Holiday and other events:
Suzanne
and Doug Bade, holiday party:
"Kari,
thank you very much playing at our holiday party. We really enjoyed
your playing, as well as received many positive comments from
our guests. Your selection of holiday music was excellent. Hopefully,
you will be available again next year!"
Steve
Wilkinson, PSO Artistic Director (1998-99), PSO Personnel Mgr. (1980-88
& 1998-2002)
commenting on Kari's time as the Peoria Symphony's Principal Harpist:
"Harpist Kari Gardner is producing the most beautifully full harp
sound that this [Peoria Symphony] orchestra has ever experienced. I
have performed in the PSO since 1968, and Kari has become one of this
106-year-old orchestra's most professional, reliable, and musical assets.
Kari has been a real "find" and continues to blend her glorious
harp sounds into the orchestral mix with precision and energy. We are
fortunate to have her with us!"
John F. D., Executive V.P./Sales Manager, open house
"I wanted to take a quick moment to Thank you for the great job you did at our Open House. I got lots of compliments from our customers on the whole event including your performance. You Black & Gold Harp really grabbed their attention as they walked into our suite, and [it was a] great intro to our office. I believe that having the harp music playing as they entered our office and visited us for the first time created the 'ambience' I wanted. Once again thanks for the great job you did in making our event a memorable one."
Teresa
T. Philipp,
birthday party:
"Kari
Gardner was a wonderful addition to a fiftieth birthday celebration.
Her musical selections were eclectic and a refreshing mix of classical
and contemporary, reflecting favorite music. The room was filled
with the sound of her strings in the background, present but never
overbearing. Conversations were held at comfortable tones as her
music accompanied and enhanced thought, laughter and memories."
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Heide
MacLean,
funeral memorial service:
"The service
was perfect and having you there to play the angelic harp added
the "icing on the cake" so to speak. You certainly added
an elegant touch to the memorial and I am SO very glad you were
there. Your music was beautiful, elegant and so appropriate to the
occasion. I was extremely pleased! Thank you again!" |
Adam Schneblin, instrumental music director, First United Methodist Church, Christmas service
"Not only is Kari a nice person but she's a fantastic harpist. She did an excellent job and I hope to use her in the future."
Richard
Schwartz, rooftop proposal, Chicago, IL:
"On my engagement
night, I relied on Kari Gardner and her beautiful music, to create the
perfect mood. I surprised my fiance to be by asking her to escort me
with a glass of wine to the rooftop of our condo building. What Lori
heard upon setting foot on our rooftop overlooking the skyscrapers of
Chicago and Lake Michigan on a gorgeous summer evening, was the soothing
and emotionally enriched music from Kari's harp. Kari's music enhanced
the special emotions that my fiance and I were about to experience.
I proceeded to ask Lori to marry me and spent the next few hours enjoying
the scene, eating dinner, and listening to nearly every romantic song
that one could think of under the stars. Kari's professionalism, ability
to play a wide-range of songs, and overall skill were extremely impressive.
Without her music, this most important evening simply would not have
been the same."
Weddings Ceremonies:
Natalie
V. , bride, wedding in Bloomingdale, IL:
"Kari: I wanted to let you know that you were absolutely wonderful
at my wedding. You played exactly the music I wanted (especially Bittersweet
Symphony, which turned out to be my favorite part of the ceremony)
and it all sounded great! You looked simply stunning too! Very elegant!
I loved your long hair and your black harp and everything!!! You really
made a huge impact on the ceremony. So again, thank you so much for
everything that you have done. You were truly one of my favorite parts
of my day and I'm glad I went with you as my harpist."
Tonya
Lane, bride, wedding in Niles, MI:
"Hi Kari, Thank you so much for being so absolutely wonderful
to work with! Your promptness in communicating was always a pleasant
surprise, and my general comfort level only increased every time we
e-mailed. It was so nice to not have to worry about the music. Beautiful
music as a gift to our guests - that's what I had hoped for, and I
was SO happy with the results. I'm honestly not a sentimental type
- but even I had to fight getting choked up when you accompanied my
friends in "The Prayer". Every note I heard from the harp
that day was stunning. It was a sheer pleasure working with such a
professional. Thanks again!"
Jodie
S. , bride, wedding in Alsip, IL:
"Kari was wonderful to work with. She is very accommodating to
creating the wedding atmosphere I wanted for my wedding. She gave
great recommendations for songs and was very helpful when we went
to her home to pick out music. It was such a joy working with her
and I can't wait to here the final product of her music on my wedding
video as I was a little busy during most of her playing! "
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Greg
& April Gordon, wedding in Grant Park, IL:
"We had Kari perform for our wedding ceremony and we
couldn't have been more pleased. Since our ceremony was held
outdoors, we wanted a different kind of tone for our ceremony
music, and Kari's harp was the perfect fit. Light and elegant,
her music [all classical, as requested] was just what we were
looking for. Tastefully dressed, seated behind her beautiful,
black and gold harp, Kari herself fit nicely with the classy
and charming atmosphere that we hope we created.
She
is highly skilled and her playing is splendid. I would not
hesitate to recommend her to anyone!"
Kristin,
bride, wedding in Grant Park, IL:
"Kari was an amazing part of our Victorian wedding. She
set a mood of class and distinctiveness that awed everyone.
One of our guests is getting married in February and Kari
was so great that they got her business card right then and
there to have her play at their wedding! It's nice to be complimented
on the music at your wedding, but you know it is sincere when
they choose the same musician you have! Great job Kari! I
am glad to give your recommendation to anyone who will listen!"
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Duc
Nguyen, groom, wedding at the Glen Club in Glenview, IL:
"Having a harpist perform at your wedding brings grace, elegance,
and a touch of class which words can not describe. Kari was so helpful
in helping us select our musical pieces and performed impeccably at
our wedding. I would highly recommend Kari to anyone looking to host
an elegant wedding."
