Guide to musical matrimony

A SOLOIST who performs with Anúna and who has worked with the Corrs and Brian Kennedy has come up with a novel idea to help couples planning their wedding day.

Sarah O’Kennedy said her CD, The Irish Wedding Album, forms a complete guide to choosing the perfect music for a wedding ceremony. It has 30 tracks headed by Wagner’s The Bridal Chorus.

“After 15 years, when I have performed at more than 400 weddings, I found that when it came to music for wedding day ceremonies, many couples were unsure where to start,” she said.

The tracks on the CD are divided up according to the different parts of the ceremony. “The recordings were made in a number of different locations with many different instruments... to give the listener a very clear idea of what their favourite instrument will sound like in a large or small church,” Sarah said.

She has also performed solo for the BBC’s religious programme Songs of Praise. “Some memorable wedding ceremonies where I was soloist took place in Westminster Cathedral and in the Palace of Westminster,” she said.

Sarah teaches voice at the Irish Harp Centre in Castleconnell.