Meet Brian Noel, Harpist in Long Beach

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian Noel.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Brian. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I am a harpist who performs for weddings, events, and religious services, as well as for other private and corporate events. I also perform with orchestras and choruses throughout southern California.

I started my musical training on piano when I was five years old. I started playing flute in junior high school, and decided to major on flute in college. After finishing my undergraduate degree, I won the audition for the assistant principal flute job in the concert band at West Point (United States Military Academy). While on active duty with them, I started taking lessons on a harp that the band owned that no one had played for over 20 years. Since then, harp has taken over as my main performing instrument, although I still teach all three instruments in my teaching studio.

Much of my performance currently is for weddings and events, such as private parties, brunches, religious services. The remainder of my time is spent playing with orchestras, such as the Rio Hondo Symphony in Whittier and various university groups, and accompanying choruses such as the Orange County Women’s Chorus, Long Beach Chorale, and Choral Arts Initiative.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Being a classical musician is a challenging road for most performers. Demand for our services is not the same as compared to other genres, and there is a lot of competition for a small amount of work. I think this is particularly true for harpists. I think most of us try to carve out a niche for ourselves playing freelance for private and corporate events. I’ve tried to become not only a strong soloist, but a solid ensemble player as well, being able to perform skillfully in small ensembles (duos, trios, quartets, quintets with winds and strings) for weddings and events. I also try to keep a varied repertoire, pulling not only from standard classical (Bach, Debussy) but including popular music as well (Gershwin, Disney).

We’d love to hear more about your business.
I specialize in live music for weddings and events. I would say that I’m known for being easy to work with and adaptable. I think my professional ethic, friendliness, and positive attitude set me apart.

What were you like growing up?
From the time my grandmother gave me my first piano lessons, I had an interest in music. I loved practicing and going to lessons and working on all different kinds of music, from Bach and Beethoven to pop. I have enjoyed the challenges of classical music, and working with other musicians to create beauty. I have always been very focused and goal-oriented. I think one has to be in order to become a solid musician in any genre.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.briannoel.com
• Phone: 949.378.1620
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Noel-Music-Enterprises-159143334122995/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/noel-music-enterprises-long-beach-2

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