Testimonials

"Just wanted to thank you for playing at our wedding on 5th September. It was absolutely beautiful and it complemented our drinks reception perfectly. We were lucky enough to be able to be outside and everyone commented on how beautiful your music was.

Thank you also for the wonderful cd...brings everything flooding back!
We're still very much on planet truffle...I think we'll be there forever.
Thank you once again for everything, you're truly top banana!"

Eleanor and Jo

Embers of Haworth 26/07/15

"We just wanted to say a very big thank you for playing so perfectly for our wedding at Coniston Hall on Sunday. We wanted to let you know that your contribution to our wonderful wedding day was appreciated and your music helped to create the perfect atmosphere. We have listened to the CD which you kindly made for us and this helps to provoke special memories and it will be treasured for many years to come."

Charlotte and James

Coniston Hotel 15/03/15

"Thank you ever so much for making our wedding so special. We love the CD that you made for us. Good luck and all the best in the future. If we ever have any more big functions we will be sure to call on your services again!"

Rebecca and Steve

Coniston Hotel 07/02/15

"Thank you so much for playing at our wedding, I wish I could have listened to more but the bits I heard were amazing! I've been listening to your CD and I've taken it into school to play to my class to keep them quiet ha ha- it's ace! It was lovely to meet you and thanks for helping make our day perfect."

Sarah and Neil

Chevin Country Hotel, Otley 08/08/14

"Thank you for helping to make our wedding day so special. We loved the range of songs you played and everyone complimented you and your playing. We were really impressed with all the ideas you gave us for song choices and really appreciate how quickly you always got back to us when we had queries. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend you to anyone.

"Thank you so much for playing so fabulously at our wedding! It was absolutely perfect and made the ceremony so much more special and personal. So many people commented on how good you were in both the ceremony and reception. You were so professional not only on the day but also in the lead up to the wedding, always answering emails/phone calls extremely quickly. The copy of the piano music is a lovely gesture as well."

Tania and Barry

Rudding Park, Harrogate 27/06/14

Amy and Matt

"Just wanted to say a massive thank you for playing at our wedding drinks reception – you were great. I really did mean to come over to say hello but I kept getting distracted. The CD is a lovely touch! Once again, thank you very much."

Anna and Richard

Chevin Country Lodge 23/05/14

"Thank you so much for playing at our wedding, we had loads of guests saying how great you were and we couldn't agree more."

Vicky and Liam

Coniston Hotel 16/05/14

"We really enjoyed your music on the day and felt it gave a great background to the venue and drinks reception. We found your CD in amongst the cards we got given. We have listened to it a few times and it brings back good memories from the day. Thanks for your contribution to the day."

Jen and Chris

Eaves Hall 10/05/2014

"Matthew it was such a special part of our day having you there to play for us. We are delighted with the cd and cannot thank you enough for all your efforts."

Natalie and Mark 19/04/14

"We had a wonderful day thank you. CD works perfectly and your music on the day really helped make our day. A lot of our friends and family have commented how good the music was."

Bryan and Rebecca 29/03/14

"We had an amazing day and thank you so much for being a part of it. You were fantastic and our guests completely agreed. The CD is great and such a nice reminder of the day."

Maria and Jody

Coniston Hotel 15/03/14

"Thank you very much for playing so beautifully at our wedding. You have had very many compliments from our guests who thoroughly enjoyed the music, as did we. We were very pleased with the music choices and your repertoire in the afternoon and it was one of the things which made our day so special, so THANK YOU!"

Keren and John

The Alma Inn 17/02/14

"Thank you so much for playing at our wedding. We had so many comments from guests about how you made the atmosphere during the reception and dinner. I will without doubt recommend you to everyone!"

Emily and Andrew McCombe

The Coniston Hotel 23/11/13

"Just wanted to say a huge thank you for playing at our wedding. We loved having you there and the guests were all impressed with your piano skills!"

Chris and Lucy

The Coniston Hotel 29/03/13

"A big thank you for your part in making our daughter's wedding so special. The music was lovely and helped to create a special ambience during the wedding breakfast. We would not hesitate to recommend your services to others."

Lyndon and Sandra Colley (Sarah's Dad and Mum)

Craiglands Hotel, Ilkley 11/08/12

"Huge, huge thanks for Sunday, you were fantastic and the singers, well, wow, absolutely amazing! Everyone commented on how great you all were and we couldn't have had a more enjoyable evening, truly fantastic!

