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Mel’s first piano teacher encouraged her to begin accompanying at the early age of 10, asking her to stay after her piano lessons to accompany the following student in her singing lessons.

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Mel continued her musical journey at secondary school as a member of both the Bodmin Community College Band and Jazz Orchestra – taking part in numerous concerts, competitions, overseas tours and charity events. She also accompanied her fellow students for their music exams and was a member of the Cornwall Youth Wind Orchestra, Cornwall Youth Orchestra and Cornwall Flute Choir.

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During her adult life she has played with the City of Truro Wind Orchestra, and for a variety of shows both in and out of Cornwall. She currently plays the flute in Restormel Concert Band.

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Mel has established a very successful private teaching practice over the past 25 years, teaching piano, flute, recorder, clarinet, saxophone and music theory to all ages, currently ranging from 4 to 82! This is combined with her job as a peripatetic woodwind and piano teacher for Cornwall Music Service Trust. She is also employed as a classroom music teacher throughout Key Stage 1 and 2 at St Mewan Academy, as well as accompanying the three very successful School Choirs and Community Choir.

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In 2012, in order to give her pupils the chance to play together, Mel established a flute ensemble named by the founder members as “Farley’s Flutes”, which regularly participates in the St Austell Music Festival and in 2013 had the amazing opportunity to perform in the Royal Albert Hall as part of a massed ensemble from Cornwall.

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Mel joined Loveny in February 2019 and, after only one rehearsal, was proud to accompany them at the Wadebridge Music Festival where they won their class with a distinction!