Don Shabkie—Greenville, South Carolina Pianist

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

Here is a sample list of the works Don most often plays at the ceremony. Press listen on any selection to hear samples of Don's performances.

Solo Prelude Music

• Sontata in D Listen.................................D Scarlatti/piano
• Down by the Salley Gardens ..........................(Irish)/Celtic harp
• Be Thou My Vision ..........................................(Irish)/Celtic harp
• Arabesques #1 and 2...............................Claude Debussy/piano
• Waltz in Eb............................................................ Chopin/piano
• Heather's Jig Listen.............................................music by Shabkie/piano
• Leah's Pavane Listen.............................................music by Shabkie/piano

Ensemble Prelude Music

• Canon in D Listen..................................................................J Pachelbel
  with Upstate Wedding trio and Laurie Gentry
• Renaissance Courante Listen...................................................Valerius
  with Upstate Wedding trio and Laurie Gentry, flute
• Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring.................................JS Bach/with flute, violin

Processional Music

• Trumpet Tune Listen...................H Purcell/with Craig King,trumpet
• Trumpet Voluntary Listen............J Clarke/with Craig King, trumpet
• Excerpt from Jupiter (The Planets).................G Holst/with flute

Recessional Music

• Psalm XIX.................................................B Marcello/organ

Don's contact page has a listing of his fees, and all necessary contact information. All wedding ceremony fees include a consultation in Don's studio located in the North Main Greenville area. At this consultation the wedding families can discuss selections they would like to have at the wedding. Some come prepared with a list of selections they would like to have played at the wedding. Others like for Don to play different music on the piano or Celtic harp in order to get an idea of all the possibilities. At this time there is a discussion on cues, coordination with the wedding director, and other items of interest to everyone. As a result of these meetings, the ceremony music features the music the brides and families want, and all the cues flow seamlessly.

Don is available to play anywhere in the upstate area. He has the equipment to play on site if no piano is available. If you live in Greenville, SC, Spartanburg, SC, Simpsonville, Travelers Rest, Greenwood, Pickens, Easley, or any other cities in between, why not give Don a call? Nearby cities in North Carolina include Asheville, Brevard, and Hendersonville. Are you getting married at the Symmes Chapel (Pretty Place)? He has played many weddings at this spot, and has the necessary equipment you need to have music there.