- New York City, NY
- Harpist
- $1,000 and up
Janelle Lake
Overview
Harp Music for Weddings, Private Events, Parties, Funerals, orchestral work, flute and harp music, harp and cello music, flute, harp and cello music.
Reviews
47 reviews
Tamyra D.
March 29, 2026Astonishing
Janelle was the highlight of my dinner. Thank you for everything!
Hired as: Harpist
Dan H.
December 15, 2025Janelle is a joy to work with!!
Janelle and her students were outstanding for our Live Nativity. So many people were moved by the beautiful playing next to the Stable. Thank you!!
Hired as: Harpist
Amanda M.
July 14, 2025Incredible Talent and Lovely Kindness
Janelle is a remarkably talented harpist. She gifted us with her skill during our Cocktail hour, and her music made the hour absolutely magical! She has a set of gorgeous songs in her repertoire, but she also took several video game song requests from my husband and I, and played them so beautifully. We received so many compliments on her gorgeous music, and are incredibly grateful for all of her kindness in the process of planning and communication leading up to our wedding , thank you again so much!
Hired as: Harpist
Heidi O.
December 4, 2024A consummate professional!
Janelle is incredibly talented and having her at the party was a delight. From the music selections to her lovely personality, I would recommend her to anyone considering adding live entertainment to an event or celebration!
Hired as: Harpist
Janelle Lake
Thank you Heidi! What a joy it was to see a warm group of friends celebrating your mother!
Susan N.
October 18, 2024Plays the harpist beautifully
Janelle did a great job and played beautifully during our wedding ceremony last weekend. She is so talented and knows how to play all different genres. Definitely recommend to book her for your next event!!
Hired as: Harpist
Janelle Lake
Thank you Susan! Your wedding was stunningly beautiful!
Booking information
Price range: $500 and up
Languages: English, German
Gig length: 10 - 600 minutes
Insurance: $1,000,000 - COI
Unions: AFM
What to expect
Janelle knows the questions to ask to ensure her live music flows around each event. Whether she’s imagining processional order to time grand entrances at a wedding, or working quickly to honor a loved one’s memory at a funeral, or security clearance and return details for private jet performance, Janelle loves each unique event.
Janelle always has amplification on hand if needed and can read body language as pertaining to music volume.
Using her ipad to read sheet music, Janelle can play almost anything from Bach to Beyoncé.
About
Janelle Lake delights in using music to connect people. As the founder and manager of the Southwest Chicago Symphony Orchestra, her current passion project is uniting the classically trained musicians of the north side of Chicago with the gospel-trained musicians of the south side of Chicago.
In 2007, Janelle played the harp daily at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island meeting movie stars and political figures. She still freelances heavily around Chicago (Drake, Penninsula, Langham, etc.). Janelle has taught at Loyola University, the University of Chicago, Chicago’s WISH program, the Sherwood School at Columbia College, and the Music Connection, and has a large and diverse private studio. She is a registered Suzuki teacher. Her students have won multiple awards including scholarships to Brown University, Barnard, Yale, Wellesley, Oxford, Oregon State, Michigan State, first place at the Greater Chicago Chapter of the American Harp Society competition, Superior Ratings at the Illinois Federation of musicians’ Evaluations, Loyola’s Honors program, and multiple First Class Honors ratings from the Royal Conservatory of Music.
From (phone number hidden)6, Janelle was the artistic director at Venus Harps. The connections she made at Venus took her on adventures: learning about looping from Tom Moth of Florence and the Machine, performing on a private jet, encouraging and teaching harpists around the world. Recently, Janelle played on stage with Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins), Billy Swan, and Perry Ferral (Jane’s Addiction).
Janelle holds principal harp positions with the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra and Southwest Symphony Orchestra and performs regularly with many other ensembles. She is a founding member of the Young Lake harp duet.
Janelle loves to travel and has lived on a boat on the Great Barrier Reef, camped in the Serengeti, summited Mt. Kilimanjaro, dived with sharks in South Africa, swam in the world’s largest rooftop pool in Singapore, traveled by train across Europe, zip lined in Honduras, and has been to all 50 US states. Besides her passions of harp playing and travel, Janelle loves being a wife and a mother of two.
