cathymcevoy

If there’s one thing I really love, it’s performing at wedding ceremonies. And if there’s one recent wedding trend I especially love, it’s the move towards blending genres and styles of music within a celebration – because this is my absolute speciality! So if you’re looking for something creative and personal to make your ceremony absolutely unique, you’re 100% in the right place.

If you think about it, the violin is one of the most versatile of all instruments, because it lends itself to so many different styles. So let’s say your concept for your ceremony includes an elegant sonata, a haunting trad air, your favourite movie theme, and some jazz classics. Well the great news is that violin, together with your choice of piano or guitar accompaniment, is the perfect instrument for any one of these. Moreover, my training – a mix of classical, improvisation and folk – gives me a distinctive style that lets me customise any request according to couples’ tastes, to create an authentic sound world for your wedding ceremony that is totally unique to you.

A further plus is that I’m quite a nice singer! So if you’d like a primarily instrumental choice of music for your celebration but require some vocal pieces – such as the mass parts in the Catholic ceremony, described below.

The Irish wedding landscape has evolved so much in Ireland in recent years, it’s quite amazing. For one thing, in the past, the only secular style of service available was a short, civil ceremony in your local registry office. Nowadays, every kind of service is available to you, some of which give you free rein to essentially design your own ceremony.

Probably because of the limited ceremony options in the past, couples typically felt they had to stick to one type of music for their ceremony – classical, choral, maybe trad. Today’s couples, by contrast, are usually looking for something creative, personal, mixing genres and instrumentation. Maybe you’d like a modern take on a traditional song, or a trad-informed version of a Taylor Swift song? Or how about an excerpt from your favourite classical work, fused with a song from your favourite musical? No problem, I can create a unique instrumental version of almost any song, especially for you on your wedding day.

Here’s some of my most requested pieces for wedding ceremonies:

Not sure what kinds of music to programme for different points in your ceremony? 

No problem, I’m here to help! Both as a violinist, and in my capacity as Musical Director to The Gospel Project, I have years of experience navigating every kind of ceremony, and I’m more than happy to assist you in choosing appropriate music for each point of the ceremony. 

If yours is a Humanist or Spiritualist ceremony, you have almost total freedom to choose whatever music you’d like for your celebration, whether you’re a death metal fan or a lover of Renaissance string music. You’ll work with your celebrant to devise a ceremony that suits you both, including whatever readings and gestures you’d like, and then with your musicians to fit the music around that.

In the Catholic mass, I normally perform at 12-14 points ; approximately 7 full-length songs in addition to the mass parts (Gloria, Hallelujah etc…) perhaps a psalm, and, usually, some instrumental music at the two candle lighting ceremonies.

In the Church of Ireland tradition, it’s normal to have a number of congregational hymns that your guests will join in with, in addition to the songs that your professional musicians will perform at moments such as the bridal entrance, Communion, Signing of the Register and Exit. As a skilled vocalist as well, I’m well positioned to lead these congregational hymns. 

Any questions? Feel free to get in touch, I’m happy to share my expertise on this subject, pressure-free! drop me an email – cathymcevoyceremonymusic@gmail.com