Biography

My first introductions to music came through primary school recorder lessons, and after taking to this quickly, I wanted to try another instrument. My mum and gran were always huge fans of Sir James Galway, so I’m sure they were delighted to hear that, having looked up some instruments online, I liked the sound of the flute and wanted to try it! My mum took me to see him play at the Royal Albert Hall when I was nine, and he’s still an inspiration to this day.

I was lucky enough to have some amazing music teachers early on: my primary school flute teacher, who helped to foster a love of music-making and the flute, and my neighbour (who would go on to be my music teacher at secondary school!) who also advised my non-musical parents about where music could take me. I got involved in as much as I could, both inside and outside of school – taking lessons at the Junior RNCM and joining both the Hallé Youth Orchestra and National Youth Orchestra. From these experiences, I came to love the collective sound of an orchestra – and the idea of coming together with many other musicians to create something incredible. I also loved the opportunity to find new music and explore it in depth. I was able to do this further through obtaining my Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music, and ultimately, this fascination led me to pursue studying Music at Cambridge.

I went into Cambridge thinking I’d primarily be a performer, but studying there opened my eyes up to many other ways of thinking about music – the variety of perspectives here enriched my approach to performance and gave me new ways to inform my practice. Cambridge offered me so many opportunities to perform on top of the usual lectures, supervisions, and panicked essays: it allowed me to cover a vast range of symphonic repertoire, opera, chamber music, and even perform my first solo concerto. The COVID pandemic swooped in and disrupted my time here, but with fewer concerts happening, I was able to focus on other areas including psychology, postcolonial studies, philosophy, and preparing for master’s auditions. I went on to undertake a master’s at the Royal Academy of Music, where my studies were generously supported by the Charlotte Fraser Foundation. I was lucky enough to learn with Karen Jones, Laura Jellicoe, Anna Noakes, and Keith Bragg, who not only stretched my technique but dared me to experiment and be even more musical. My time at RAM was also key in developing professional connections – working with the Britten Sinfonia and playing side-by-side with the Philharmonia and CHROMA Ensemble.

Since finishing my studies, I have focused on creating a healthy and sustainable work-life balance, allowing myself time to recharge and explore my other interests outside of music. Alongside freelancing in London, I have been working in digital content creation and teaching flute, recorder, bassoon, oboe, and music theory.

For me, music started as a form of escapism and something incredibly fun – apparently I used to get home from school and immediately run upstairs to practise and get lost in the music. I would later come to see it as a powerful tool for connection and communication. It gave me a way to connect with my more emotional side, a way to express a depth and range of emotion that words could not, and a way to connect with so many groups of people and make lifelong friends. Music’s ability to transcend cultural and linguistic boundaries is something that will keep me wanting to share it with everyone!