“Hello! I’m
Cara
a freelance flautist, teacher and writer based between London and Manchester. On this website you can find all of my work in one handy place, and an introduction to Happy Practice: a passion project that brings all of my favourite things together.”
About
Primarily, I am a freelance flautist based between London and Manchester, though I pride myself in my diverse range of interests surrounding music and people. I am most passionate about spreading joy through music, whether that is as a teacher, player, or advocate for inclusivity. I obtained my undergraduate degree from the Royal Northern College of Music in 2020 and my postgraduate degree from the Royal College of Music in 2023. During my time at the RNCM, I served as Student Union President and later chaired the Conservatoires UK Student Network, which shaped my deep understanding of music education and the student experience.
Making music accessible is very important to me. I am pleased to be a musician with Live Music Now, and I perform with two chamber groups – Ormonde Ensemble and Chameleon. My work with Chameleon, especially visiting SEND schools, allows me to create magical, creative musical experiences with students. My work with Ormonde (specifically our Editions branch) gives me the opportunity to discover and introduce exciting new, or previously overlooked, repertoire to audiences, students and colleagues.
Education is a big part of my life. I have taught and coached ensembles at Junior RNCM, London Youth Conservatoire, and Camden Music Service and I now offer private lessons in London, nurturing my students as they build their own relationships with music and their instruments.
During my time as a student representative, I campaigned for student health and support across the country. I sat on several boards at the RNCM, and from 2022 to 2024 I sat on the MyHub board for music in Manchester, which strengthened my understanding of music education on a national scale. Seeing the music industry from the inside had a profound impact on my work as a musician and has encouraged me to use my interests to create positive change.
Alongside my performance and teaching work, I am committed to exploring the intersection of music and wellbeing. Driven by my interest in wellness, I am set to launch my project, Happy Practice, in early 2025, focusing on creating a positive mindset around our lives as musicians. I am also studying at the London Centre for Alexander Technique and Training, which underpins everything I do.
ENSEMBLES
Ormonde Ensemble are a creative and dynamic wind quintet comprising postgraduate musicians from the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music. They have a particular collective passion for seeking out and performing lesser-known and underrepresented works, whilst their broad, diverse range of musical experiences to date allows them to explore more standard elements of the quintet repertoire with a fresh and engaging approach.
Qualifications
2016-2020
Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester
Bachelor of Music
Studied with Laura Jellicoe, Josh Batty, Cormac Henry and Janet Richardson.
2021-2023
Royal College of Music, London
Master of Music in Performance
Studied with Sue Thomas, Gitte Marcusson, Adam Walker and Dimis Demetriades.
2023-Present
London Centre for Alexander Technique and Training
Studying the Alexander Technique with Refia Sacks, Judith Kleinman and Roger Kidd.
TEACHING
I have over a decade of experience as a teacher, working collaboratively with students across a broad range of ages, abilities, and disciplines. My teaching is student-led, with an emphasis on setting and achieving goals that are relevant to each individual.
I have taught and coached musicians at Junior RNCM, the London Youth Conservatoire, Aldeburgh Young Musicians, and RCM Sparks. Currently, I teach privately in London as a flute, trumpet, and theory tutor, and I work for Camden Music Service as a 1:1 teacher and leader of the KS3 Woodwind & Brass Ensemble.
Testimonials
I’m dedicated to helping musicians thrive and find joy in their music making. Here’s what some of my students and their guardians have to say about their experience:
Student
“Cara is very interactive when she teaches, and she is happy to show you things when you ask. She’s also all about F U N!”
Student
“Cara is kool! Every lesson she asks for feedback and what could be improved for the next lesson. She is Epic!”
Parent
“I really like Cara as a person and a human. As a parent and organizer of music lessons, I really appreciate that she’s consistent and timely with her schedule while remaining flexible. Cara teaches well and keeps lessons on track- firm without being overly strict. A truly strong teacher. We appreciate the notes after every lesson!”
Parent
“We really love Cara’s approach to teaching music. It’s engaging and fun, and the children have learnt so much about music theory as well as passing their practical exams! She’s extremely approachable and will do her best to work around the family’s schedule. A true gem, I cannot recommend Cara highly enough.”
For more information
Fill out the contact form below. I understand that personal financial circumstances might create a barrier to accessing music lessons, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you would like to enquire about the possibility of a bespoke arrangement.
Rates
30 Minutes
Introductory Practice
45 Minutes
Focused Practice
60 Minutes
Full Practice
Writing
I have been writing for almost as long as I’ve been making music. At the age of eight, I became a published author in a children’s poetry collection – which could have been the start of a glowing career as a writer – but as fate would have it, this coincided with me picking up a sparkly purple recorder in my school’s whole-class instrumental tuition scheme. The two hobbies co-existed for a while, but once I discovered the trumpet, flute, and steel pans, my writing took a back seat as I joined every music club I could.
Later on, during my music degrees, I discovered that my passion for writing didn’t need to be squashed in pursuit of becoming a professional musician – it was perfect for creating programme notes, blog posts, and entering music society competitions. I now write regularly as part of my work as a freelance musician, and you can find examples of my work below.
‘Finding Glencree’
My prize-winning article on Ina Boyle’s first symphony as featured on gramophone.co.uk