Sarah Miller (flute) and Elinor Nicholson (harp) met whilst studying at the Royal Northern College (RNCM) and formed the Meridiem Duo in 2013. Since then the duo have been exploring the wide range of repertoire available for this instrumentation. The Meridiem Duo has been coached by chamber music specialists including Petr Prause, Rob Buckland and Pavel Fischer. Their debut performance took place in the RNCM concert hall as part of the College’s Monday Lunchtime Recital Series. The duo are delighted to have been recently accepted onto the Live Music Now Scheme, founded by legendary violinist Yehudi Menuhin.
Scottish harpist Elinor Nicholson is currently in her first year of the Master’s of Music course at the RNCM studying with renowned harpist Eira Lynn Jones. She recently gained a BMus with first class honours from the College. Elinor was inspired to begin learning clarsach (Scottish lever harp) at the age of ten when a short workshop was given at her school. This resulted in her studying the instrument with acclaimed celtic harpist and composer Savourna Stevenson.
Elinor is a keen orchestral musician and in 2013 represented the RNCM as principal harpist in their trip to Italy, where students performed at the Cantiere Internazionale d’Arte di Montepulciano. Last year, Elinor was delighted to be accepted on to the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra’s ‘Professional Experience Scheme’, which offered valuable training and performance experience with the orchestra. Elinor is grateful to the support of the Albert and Eugenie Frost Trust and the Countess of Munster Musical Trust.
Brought up in Manchester, Sarah is in her final undergraduate year at the RNCM studying with Laura Jellicoe. Since entering the College, she has been given wonderful soloist, chamber music, and orchestral opportunities, recently recording a wind orchestra CD as well as playing in Shostakovich’s seventh symphony, performed at The Bridgewater Hall with the RNCM Symphony Orchestra.
Sarah is passionate about chamber music and as well as working with Elinor as a duo, she enjoyed playing with the Boreas wind quintet and has performed in a variety of venues with both groups, most recently working with the distinguished Live Music Now Scheme. Sarah was recently given the wonderful opportunity to play a week of concerts with the Hallé Orchestra and has now been placed on the orchestra’s list of extra players. Sarah’s flute was purchased with the help of the Sir John Barbirolli Memorial Foundation.
