Recital: Duo Melus

Programme:

William Mathias: Sonatina

Dilys Elwyn-Edwards: Four Short Movements

Huw Watkins (Festival Patron): Capriccio

Francis Poulenc: Sonata

6 Welsh Folksongs arr. Stephen Goss: Dafydd y Gerreg Wen, Wrth fynd hero Deio i Dywyn, Suo Gân, Lliw Gwyn Rhosyn yr Haf, Lisa Lân, Hela’r Sgyfarnog

Biography:

Duo Melus was formed in 2018 by two distinguished London-based instrumentalists, flautist Katie Taunton and pianist Jack Redman. In November 2023 they made their debut at Wigmore Hall and recently became City Music Foundation Artists (2024-2026). With Jack also a composer, they have an affinity for new repertoire and innovative programming. The duo are enthusiastic about presenting newly curated programmes to diverse audiences, and their current project involves the revival of overlooked Welsh flute and piano works. Their November 2023 Wigmore Hall recital put the spotlight on the compositions of Grace Williams, Huw Watkins, and Rhian Samuel.

Katie and Jack are actively commissioning new music. Their most recent commission by the brilliant young Welsh composer Nathan James Dearden represents a celebration of a continuing tradition of Welsh music written for flute and piano. This was premiered at St Martins-in-the-Fields in March 2025.

Duo Melus are passionate music facilitators with experience working in hospitals, schools and with people living with dementia. Their approach is participant-led, creating inclusive spaces for music making with no barriers, allowing individuals to express themselves freely and connect through sound. The duo have collaborated with the Open Academy and Julian West, and they look forward to creating more opportunities for communities alongside their recitals. They recently gained support from the Tillett Trust for outreach projects.

Alongside their duo playing Katie and Jack individually maintain active freelance careers: Jack is a regular repetiteur for Glyndebourne Festival Opera; Katie trains at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia orchestra in Rome. Both Katie and Jack are graduates of the Royal Northern College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music where their training included mentorship from renowned flautists Emily Beynon and Anna Noakes, and esteemed pianist Michael Dussek.

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