Frequently asked questions about soloists

What are the soloist's functions?

1. He or she sings one or possibly two items during the signing of the register.
2. He or she helps the congregation in the singing of the hymns.
3. The soloist can sing a psalm, the wedding responses and a short prayer at the end of the service, though these particular aspects of the ceremony are more usually sung by a choir, if you have one, rather than an individual

All the above should be discussed in consultation with your vicar, priest or minister.

I'm not very musical. How can I tell if a soloist will do a good job?

Find out if the singer is a full-time professional, and if so, where he or she has performed recently. If the singer "can't remember" or has sung at "so many weddings it is difficult to know where to start", be on your guard.

Similarly, if the singer only performs as a soloist in a few local churches, this may indicate that his or her standard is not high enough to work more widely.

Ask for a demo CD and, more importantly, copies of references or letters of thanks.

Ask the soloist for some musical ideas, and beware if the only suggestion is Schubert's 'Ave Maria'! This may indicate a limited repertoire which, in turn, may indicate limited ability...

I'd like the soloist to sing my favourite love song/a non-religious piece. Can I do this?

The first thing to do is to check with your vicar, priest or minister. Provided the song is not actually sacrilegious, it is quite rare for there to be any objection, especially if you explain why the song is important to you.

If you are considering using a pop song, or a song from the shows, don't forget that it will sound very different played on an organ, and sung by a classically-trained singer. There is more to a pop song than simply playing or singing the notes - the musicians need to understand the style as well, and an operatic singer singing I will always love you would sound as ridiculous as a pop singer singing 'Nessun dorma'!

We have specialist singers in every style of music: the singer that we recommend will be suitable for the music that you want.

How can I engage a full-time professional singer?

Contact us! We have arranged solo singers for hundreds of weddings all over the country, we have specialists in all areas of vocal music, and can advise you as to repertoire suitable for your wedding, taking into account the denomination of the ceremony (Church of England, Roman Catholic, Nonconformist etc), the style of wedding that you want, and your own musical tastes.