Additional booking notes
The harp requires a 4X4’ flat surface.
Direct sunlight exposure for a prolonged period damages the harp, so the harp needs shade.
Due to the expensive nature of the instrument, the harp cannot get wet.
Services offered
Upcoming booked events
September 2026
05
Saturday
Baby Shower
12:00pm - 3:00pm
•
Winnetka, IL
Past booked events
May 2026
17
Sunday
Wedding Ceremony
1:30pm - 4:30pm
•
Plymouth, IN
March 2026
28
Saturday
Birthday Party
7:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Chicago, IL
December 2025
14
Sunday
Nonprofit Event
2:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Naperville, IL
August 2025
30
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
2:30pm - 3:30pm
•
Itasca, IL
July 2025
12
Saturday
Wedding Reception
6:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Itasca, IL
December 2024
03
Tuesday
Birthday Party
7:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Chicago, IL
October 2024
25
Friday
Funeral/Memorial Service
4:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Barrington, IL
12
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
3:00pm - 4:00pm
•
Oak Brook, IL
August 2024
17
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
12:30pm - 2:30pm
•
Valparaiso, IN
May 2024
07
Tuesday
Cocktail Party
3:00pm - 4:00pm
•
Chicago, IL
04
Saturday
Nonprofit Event
11:30am - 1:00pm
•
Chicago, IL
April 2024
09
Tuesday
Corporate Event
4:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Des Plaines, IL
March 2024
19
Tuesday
Nonprofit Event
11:00am - 12:00pm
•
Oak Park, IL
February 2024
17
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
5:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Homer Glen, IL
December 2023
13
Wednesday
Corporate Event
3:00pm - 5:00pm
•
Chicago, IL
November 2023
11
Saturday
Baby Shower
6:00pm - 7:30pm
•
Chicago, IL
October 2023
14
Saturday
Birthday Party
6:00pm - 7:30pm
•
Downers Grove, IL
08
Sunday
Wedding Ceremony
4:00pm - 5:30pm
•
Frankfort, IL
June 2023
24
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
3:00pm - 5:00pm
•
Milwaukee, WI
17
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
4:00pm - 6:00pm
•
Chicago, IL
09
Friday
Wedding Cocktail Hour
5:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Lake Forest, IL
03
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
4:30pm - 6:30pm
•
Hobart, IN
May 2023
20
Saturday
Dinner Party
7:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Oak Brook, IL
14
Sunday
Easter Party
11:00am - 12:30pm
•
Blue Island, IL
06
Saturday
Baby Shower
11:00am - 12:30pm
•
Chicago, IL
March 2023
18
Saturday
Wedding Reception
7:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Lombard, IL
16
Thursday
Corporate Event
1:00pm - 3:00pm
•
Chicago, IL
12
Sunday
Birthday Party
5:30pm - 6:30pm
•
Chicago, IL
February 2023
11
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
5:00pm - 6:00pm
•
Chicago, IL
November 2022
26
Saturday
Wedding Reception
6:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Chicago, IL
October 2022
22
Saturday
Wedding Reception
4:00pm - 6:00pm
•
Wheeling, IL
13
Thursday
Corporate Event
6:00pm - 7:30pm
•
Chicago, IL
09
Sunday
Baby Shower
11:30am - 2:30pm
•
Clarendon Hills, IL
September 2022
04
Sunday
Wedding Ceremony
6:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Chicago, IL
August 2022
06
Saturday
Baby Shower
5:30pm - 6:30pm
