Sarah Austen
Sarah is a multi-instrumentalist based in Manchester with a Masters Degree from the Royal Northern College of Music where she studied with Rob Buckland and Carl Raven. Although primarily a saxophonist, Sarah also specialises in clarinet, piano and flute and uses each of these in her work as a freelance musician. As a performer, Sarah enjoys playing in pit bands for musicals and gigs regularly for various events such as weddings and birthdays. Whilst studying, Sarah had the privilege of working with world-renowned saxophonists such as Timothy McAllister and performed alongside Mo Pleasure. During her undergraduate degree at The University of Leeds, Sarah took the opportunity to study for a year at the University of Massachusetts in the USA where she worked with inspiring teachers on saxophone and clarinet to develop her playing.
Sarah is passionate about music in community outreach work and has experience bringing music into SEND schools and working with students with differing needs. As a teacher, she is working with Music for Life, bringing music education to schools in more remote areas that would otherwise have limited access to music lessons. She also teaches woodwind and piano privately and at The Music Place in Altrincham. Sarah also has training in Dalcroze and Eurhythmics and is interested in how we can learn and understand music through movement and listening. She puts this approach into practice in her musicianship and theory classes at Macclesfield Music Centre where she also runs a saxophone ensemble.
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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.