Musical ambiance

Sylvia McClain has played the harp at every capacity imaginable from political functions at the U.S. Capitol to performing as a featured artist for the Loudoun Symphony. With more than 25 years of experience, she has studied with harpist Alice Chalifoux (successor to Carlos Salzedo) and Jeanne Chalifoux. The harpist has also studied at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena, Italy.

But one of the things that can be the most stressful for McClain is playing at a wedding. “You absolutely cannot mess up someone’s wedding,” she said. “All my performances are important, but this is the most important day of your life.”

McClain of Hunt Country Harpist approaches weddings with a perfectionist’s attitude. She arrives an hour-anda-half early and invites brides-to-be to visit her studio beforehand to select the music pieces. “I do more weddings than anything, especially in Loudoun County. There are tons of outdoor weddings,” she said. “If I could I would choose weddings. It’s more personal. I feel like I know the girl. Other places, I’m background music, but at a wedding I get to play a half hour of prelude music.”

She has performed for weddings in places such as Thomas Birkby House in Leesburg and Historic Longbranch in Millwood, which add to the class and elegance of having a harpist. “The harp is really beautiful in these places,” she said. “It’s very complimentary.”

Having a harpist at one’s wedding can be extremely memorable for the couple as well as the guests. It creates an old-world, romantic touch and it’s something you don’t see often. “As people approach the venue, they hear beautiful harp music and it’s also visually appealing. It immediately suggests an elegant wedding is about to happen,” said McClain. “There aren’t many harpist. If it’s something you want at your wedding, it would be a truly unique experience.”

McClain has also performed at Rust Manor in Leesburg, Whitehall Manor in Bluemont, Ceresvile Mansion in Frederick, as well as vineyards like Tarara and Hillsboro Vineyard. Venues such as these provide gorgeous backdrops for the harp.

The harpist is usually asked to play The Wedding March by Mendelsohn and can adapt a wide variety of music to the harp. Cannon in D, by Pachelbel is extremely popular as well as “Ode to Joy,” Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring by Bach and Ava Maria. Several selections are available for your listening pleasure on her website. For one client, McClain will be playing Bette Midler’s “Wind Beneath My Wing” and “The Rose.” She has many selections from jazz, classical, romantic, popular, and Celtic music.

On occasion, the harpist is asked to perform with Gilstrop, principal flutist with the Loudoun Symphony. The duo is known as Les Aperitifs.

McClain maintains her private studio in Lovettsville and is on the faculty at the Community Music School of the Piedmont in Upperville, VA. For more information: www.huntcountryharpist.com.