Review Centre: Organists

"Gareth Giles is the best organist and pianist I could ever have hoped to book for my daughter's wedding at The Church of St Michael in Aynho, Northamptonshire. He is an incredibly talented player and really brought the church organ to life. He went to great lengths to adapt the music to the instruments available and his playing was breathtaking throughout. He kept in touch regularly to offer advice and helpful suggestions and sent the funniest emails I've ever received! Gareth is a thoroughly nice man with a great sense of humour, an infectious enthusiasm and a clear passion for music."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Des came and helped to make the day a special one with a 2 hour set on the piano. Very professional and I would highly recommend!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Gareth - dude , man what a guy ! Thanks a bunch again. Your music was amazing. It was a really good idea of yours to Skype to discuss what we wanted as we did not have a clue so you playing so many 100's of options live for us was absolutely brilliant. It was a real shame we could not meet you live until the day as we has such fun in that long Skype call and your humour and comments had us in stitches ! On the day your playing was exquisite as my Mother put it and Louise found herself entranced when she was meant to be doing the registers as she wanted to listen to the beautiful selection of John Rutter anthems that you had arranged specially as there was no choir. We cannot recommend this musician more highly for Gareth is one cool guy, lovely to work with, knows everything and plays with command, authority and sheer joy. A lovely bloke and a real professional. Thanks Gareth for making our planning fun and our day so enjoyable - IF YOU READ THIS BOOK HIM"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Mark, thank you so much for your superb playing at our wedding. It made the ceremony so special for us both. There are some good photo's on our photographers website - she caught all the organ action!"

Reply by Mark Burton - Wedding Organist / Pianist
Lovely comments Ben, yes the photographer really captured some good pictures of the organ. I have used one for my main caption on this site, showing my hands on the manuals of the organ! Good luck to you both for the future.

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Ann’s contribution to our daughter’s wedding was so valuable. We had clear and professional communication throughout the entire process of obtaining a quote, booking and choosing the music. Ann was so flexible with the music choices and was entirely happy to learn some new Welsh tunes which meant a lot to us and some of our guests. The day was perfect and enhanced by the beautiful music that Ann played for us during the ceremony and the drinks reception. "

Reply by Ann Lombardi Music
Many thanks Helen. It was my pleasure.

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Robert really made our party swing, he played exactly what we had asked for, which was great. He has a lovely easy going personality. He arrived on time and set himself up with complete ease and no fuss. Our guests commented on how good his playing was. Would definitely recommend Robert and book him again."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Gareth is brilliant! I did a saxophone Diploma a few weeks ago, and my arranged accompanist pulled out just a month in advance, but Gareth stepped in (in spite of an extremely busy Christmas season) and made time to rehearse with me thoroughly and accompany me in the exam. By the time the test came round I felt totally confident and prepared. His accompaniment was excellent, he communicated with me and followed my quirky timings, he responded to emails really quickly, and he's also a lovely guy."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"With a month or so to go before our wedding (July 2015) we found ourselves without an organist. Not knowing quite what to do next, we turned to Google and found Lastminutemusicians.com. Choosing an organist from the site was such a daunting prospect given how important the organist's role was to be and not knowing if the person we would end up choosing would be any good! After a number of replies from other performers we chose Mark and we couldn't have been in better hands. Mark is a true professional and a talented performer. He is eager to please, vastly experienced and could adapt most songs/pieces of music for the organ. A week or so before our wedding, and in his own time, he visited our chapel and familiarised himself with the organ he would be playing. We also spoke frequently on the phone to discuss our thoughts regarding what we wanted to be performed and he also provided helpful suggestions and ideas without 'taking over'. On the day itself he was prompt, well presented and played beautifully. Thank you again Mark for your contribution to our special day, I really can't recommend you enough...in fact two of the guests at our wedding used Mark as the organist at their wedding having been impressed, I'm sure, at what they heard!"

Reply by Mark Burton - Wedding Organist / Pianist
Mark and Di - the pleasure was all mine! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to play the Binns Organ in Queens College, Cambridge - it was a treat for me too as an organist. I'm pleased that you were happy with my performance on such a hot day, the organ took time to set up for the wedding, but it was worth it. And, I got to do it all again in August for your friends wedding in the same chapel!

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Thank you very much again for entertaining us on Friday evening. Everyone commented on how amazing your playing is and how perfectly the music fitted in with our party."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I have used Gareth as an organist and pianist on multiple occasions to accompany my choir for both services and concerts. He remains my first choice for those special events that you need to know will be just right. Gareth is a consummate professional and a highly trained keyboardist. Despite his high level of technical expertise, he is no bore! His personal charisma, charm and musical cheekiness are what bring his playing to life and make him great fun to work with. Gareth always shows up to the first rehearsal knowing the music inside out and is able to score read choral parts flawlessly, transpose at a moments' notice, and, with one ear always on the singers, he is everything one would expect from a sensitive accompanist. His ability to improvise effortlessly make him invaluable for those all-important choral warm-ups ... and his last verses of hymns always induce a grin! Gareth is a highly flexible musician and is able to play musically in all genres. He works brilliantly with children, amateurs, and professionals, knowing exactly how much/how little support is needed from him. A first-rate musician, brilliant accompanist, and a professional, fun and loyal person. 10 out 10. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Sebastian was so helpful, friendly and professional, advising on hymn and music choices, and playing beautifully on the day at my mother's funeral mass. It was such a relief to find someone so capable when I was told the church didn't have an organist! Thoroughly recommended! "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I just wanted to say a huge THANK YOU to you and all the band. Suzie and I had a fab time listening and dancing with you all - it really finished off a top day. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Gareth thank you for sharing your skill, talent, pizazz and flair for our Christmas Carol Service. Not quite sure how you managed to squeeze so much sound and fanfaral joy out of our little organ but the carols and hymns have never been played or indeed sung (not unrelated!) with such gusto. Your joyous finale at the conclusion of the service brought a smile to everyone's face. I hope we get to hear your playing again and cannot recommend this superb organist and musician highly enough for anyone who is looking for an organist - Gareth Giles is the man for the job!!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We are still recovering from Saturday’s wedding but I wanted to thank you for all you did. The service was both happy and moving, the trio was brilliant and the secret performance is still being talked of. It was a truly wonderful day for us. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We had a fabulous afternoon with the music from Mark making it very special. He is excellent at judging what the guests like to hear and ours loved everything he played. We were in the garden, a balmy afternoon and when guests arrived to a glass of Pimms....Mark set such a relaxing and restful tone. Highly recommend him, friendly, very talented and so professional. We had a great day."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: