Cara Houghton
An alumna of both the Royal College of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music, Cara Houghton is a freelance flautist, teacher and writer based between London and Manchester.
She enjoys playing a broad range of music, but has a particular interest in commissioning and performing contemporary music and was selected as a London Sinfonietta Academy Musician for 2023.
Cara has worked with Students’ Unions for several years, becoming the Chair of Conservatoires UK Student Network for 2021/22 and campaigning for the health and support of students across the country. She won the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Writer’s Prize in 2022 and has since been featured on the Gramophone website. Her combined passion for playing, teaching, writing and wellness has resulted in the creation of her new project Happy Practice, which will be launched in Summer 2024.
A passionate educator, Cara previously taught and coached ensembles at Junior RNCM, and now has her own private students based in London. When working with Chameleon she particularly enjoys her visits to SEND schools and bouncing off the students’ creativity to create magical musical experiences!
Get to know us
Cara Houghton
Flute, Piccolo, Alto Flute,
Cara Houghton is a Mancunian flautist currently living in London after gaining her Master of Music in Performance degree from the Royal College of Music in 2023. She is an accomplished performer, teacher and writer, with a passion for bringing musical experiences to a wide audience through education and performance.
Sarah Austen
Soprano and Alto Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute
Sarah is a Manchester based Saxophonist who has just finished her postgraduate studies at the RNCM. She loves performing and teaching and is especially passionate about music in community projects and exploring the therapeutic applications of music. As a Reed Doubler, Sarah also enjoys playing in pit bands for musicals.
Eleanor Mills
Basson, Baritone Saxophone, Clarinet
Principally a bassoonist Eleanor also frequently plays saxophone, clarinet and flute. She is an active freelancer, often playing in pit orchestras, including recently playing in the Hope Mill’s 2019 Christmas Show 'The Astonishing Times of Timothy Cratchitt'. In summer 2019, she played with the Halle after a year long professional experience scheme through RNCM.