Don Shabkie is a seasoned concert performer, composer, Celtic musician, and teacher, who has played numerous weddings over the last 25 years. Not only does he have a large repertoire of piano and Celtic harp music to offer you, he is very careful to orchestrate cues in the manner you desire, so that the prelude and processional music flow smoothly.
For the prelude music he can give a small concert of Chopin, Mozart, Scarlatti, and orginal works. Or he can improvise on Celtic music or your favorite hymns. This can be done on the piano or the Celtic harp. He can accompany soloists (instrumental or vocal), since he is equally comfortable reading music as he is improvising or playing from memory. Don also plays with Selkie Celtic Band, also represented on this site.
For the processional music, many brides want Don to move to the organ (if one is available), where he can accompany the trumpet soloist for a work such as Jeremiah Clarke's Trumpet Voluntary.
Don has played as soloist with the Carolina Youth Symphony, and given numerous concerts across the area. Also, he is the music director at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Travelers Rest. To find out more about him, please visit his website bio page. From there you can hear many examples of his playing, and find out more general information.
Also, read this testimonial from Debbie in Greenville, SC. Don played for her wedding and reception in October 2007.
"From Celtic harp to keyboard to grand piano, Don Shabkie added a gifted dimension to our wedding day. And he made it so easy for me, with his knowledge of musical selections to correspond with the atmosphere we wanted to create. I had a picture in my mind of sacred and beautiful compositions for the ceremony, then elegant and festive at the reception. Don is a professional with his music, as well as managing and executing the planning process. Our guests were enchanted and so were we."
Don recently played for a wedding in Travelers Rest with Craig King, trumpet, (also of this site.) Read what the bride had to say:
The music at our wedding was amazing! Many of our guests commented that they felt as though they couldn't have heard better music at a concert! Don and Craig are completely professional, but play with such emotion. They made our wedding so memorable with their incredible talent! — Annette in Travlers Rest