We look forward to seeing you again at Embers, our favourite place on earth - well apart from Capri!!!"

Tracey and Mathew

Embers of Haworth 15/07/12

"Fabulous! We loved having Matthew play at our reception. Having known and worked with Matthew for a few years we knew what we were letting ourselves in for and he didn't disappoint! Arriving at the reception and hearing him playing was just beautiful! "

Claire and Sam

Broughton Hall, Skipton 28/06/13

"From the first time I met Matthew he was an absolute pleasure to deal with. We met at a wedding fayre at our venue and I immediately knew that we had to have him play at our wedding. As I turned round to see if my mum agreed I saw that she definitely did as she was in tears as he played so beautifully - my mum used to be a piano teacher so is not easily impressed!

I went to speak to Matthew and booked him straight away. A few months later I went to another wedding fayre and Matthew was there again. I assumed that he wouldn't remember me as he would have lots of clients. He immediately knew my name and remembered when we were getting married and at which venue. I was thrilled and knew that out of all the wedding suppliers he was my favourite! He had taken the time to remember us and was professional and approachable.

When we picked the wedding music he was very patient and did everything we asked - I am a bit of a control freak so had picked every song for the whole day! Matthew didn't seem to mind and was also fantastic at coming back to me quickly if I had any questions.

On the day of the wedding Matthew was perfect! We can't imagine our day without him. I knew he would be but was overwhelmed with how much all the wedding guests loved him! After he left we had people coming up to us saying how wonderful he was. Our photographer took some beautiful pictures of him playing and every time any of our guests see the pictures of Matthew they always comment again on how brilliant he was. I cannot speak highly enough of Matthew and would recommend him to anyone. He is a pleasure to deal with and the best piano player we have ever heard."

Rhiannon and James

Craiglands Hotel, Ilkley 31/03/12

“We asked Matthew to play piano at our wedding after hearing him play at The Coniston Hotel wedding fair.  Matthew was a really great help when we were choosing the music for the ceremony and reception, he is very professional, friendly and reliable.  I would definitely recommend Matthew to anyone looking for a pianist to help make their wedding even more special. Thank you for creating a wonderful atmosphere, many of the guests commented on how lovely the classical music was during the ceremony."

Adelle and Jonathan
The Coniston Hotel 27/08/11

"Matthew played the music for our wedding at Embers in Haworth. He was fantastic! 
He made the music side of our wedding so easy. He sent us a huge list of song choices from which we chose a selection and then left it to him! It was perfect! He is amazingly talented and such a lovely person, very professional and easy to deal with. At the wedding some of our guests asked for requests, to which Matthew obliged and wowed everyone! The music was fantastic and created the perfect atmosphere. We would highly recommend him to anyone. Thank you Matthew for adding that extra special touch to make our day so wonderful."

Coral and John
Embers of Haworth 23/07/11

"Matthew played at our wedding in May this year and was just a wonderful addition to our big day. The music he played made eveybody feel relaxed and we had so many comments about the quality of his playing. He kept in contact with us throughout the whole process and no request was too much. Thank you for being a part of our day and we wish you all the best in the future and would highly recommend you to anyone."

Chris and Jo
Craiglands Hotel, Ilkley 14/05/11

"Matthew’s piano playing added a real touch of understated, timeless elegance to our wedding reception. In fact, it is the element of the whole day that we were the most delighted with!  We found Matthew wholly professional to deal with in the run up to the day and he was even willing to add a piece of music to the repertoire which was my parents’ wedding song. The range of his repertoire and willingness to seek out a new piece of music made our day so personal – not just for us, but for our guests as well"

Sharon and Richard
Craiglands Hotel, Ilkley 12/03/11

"Matthew played during our drinks reception at Coniston Hotel.  He was professional, helpful and friendly from the outset, providing us with a comprehensive playlist and happily accommodating all our requests.  Matthew was also really flexible offering to play both inside and outside, tailoring his performance on the day dependent on the weather conditions.

All our guests were hugely impressed by his performance and he really helped to create a lovely, relaxed atmosphere for the drinks reception. We would have no hesitation in recommending Matthew for any occasion. Thank you Matthew for such a memorable performance on our special day."

