Eleanor Mills
Eleanor Mills is a multi-instrumentalist and is an active freelancer frequently playing in orchestras and pit bands around the country. She is currently touring around the country with Kaleidoscope orchestra in their Daft Punk and Eminem shows, and has also appeared with them on BBC News and BBC Winter Watch. She was recently a dep at Thursford Christmas Spectacular in Norfolk, was part of the company premiering The Astonishing Times of Timothy Cratchitt at the Hope Mill Theatre and is a recipient of the Royal Philharmonic Society Enterprise Fund to create a series of filmed collaborations showcasing the scope of the bassoon through unusual instrumental pairings. Eleanor graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music in 2019 with an Advanced Post Graduate Diploma and a Masters with distinction, studying with Roberto Giaccaglia, Stefano Canuti and Gretha Tulls. Previously she studied with Laurence Perkins at the University of Nottingham achieving a BAHons in music.
Eleanor is extremely passionate about outreach and accessibility, striving to share music to as many people as possible. She is a Live Music Now musician and frequently leads workshops, and interactive concerts as well currently being in residence at two SEND schools, leading class wide music participation sessions and workshops weekly. During the lockdown she worked on a zoom initiative with Live Music Now and Cheshire and Merseyside Women and Children’s Partnership to bring music sessions to families of children who would not otherwise have access to music. Eleanor also works as a musician at Alder Hey Children’s hospital for the Music as Medicine project and for Da Da fest providing one to one sessions for long term patients.
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.