•
Whiting, IN
July 2022
24
Sunday
Baby Shower
1:00pm - 4:00pm
•
Glenview, IL
June 2022
25
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
6:00pm - 7:30pm
•
Lisle, IL
April 2022
16
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
3:30pm - 4:30pm
•
Holland, MI
February 2022
20
Sunday
Wedding Ceremony
3:00pm - 4:00pm
•
Joliet, IL
January 2022
16
Sunday
Wedding Reception
4:30pm - 5:30pm
•
Joliet, IL
December 2021
17
Friday
Funeral/Memorial Service
10:30am - 12:30pm
•
Hinsdale, IL
October 2021
09
Saturday
Cocktail Party
6:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Oak Brook, IL
03
Sunday
Bridal Shower
12:30pm - 2:30pm
•
Milwaukee, WI
August 2021
31
Tuesday
Funeral/Memorial Service
1:00pm - 3:00pm
•
Country Club Hills, IL
July 2021
11
Sunday
Wedding Ceremony
4:00pm - 5:00pm
•
Chicago, IL
April 2021
24
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
3:00pm - 5:30pm
•
Des Plaines, IL
09
Friday
Funeral/Memorial Service
10:00am - 10:45am
•
Elk Grove Village, IL
October 2020
29
Thursday
Cocktail Party
6:00pm - 8:30pm
•
Chicago, IL
September 2020
06
Sunday
Wedding Ceremony
3:00pm - 4:00pm
•
Prospect Heights, IL
July 2020
17
Friday
Wedding Ceremony
4:30pm - 6:00pm
•
Lemont, IL
14
Tuesday
Funeral/Memorial Service
10:00am - 10:30am
•
Berwyn, IL
February 2020
14
Friday
Holiday Party
8:00am - 10:00am
•
Chicago, IL
November 2019
02
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
5:30pm - 8:30pm
•
Chicago, IL
September 2019
07
Saturday
Religious Celebration
10:00am - 11:00am
•
Naperville, IL
June 2019
15
Saturday
Wedding Cocktail Hour
7:00pm - 8:30pm
•
Chicago, IL
04
Tuesday
Funeral/Memorial Service
7:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Chicago, IL
May 2019
17
Friday
Wedding Ceremony
6:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Hinsdale, IL
October 2018
27
Saturday
Wedding Reception
7:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Oakbrook Terrace, IL
September 2018
15
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
1:00pm - 3:00pm
•
Portage, IN
December 2017
20
Wednesday
Concert
7:30am - 10:00am
•
Chicago, IL
17
Sunday
Birthday Party
5:00pm - 7:30pm
•
Tinley Park, IL
07
Thursday
Corporate Event
12:00pm - 3:00pm
•
Naperville, IL
August 2017
05
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
4:00pm - 5:30pm
•
Oswego, IL
July 2016
17
Sunday
Wedding Ceremony
3:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Chicago, IL
June 2016
26
Sunday
Anniversary Party
2:00pm - 4:30pm
•
Naperville, IL
February 2016
06
Saturday
Dinner Party
7:00pm - 10:00pm
•
Mettawa, IL
October 2015
24
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
3:00pm - 3:45pm
•
Munster, IN
September 2015
05
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
5:30pm - 7:00pm
•
North Chicago, IL
June 2015
13
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
5:30pm - 6:30pm
•
Bridgman, MI
March 2014
09
Sunday
Birthday Party
5:00pm - 11:00pm
•
Highland, IN
November 2013
21
Thursday
Luncheon/Tea
2:00pm - 3:00pm
•
Oak Park, IL
September 2013
14
Saturday
Funeral Service
11:30pm - 1:00am (Sun)
•
Zion, IL
June 2013
09
Sunday
Bridal Shower
12:00pm - 1:30pm
•
Mundelein, IL
Set list
Top Wedding Processionals
Canon in D, Johann Pachelbel
At Last, Etta James
Can't help falling in love, George David Weiss
Here Comes the Sun, George Harrison
Something, Beatles
Moon River, Henry Mancini