Lisa and Ross
Coniston Hotel, Coniston Cold 29/08/10

"Choosing the musical accompaniment for our wedding was one of the least stressful parts due to the care consideration and advice that Matthew provided. Matthew played a wide range of music from classical to modern that catered to our varied tastes and provided an excellent background during the ceremony and the reception.

We would highly recommend Matthew to anyone wishing to receive excellent musical accompainment for any occasion."

Keiron and Louise
Coniston Hotel, Coniston Cold 04/06/10

"Whilst booking our wedding at the Craiglands in Ilkley, Matthew was recommended to us as a fantastic pianist by the hotel.  We contacted Matthew to see if he could play at our wedding on New Year's Eve, and he was happy to oblige.  From the first contact with Matthew he was very professional and helpful, he sent us his list of songs by email but offered to play any song we wanted even if it wasn't on the list.

We picked approximately 70 songs and Matthew played for 4 hours, and within this time, there were plenty of positive and delightful comments from many of our family and friends, he created a very warm and relaxing and atmosphere and we wouldn't hesitate in booking him again or recommending him to anyone in need of a true professional.

Thank you Matthew you were a true gentleman, and it wouldn't have been the same without you."

Mark and Natalie
Craiglands Hotel, Ilkley 31/12/09

"Thank you so much for playing at our wedding reception. We loved it! At first we had decided against 'little extras' such as hiring a pianist, but looking round during our drinks reception, seeing so many of our guests singing along, we felt really pleased with our decision! It really contributed to the relaxed and speacial atmosphere of the day, and we had so many comments from our guests saying how much they had enjoyed your playing. We really appreciated the personal, individual service and, with all the expense of a wedding, very good value for money. We would definitely recommend you."

Katie and Richard
Winter Gardens, Ilkley 12/09/09

"We hired Matthew to play at our wedding reception on 6th September 2009.
Nick proposed in our local restaurant in Haworth, where Matthew also plays
the piano.  As soon as we began planning the wedding, we really wanted
Matthew to play, because after Nick proposed, he played a song for us and
we thought it would be a lovely touch to have the same pianist on our big
day!

Prior to the day, Matthew supplied us with two very comprehensive song
lists and we were to select our favourite songs.  My family are Ukrainian, so
I asked Matthew if he could learn a couple of Ukrainian songs to surprise
our guests, but mainly my dad!  He was only too pleased to do this and the
songs sounded brilliant.

One of my fondest memories of the day was when some of the guests were
swaying and singing along when Matthew played Elton John's 'Your Song'.

All our guests loved it and Matthew was really professional....even when it
came to him leaving and he tried to leave quietly before the speeches, but
our guests noticed and started off a huge round of applause for him!!!

We would certainly recommend Matthew, he is very talented and extremely
professional....it was the perfect entertainment for our wedding reception."

Nadia & Nick
Alma Inn, Nr Colne 06/09/09

"We asked Matthew to play the piano at our wedding, when we heard him play at a Wedding Fair.  Matthew has a beautiful talent, which added so much to our special day.
Our guests mentioned to us on and after our day, how fabulous Matthew was. One guest even said that they wanted Matthew to teach their child how to play the piano!
We would just like to say a massive thank you to Matthew, he added that extra bit of glamour to our day."

Niki & Lisa
Craiglands Hotel, Ilkley 05/09/09

"We found Matthew through a wedding fair held at our venue - The
Craiglands, Ilkley - he was really chatty and pleasant and was open to
ideas and unusual requests. For example my husband and I are both Foo
Fighter fans so Matthew incorporated 'Everlong' into the set he did for
us. We hired Matthew to play during our wedding breakfast and prior to
the day he sent us loads of songs he could do and also included a list
that we reqested - he was very good at finding music for our requests
to make it personal for us.

On the day Matthew was there and set up when our guests arrived for the
meal, he played beautifully throughout the meal and it gave the whole
thing a romantic atmosphere and as we had chosen the songs it was
personal for us. So many of our guests commented on how Matthew's
playing helped make the meal special and different and they all loved
the music.

We would recommend Matthew to anyone wanting a professional piano
player at their wedding, he will help make your day that bit more
special and he really helps to make it personal to you. Thank you
Matthew, you did a wonderful job."

