Catherine Handley

For over 30 years I have been privileged to experience the effect of music through taking projects to preschool and primary children, teaching all ages, performing to general audiences and playing music in care homes and hospitals.

I studied the flute (and piano, singing and conducting) at the Royal Academy of Music with Gareth Morris and completed my training at the National Centre for Orchestral Studies.

I have a freelance career playing orchestral and chamber music including flute and harp duos, wind ensembles and working for the charity Music in Hospitals and Care. Recent orchestral work has been with the English Symphony Orchestra, Mid-Wales Opera and Ensemble Cambrica.

I have been score-reading for televised concerts for over 15 years mostly for BBC Classical Music productions including the Proms and Cardiff Singer of the World.

I teach the flute at Cardiff University, RWCMD Junior Conservatoire and Monmouth Girls School and have enjoyed a variety of woodwind coaching including the National Children's Orchestra, National Wind Orchestra of Wales, Hertfordshire Youth Orchestra and the ESO Youth Orchestra.

I am fortunate to have made some interesting solo recordings:

• Ariel, flute and piano music by members of The Composers of Wales
• Flute Concertino and Spirit of the Mountain by Christopher Gunning with the RPO
• Isca and Mearc by Ian Lawson
• A Journey is folk music old and new

In my spare time, I love yoga and coastal/hill walking anywhere from the beautiful Welsh countryside where I live to the Alps and the Outer Hebrides.