Landslide, Fleetwood Mac
What a Wonderful World, George David Weiss
Falling Slowly, Glen Hansard
Bittersweet Symphony, The Verve
Angelus, Renie
Your Song, Elton John
A Time for Us, Nino Rota
Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Iz
La Vie en Rose, Louiguy
Perfect, Ed Sheeran
If It’s Magic, Stevie Wonder
Thousand Years, Christina Perri
Into the West (Lord of the Rings), Walsh, Shore, Lennox
Disney
Beauty and the Beast, Alan Menkin
When you wish upon a Star, Leigh Harline
Married Life, (‘Up’), Michael Giacchino
Under the Sea, (Little Mermaid) Alan Menkin
Can you feel the Love Tonight, (Lion King)
Colors of the wind (Pocahontas), Alan Menken
A Dream is a Wish your Heart Makes, (Cinderella)Jerry Livingston
Little April shower (Bambi), Larry Morey
Little Black Rain Cloud (Winnie the Pooh), Robert B Sherman
Part of your World (Little Mermaid), Alan Menken
A Whole new World (Aladdin)
Some Day My Prince Will Come (Snow White)
Rainbow Connection, Paul Williams
Let it Go (Frozen),
Do you Want to Build a Snowman (Frozen)
Into the Unknown (Frozen II)
Circle of Life (Lion King)
How Far I’ll Go (Moana)
Egg (Finding Nemo)
Touch the Sky (Brave)
Remember Me (Coco)
I See the Light (Tangled)
You’ll Be in My Heart (Tarzan)
Musicals and Classics
Summertime, Gershwin
American in Paris and Rhapsody in Blue, Gershwin
Angel of Music (‘Phantom of the Opera’), Andrew Lloyd Webber
April Showers, Louis Silvers
At Last, Etta James
As Time Goes By, Herman Hupfield
Can't help falling in love, George David Weiss
Unchained Melody, Righteous Brothers
Try to Remember, (the fantasticks)
They Were you, (the "fantasticks)
Think of Me (‘Phantom of the Opera’), Andrew Lloyd Webber
Tea for Two, Vincent Youmans
Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head, Burt Bacharach
Way You look Tonight, Jerome Kern
Ain’t Misbehavin’, Thomas “Fats” Waller
Somewhere in Time, John Barry
Begin the Beguine, Cole Porter
People (Funny Girl), Barbara Streisand
On My Own (Les Miserables),
My Favorite Things (Sound of Music), Richard Rogers
Music of the Night (Phantom of the Opera), Andrew Lloyd Webber
Misty, Errol Garner
Memory (Cats), Andrew Lloyd Webber
What a Wonderful World, George David Weiss
Lara’s Theme, Maurice Jarre
Killing Me Softly with His Song
Autumn Leaves, Johnnie Mercer
Fly Me to the Moon, Frank Sinatra
Some Enchanted Evening (South Pacific), Richard Rodgers
Someone to Watch Over Me, Gershwin
Sound of Music, Richard Rogers
Edelweiss (Sound of Music), Richard Rogers
Bewitched (Pal Joey),
Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man,
Chances Are
Autumn Leaves, Mercer
But Not for Me
Fascination, F.D. Marchetti
Embraceable You, Gershwin
Don’t Get Around Much Anymore, Duke Ellington
Stardust, Hoagy Carmichael
Fascinating Rhythm, Gershwin
They Can’t Take That Away from Me, Gershwin
Chicago, Fred Fisher
My Funny Valentine, Richard Rodgers
Georgia on My Mind, Hoagy Carmichael
I Get a Kick Out of You, Gershwin
They Can’t Take That Away From Me
Relaxing Classics
Annie’s Song, John Denver
Just the Way You Are, Billy Joel
Hallelujah, Leonard Cohen
Eight days a week, John Lennon
Eleanor Rigby, John Lennon
I will, John Lennon
In my life, John Lennon
Here Comes the Sun, George Harrison
The Wind Beneath My Wings, Jeff Silbar
I Will Always Love You, Whitney Houston
Breathe, Anna Nalick
M*a*s*h, Mike Altman