Helen and Liam
Craiglands Hotel, Ilkley 30/08/09

"We would like to say that you did a wonderful job at our wedding and lots of our guests commented on how good you were and the excellent song choices you played. You helped to create a wonderful atmosphere on our special day, thank you. We will not hesitate, and haven't done, to recommend you, with the excellent reportoire you provided there is something for everyone."

Emma & Andrew
Coniston Hotel, Coniston Cold 08/08/09

"Matthew played for our wedding reception & really helped make our day. He came up with loads of songs for us to choose from beforehand, and was also happy to add any others we asked for. On the night he played beautifully, and actually worked with our toastmaster, unbeknown to us, to organise a surprise number which was then sung by our friends and family just before we sat down to eat.

It made our night! We had a fantastic day & we’d recommend Matthew to anyone!"

Ally & Alex
Craiglands Hotel, Ilkley 16/05/09

"We booked Matthew to play at our son's christening lunch (50 guests) in Skipton on Sunday 10th May 2009. Despite not being given too much notice, Matthew was extremely helpful in advance and very willing to accommodate our terribly vague requests for 'something pleasant and fairly mellow' to fit the mood of the event, which was on a Sunday afternoon obviously.
We were delighted with his playing and with the atmosphere which he helped to create for the event.

It was a pleasure to have him as our guest musician and I would wholeheartedly recommend him for anything of a like kind which other people may be planning."

Ian & Sue
Canalside Restaurant, Skipton 10/05/09

"After first hearing Matthew we were hooked. From classical to rock numbers and more, Matthew plays anything and everything absolutely fabulously. We met Matthew a few times before our wedding to choose and request songs and he even learnt new pieces especially for us. All our guests adorded Matthew's playing throughout our reception and it is still a fondly talked about highlight of our day.

We would absolutely recommend Matthew to anybody who is looking for an amazing, personable and talented entertainer for any event as we, and our guests thoroughly enjoyed listening to well known songs played as you have never heard them before.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts - you made our day!"

Jen and Ben
Coniston Hotel, Coniston Cold 11/04/09

"Before the wedding he provided us with a vast array of songs that he could play, ranging from classical to the latest chart. It was also great that he was willing to find and play songs that were not even on the list. Once we had booked Matthew he made arrangements with the venue himself and provided all the necessary paperwork for them. He was more than happy to meet before the day to finalise arrangements.

On the day itself we arrived at the reception to find him there, set up and playing. Throughout the reception Matthew's playing was faultless. He was happy to chat to the guests and accomodate their requests where possible. Throughout the day he acted in a fully professional manner. We had a fantastic and special day, and Matthew certainly added to it. All our guests commented on the high quality of his performance and how it added to the atmosphere of the day. We would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone.

The band played at our wedding at Harewood House. They were excellent. Before the day we met to arrange a playlist. They had loads of suggestions but were very open and willing to include our ideas. We decided to change the lyrics to a song for our first dance and they were more than happy to learn the new words. On the day they arrived and set up in plenty of time. Their performance was fantastic. They adapted the playlist as they went on to keep everyone on the dance floor and had a great rapport and interaction with the guests. Whenever we talk about the wedding with people who were there, they always mention how great the band were and how they helped to create an amazing night. We would have no hesitation in recommending the band. They were not only talented musicians but also genuinely nice people!"

Amanda and Richard
Harewood House, Harewood 26/07/08

"We booked Matthew for our wedding in July 2008, and we can honestly say that it made the day. He was very helpful beforehand and any requests we had he was fine with. On the day he was very professional and we had no end of comments as to his excellent playing. My mum was very taken with him and mothers of the bride are very hard to please! We've already recommended him to two of our friends who are getting married in the next year."

Anne and Richard
Craiglands Hotel, Ilkley 05/07/08

"Thankyou for everything you did to make our wedding day so special and memorable, from the personalised entrance tune for Ian and myself which made everyone chuckle, to our jazzy wedding march and your help with the arrangements for the hymns, the entire service was perfect.

The arrangement of or chosen songs as our guests arrived at the reception venue was brilliant, it helped so much to create a relaxed and informal atmosphere. It was so much more personal having a professional performer present rather than the usual piped music. So many of the people who were there commented how much they enjoyed your playing, so thank you once again. We could honestly say we would have no hesitation in recommending you to anyone who would like to create something special for whatever occasion they are planning. We were delighted with every aspect."

David and Debs
White Heather Hotel, Carlisle 25/05/08