A bit extra...

I live in Sharrow with my husband Ed and our three cats, Houdini, SiriTachi (Siri), and Peregrin (Pippin).

I grew up in Canada and started playing the flute in a school band class when I was 13. I moved to England in 1983 and studied flute with Jill Hughes. I was involved in many musical activities in Canada and England, including orchestra, wind band, jazz and pit band, as well as singing in school choirs. My other favourite subject was Maths and I decided to study it at Sheffield University. While there, I played with some local orchestras, both as a full member and a substitute and sang with the Sheffield University Choir.

Once I gained my degree I realised that, although I still enjoyed Maths, I wasn't interested in using it in a career and began to look for alternatives. I was studying with Judith Mellor, and I decided to work for qualifications in flute teaching, and set myself up as a flute teacher.

I try to stay in touch with what is new in the flute world. Every summer I attend a course run by Jonathan Myall Music, where I get the opportunity to perform in and attend masterclasses taken by top British flute players and teachers. It gives me fresh ideas for my teaching and playing. I also have the chance to hear these players perform, which is inspiring. I attend courses and conferences run by the British Flute Society and the Incorporated Society of Musicians. World class players are often involved in these. I am currently studying flute with Clare Southworth.

I play my flute regularly and also play piccolo and alto flute and I am a member of the newly formed National Flute Orchestra. In 2004 I began taking singing lessons with Corrynne Osborne as flute playing and singing are very closely related. I passed my grade 8 singing exam in 2008. I own a folk flute and Ed sings and plays folk guitar and cittern. We have started to play and sing together as a duo so we have been seen at folk clubs in the Sheffield area.

I do find some time to do other things! I go to the gym regularly and particularly enjoy the climbing wall. Ed teaches drama and film studies so we spend a lot of time at the cinema and theatre, and watch DVDs at home. I am also getting quite good at using a video camera as I often video school productions.

One of the most enjoyable things I have been involved in is the production of a charity performance of Pirates of Penzance in 2005. We have a website, and if you look carefully you can find me in the rehearsal photos.