May It Be, Enya (from “Lord of the Rings”)
Hey Jude, Paul McCartney
Angel, Sarah Mclaughlan
Across the Universe, John Lennon
Somewhere out there, Linda Ronstadt
Send in the Clowns, Stephen Sondhein
She’s Leaving Home, Beatles
Let it Be, Beatles
My Heart Will Go On, James Horner
Moondance, Van Morrison
Moon River, Henry Mancini
Longer, Dan Fogelberg
Lovin’ You, Minnie Ripperton Rudolph
I’ll Be There, Berry Gordy
The Long and Winding Road, Beatles
Take Me Home Country Roads,
Desperado, Don Henley
Wonderful Tonight, Eric Clapton
The Notebook, Aaron Zigman
Yesterday, Beatles
And I Love Her, Beatles
And So it Goes, Billy Joel
Through the eyes of Love (Ice castles), Marvin Hamlisch
Nights in White Satin, Justin Hayward
Surfer Girl, Beach Boys
Buongiorno Principessa (Life is Beautiful)
Fields of Gold, Sting
Have I Told You Lately, Van Morrison
Pop/Rock/R&B/Jam
Love, CKAY
Runaway, Kanye West
Without Me, Halsey
Lovin’ You (Is Easy ‘Cause You’re Beautiful), Minnie Riperton
Wrecking Ball, Miley Cyrus
Purple Rain, Prince
Bad Romance, Lady Gaga
Paparazzi, Lady Gaga
Under the Bridge, Red Hot Chili Peppers
Stairway to Heaven, Led Zepplin
Set Fire to the Rains, Adele
‘81, Joanna Newsom
Peach, Plum, Pear, Joanna Newsom
Love Story, Taylor Swift
Clocks, Coldplay
Yellow, Coldplay
Viva la Vida, Coldplay
Home, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
Get Lucky, Daft Punk
Waste, Phish
Box of Rain, Grateful Dead
Fireflies, Owl City
Halo, Beyoncé
Love on Top, Beyoncé
Crazy in Love, Beyoncé
Satisfied (Hamilton)
Silly Love Songs, Paul McCartney
Love Yourself, Justin Bieber
Despacito, Justin Bieber
Love and Some Verses, Iron and Wine
Zombie, Cranberries
Dreams, Cranberries
Cheap Thrills, Shia
Mad World, Gary Jules
You Are the Best Thing, Ray LaMontagne
All of Me, John Legend
Daydreaming, Radiohead
Focus, H.E.R.
Sailor Moon
Kal Ho Naa Ho
Marry You, Bruno Mars
Stay with Me, Sam Smith
Happy, Pharrell Williams
Havana, Pharrell Williams, Young Thug
Chasing Cars, Snow Patrol
Runaway, Kanye West
Crazy, Gnarles Barkley
Theme from ‘The Office’
If It’s Magic, Stevie Wonder
I Just Called to Say I Love You, Stevie Wonder
Merry Go Round of Life (Howl’s Moving Castle)
Video Game
Zelda’s Lullaby
Final Fantasy VII
Battle Chef
Christian
So Be Ye Kind,
The Prayer, Josh Groban
Simple Gifts, Shaker
Amazing Grace
How Great Thou Art
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
On Eagle’s Wings
Classical/ Romantic/ Opera
Pavane, Ravel
Pavane, Faure
O, mio bambino caro, Giacomo Puccini
Fur Elise, Beethoven
First Arabesque, Claude Debussy
Clair de Lune, Claude Debussy
Dreaming of You, Rhett Barnwell
Prelude in C, J.S. Bach
Cello Suite No. 1, J.S. Bach
Jupiter, Holst
Concerto in B Flat, Handel
Nataliana, Deborah Henson-Conant
Nightingale, Deborah Henson-Conant
Minstrel’s Adieu to His Native Land, Thomas
The Godfather III, Mascagni
Never Ending Road, Loreena McKennitt
Penelope’s Song, Loreena McKennitt
My Inner Voice, Roxanna Monsanto
Celtic
Danny Boy
The Banks of the Roses
My Guiding Star
Blind Mary
Brigid O'Malley
The Wild Geese
Gaelic Melody
Star of the Country Down
Influences and inspiration
Bach to Beyoncé; Mahler to Bad Bunny; Royal Prince of Denmark’s Theme to Prince; Gershwin to Taylor Swift; Debussy to Disney
My influences are vast!
Setup requirements
A chair
Report Janelle Lake
Harpist
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