Michael-
Careless Whisper
Last Christmas
Ellie Goulding-
Still falling for you
Burn
Love Me Like You Do
How long will I love you
Taylor Swift
Wildest Dreams
Blank Space
Love Story
Beyonce- Halo
Rihanna-
This Is What You Came For
We found love
Justin Timberlake-
Can't Stop The Feeling
Jazz:
Moon River
Take Five-Paul Desmond
Cheek to Cheek
Chatanooga Choo Choo
Anything Goes
I ve Got Rhythm-George Gershwin
Summertime-George Gershwin
Cabaret
Fly me to the moon
Blue Moon
Sweet Georgia Brown
Lover Man
Bye Bye Blackbird
Embraceable you
The man I love
At last
Girl from Ipanema
Desafinado
Besame Mucho
These foolish things
Laura
Willow weep for me
Honeysuckle rose
Ain’t misbehaving
Sophisticated lady
It don’t mean a thing
Flamingo
Mood Indigo
Paper Moon
Let’s Fall in love
Nightingale sang in Berkeley Square
Johann Pachelbel- Canon
G. Handel- The entrance of the Queen of Sheba
Carlos Gardel-Tango-Por Una Cabeza
Piazzolla- Libertango, Oblivion
Elgar- Salut D’Amore
Tchaikovsky- Sleeping Beauty Valse
Melody
Valse of the Flowers
Brahms-
Scherzo
Valse
Lieders
Mendelssohn- Wedding March
Wagner- Bridal Chorus
Musicals
Les Miserables-Claude-Michel Schönburg
Phantom of The Opera-Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lion King

Simon Galfe '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)£250
Up to 1 hour£300
Up to 2 hours£360
Up to 3 hours£450

Add-ons

Baby Grand Piano perspex shell
+£80
Customer questions

What do your clients love most about your performances?

My range of styles, repertoire, good communicative skills and matching all my clients demands. I always bring excellence and professionalism to my performance. For me it doesn't matter whether I play for one person or a big audience as I keep the same level and attention to detail because music is my passion.

Which venues have you performed at in the past?

The Dorchester, Claridges, Intercontinental, Waldorf Hilton, The Shard, Grosvenor House, The Ned, The Savoy. Luxury Cruise Liners such as QM2, QE2, Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth, Oriana, Aurora, Ventura, Statendam, Boudicca.

Which artists have you been most influenced by?

Keith Jarrett, Brad Mehldau, Glenn Gould. Classical composers Mozart, Beethoven and Chopin.

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

I have played for Prince Charles and The Duke of Edinburgh.

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

I will try my best to comply with any time changes. Any additional 30 minutes of me being at the venue will be an extra £40

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

Yes, I leave a background music from the speaker

How much time do you need to set up?

30 minutes keyboard setup and 1 hour with the piano shell.

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

yes of course

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

yes and I can learn other songs at short notice

Are you able to bring your own piano or keyboard?

yes

Can you learn song requests before the event?

yes, up to 3 bespoke requests.
Musicianship
Genres:
Pop, Classical, Baroque, Classical crossover, Contemporary classical, Film / TV 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, Jazz, Blues, Cabaret, Dixieland, Jazz fusion, Latin jazz, Modern jazz, Postmodern jukebox jazz, Ragtime, Swing, Light music, Acoustic, Ambient pop, Covers, Disco, Funk, Funk rock, Hip Hop, Karaoke, Motown, R&B, Soul, Top 40, Tribute, Vintage, Rock, Britpop, Alternative rock, Classic rock, Glam rock, Hard rock, Indie, Pop rock, Rock 'n' Roll, Bollywood, Latin
See all genres
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, Concert, Recording session, Theatre / Show, Cruise, Birthday party, Christmas party, New Year's Eve
See all event types
Other skills:
Accompanist, Fluent improviser, Fluent sight-reader, Perfect pitch, Instrumental teaching, Theory teaching
See all skills