About Pamela
Pamela Pamperin is an experienced and critically acclaimed harpist who performed in Northern California from 1992 to 2017. She moved to Oshkosh, WI, and is currently booking weddings, showers, receptions, and corporate events in Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, and the Fox Valley area. Pamela’s wide-ranging repertoire includes classical, Celtic, and contemporary music, along with some jazz, blues, and classic rock.
Pamela’s remarkable musical gifts complement her ability to work with clients to create a soundscape that fits in with and enhances any occasion. Her electro-acoustic concert-pedal harp has set the tone for thousands of weddings, receptions, church services, memorials, and other special events. Although Pam usually performs as a solo artist, she frequently includes violin and cello, and occasionally with a flutist or vocalist.
Pamela prides herself on being sensitive to the needs and expectations of her clients. This, along with her considerable musical talent, keeps her in great demand throughout the year. Potential clients are advised to inquire about dates well ahead of the planned event.
Until she moved, Pamela was one of three house musicians at Bacchus House Wine Bar & Bistro in Folsom, CA.
She performed regularly on the patio at Sunday Brunch at the Slocum House in Fair Oaks, one of the region’s most prestigious dining establishments, prior to its closure in 2011.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Harpist
There are a number of harpists who you might consider hiring to play for your wedding or special event, all offering varying degrees of aptitude, experience, and professionalism. They play on different types of instruments, offer different services, and, of course, they charge different rates. Which one should you hire?
There is not a one-size-fits-all answer to that question, and while lists from vendors and paid advertisers can be helpful, they don’t really answer the important questions for you either. With that in mind, here are some things you might consider in deciding which harpist you ask to be a part of your special event.
Training and Qualifications
A conservatory degree in harp performance indicates years of formal training and intense coursework on the instrument. It also indicates that the harpist sought out and received world-class instruction. Top–notch training and ability come into play in every performing context. Whether it’s the musicality of the performance, the ability to sight-read, and thus, offer a wide repertoire of quality arrangements, the facility to easily accommodate special requests, the knowledge of music theory to be able to end the processional gracefully at the right time, or a full mastery of the instrument, will reveal itself in any performance.
The Instrument
Does the harpist perform on a concert-grand pedal harp? A lever harp (sometimes called a folk or Celtic harp) limits the repertoire, and it offers a much smaller, less luxurious sound. A smaller pedal harp can be adequate for some performance spaces, but not for others. A concert-grand pedal harp can fill a room with sound as well as a grand piano. In the event you have an even larger space, does the harpist provide their own amplification?
Performance Experience
Sometimes harpists will advertise that they’ve been playing the harp for a certain number of years. That, by itself, does not tell you much. In addition to knowing what kind of training they possess, you will want to know:
- Are they a full-time musician or a hobbyist?
- How many weddings and events do they play each year?
- Will they offer to meet with you and play for you before signing a contract?
Experience shows itself in many ways. It shows in the harpist’s ability to work successfully with another musician, whether amateur or professional, whom the harpist has never met before. It shows in your harpist’s ability to perform advanced, professional arrangements of music. It shows in their ability and willingness to accommodate special requests with ease and to offer helpful suggestions. It shows in their reliability. It shows in reacting quickly to miscommunication or logistical problems and making seamless adjustments to awkward situations. Experience shows in asking the right questions beforehand to ensure the problems and awkward situations are few and far between.
Consider who you are hiring before signing a contract, keeping in mind that qualified professionals make a tremendous difference in raising the standard of your special event.