Private and Special Events
Pamela is available to perform at weddings, funerals and memorial services, corporate functions, private celebrations and special events. With extensive professional experience across classical, operatic and contemporary repertoire, she can tailor the music to suit the occasion — from a meaningful song for an intimate ceremony to an unforgettable operatic moment for a larger celebration.
Her experience as an events performer is extensive and varied, including professional and corporate functions, sporting events, gala balls and cocktail parties, weddings and celebrations of life. Previous engagements have included performances at Sydney Children’s Hospital Gold Dinner, AMP Tomorrowmakers Foundation, TwoGoodCo, as well as numerous weddings, funerals and events for major organisations and private clients.
Pamela can work with you to select repertoire that reflects the atmosphere and significance of your event, and can perform with piano or organ, other instrumental accompaniment or professionally prepared backing where appropriate.
For availability, repertoire suggestions or to discuss a particular event, please get in touch.
Funerals
Music at a funeral is a wonderful way to honour your loved one's memory, and to help the mourners be present in their time of grief.
With the family’s help, I design a musical program to celebrate the life of their loved one and provide a sense of occasion.
Download my funeral information pack here.
I've demystified some of the funeral terminology below to help make sense of it. These suggestions I'm making are intended for a non-religious mass service. Religious masses have a set structure and music built into them already, though you can certainly choose some of the pieces. If you're having a religious service, your church can provide some guidance.
PRE-FUNERAL MUSIC
An organist can play soft, gentle music for you before the service starts, as everybody is taking their seats. Alternatively, the funeral home can play mp3s of songs that your loved one would have liked. You can pick them if you’d like to.
PROCESSIONAL
This is a song performed as the casket is brought in, or if the casket is already in place, a song performed to open the service just before the celebrant speaks. It is an important, emotional moment.
REFLECTION
A song performed partway through the ceremony to allow the mourners to reflect. It can be a vocal piece, or just the organist playing something meaningful to you. Alternatively, a recording can be played.
SLIDESHOW MUSIC
There will often be a song played during the photo slideshow of somebody's life. It is easiest if this is recording, as it needs to be strictly timed to the length of the photo slideshow. About 4 minutes is good.
HYMNS
It is nice to have at least one hymn during the service for the mourners to sing. Most people know the tune of a couple of famous hymns. Your loved one may have had a particular hymn that they liked.
RECESSIONAL
This is a song performed at the end of the ceremony as the casket is taken out (for burial) or the curtain is closed (for cremation). The family then leaves the chapel, and the mourners file out row by row.
Song Choices
Here is a list of popular funeral song choices that I've performed at funerals before which may give you some ideas about what you'd like to have at the service. It's entirely your decision, but I can help guide you.
CLASSICAL
Ave Maria - There are a few different versions of this. My favourites are by Schubert and Bach-Gounod.
Flower Duet (solo or duet) - Lakme, Leo Delibes
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring - Johann Sebastian Bach
L'amero - Il re pastore, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Morgen! - Richard Strauss
Sure on this shining night - Samuel Barber
Will there really be a morning? - Ricky Ian Gordon
CONTEMPORARY
Climb Every Mountain - from The Sound of Music
Fields of Gold - Eva Cassidy
Nella Fantasia - Ennio Morricone (also known as "Gabriel's Oboe", theme song from The Mission)
Over The Rainbow - traditional version, or versions by Eva Cassidy or Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
The Rose - Bette Midler
You Raise Me Up - Josh Groban
HYMNS
Abide With Me
Amazing Grace
How Great Thou Art
Jerusalem
Morning Has Broken
Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven
Psalm 23, The Lord is My Shepherd (set to the 'Crimond' tune)