An Answer to Prayer!
*Long review, but worth it!
Let me start by saying that my now-husband and I went through a super tricky time trying to find a pianist and vocalist for our wedding. We pursued several musicians who, for various reasons, were unable to accommodate us (one was already scheduled to perform at a baptism service, one was going to be on vacation on our wedding day, one was moving, one fell and hit her head on a car and suffered a brain injury, and another injured his wrist!).
With exactly 6 weeks remaining until our wedding day, we desperately reached out to a family friend whom we trusted to give a talented recommendation.
His recommendation was Susan Johnson.
Let me point out that there are people who can play instruments (and have no clue how to read sheet music), and then there are musicians who breathe, read, feel, and perform music. Susan is the latter, and was an answer to prayer.
My husband and I had many expectations for the musician we would hire for our wedding day. These expectations included playing prelude music, playing a special processional, playing and singing two worship songs with the congregation, playing and singing a solo during communion and the lighting of the unity candle, and playing the recessional. In my opinion, that was a lot for any musician to learn and practice in only six weeks!
Additionally, our special processional song was a version of “In Christ Alone” for which there is no sheet music! I was desperate to find a pianist who could listen to the rendition of “In Christ Alone” I found and loved on youtube, and play it pretty much note-for-note. We were all a little daunted by the task, but Susan was able to listen to the youtube recording and transcribe it into sheet music to play at our wedding. I was blown away by how close it sounded to the original that I found on youtube, and could NOT be happier with how it turned out!
Susan met all our expectations. She is super talented, dependable, knowledgeable, helpful, accommodating, and positive. She knows a piano inside and out, and has a truly lovely voice. Her talent and serving heart are definitely God-given, and if any desperate bride were to ask me for a recommendation for a musician, Susan Johnson would be it.
At your wedding, don’t settle. The musician significantly paints the feeling of your ceremony, and it’s just not worth it to waste time looking any further than Susan. I promise, you will not regret it! ^_^