Why Live Harp Music Feels So Right For Right Now

Started in 2025, The Harp Agency was founded by professional harpist Olivia Jageurs to help people find the perfect soundtrack for their event. With more than 15 years of experience performing on the harp, Olivia understands just how integral live harp music can be to shaping an unforgettable event atmosphere. All the harpists in The Harp Agency are handpicked as the industry’s finest and have played for celebrities and members of the Royal family, as well as world leading brands such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Porsche to name just a few. The Harp Agency has been created so you can easily book a top professional musician wherever you decide to hold your wedding.

Why Live Harp Music Feels So Right For Right Now

Why does live harp music feel more relevant than ever in the age of AI?

With the rise of AI making it increasingly hard to spot what’s real and what’s not, I think people are starting to appreciate human skill more than ever. All our harpists trained at the UK’s to conservatoires and have practised for hundreds of thousands of hours since they were children to perfect their craft. Nothing beats watching skin on strings making beautiful music, not forgetting the skill involved in crafting our very expensive instruments (upwards of £30,000) that are works of art in themselves! The instrument itself can provide quite the photo opp for your guests: one wedding I played at in recent years, the harp even ended up on the front page of The Telegraph as Naomi Campbell & Anthony Joshua were guests and decided to pose with it!

Has the new Bridgerton season sparked a surge in demand for classical instruments playing modern love songs at weddings?

The first Bridgerton season came out in December 2020. As soon as the first weddings started happening after lockdown was lifted so many couples started asking for Bridgerton-style pop covers. Most classical musicians had been playing pop covers for years before this for events, but the Bridgerton soundtrack by Vitamin String Quartet really boosted the popularity! It’s a fun way of modernising the traditional elements of your big day, and making it really personal to you.

Why is hiring a solo harpist a more cost-effective alternative to a full string quartet for live classical wedding music?

I think a lot of people probably don’t realise that the harp and piano are the only orchestral instruments who can play a melody and harmony at the same time, so we can effectively be a one man band. So if you decide your budget can only stretch to one live musician, make it a harpist! We are also far more portable than hiring a piano in for your event.

How do you create a soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere of the day without overpowering it?

I think the last thing guests want is to be shouting over each other while they are trying to mingle if the music is too loud when they arrive for the ceremony or are trying to chat during reception drinks. You don’t need to worry about a sound battle if you opt for a harp as it’s a gentle instrument relative to most. If the space is large or outdoors though we do recommend amplification, but this is something The Harp Agency can discuss with you and advise accordingly. In terms of genre of music, that is entirely up to you: all of our musicians are experienced in playing Bach through to Beyoncé.

What do people underestimate about the artistry and skill required to arrange and perform modern songs on the harp?

A lot of musicians can play pop covers, but to play them extremely rhythmically so that they are immediately recognisable is a skill. The harpists in our agency are the go-to industry musicians for pop sessions and have recorded with artists from Little Simz to Ellie Goulding, so you can be assured they know what they are doing!

How will advancing technology reshape live music at weddings and events – and why does authentic human artistry feel more essential than ever?

I hope the unstoppable rise of AI will make people appreciate human skill and craftmanship even more. Beauty is in the details at weddings: like artisan beading on your wedding dress or intricate lacework on your veil, a skilled expert playing a one-off rendition of your favourite son on a beautiful musical instrument surely has to beat hitting play on Spotify! A cringy sudden volume fade when you get to the end of the aisle, is a pet hate of mine. An experienced harpist will be able to loop your entrance music (so there’s no stress as to how fast or slow your flowergirls take down the aisle), bringing your chosen music to the perfect close when you reach your partner to say those all important vows.