Music & Tapas with The Aurora Duo (Harp & Flute)

About

Join us at The Garlic Farm Restaurant for our monthly tapas & music evenings. We are very pleased to be hosting a series of visiting professional musicians for recitals throughout 2025 in collaboration with Wight Proms Wednesdays.

The restaurant will be open from 6pm serving a tapas menu until 7.30pm with 40 minute recital starting at 7.45pm. The bar will be open throughout.

£12 per person, entrance only

Booking is via our restaurant booking page here - select the date of the concert on the calendar

On Wednesday 7th May: The Aurora Duo (Kate Ham & Melanie White) - Harp and Flute

Trinity Laban Conservatoire trained harpist KATE HAM & flautist MELANIE WHITE

Kate Ham is a solo & orchestral harpist, chamber musician, educator and facilitator. Kate's varied career has seen her perform in the UK and abroad with the Austen Trio. She regularly performs with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra as well as with Trondheim Symphony Orchestra and Ulster Orchestra.

In 2018 her Austen Trio gave their debut lecture recital at Harvard University and in 2017, they performed in Winchester Cathedral (where Austen is buried) as part of the Jane Austen Bicentenary celebrations specifically on the occasion of the Bank of England unveiling the new Jane Austen £10 bank note. The Trio appeared on radio and television throughout the Bicentennial year. The Austen Trio perform music sourced directly from the Austen Family Music Books, a fascinating collection of printed and manuscript music assembled over the 18th and 19th centuries.

Kate is a regular performer with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and in addition to live concerts, Radio 3 broadcasts and recordings for Chandos, she delivers community music concerts with the orchestra's outreach department.

Kate founded TWANG! Harps – a group harp learning project for adults and children in Portsmouth and surrounding areas. She holds harp professor positions at the University of Southampton and Bedales School, Petersfield. Kate previously toured all UK arenas as part of the backing orchestra for McFly's Wonderland Tour and features on their DVD. She has performed on 'The Record of the Year' and on BBC One's 'Strictly Come Dancing' with Katherine Jenkins and Andrea Bocelli.

Kate was a recommended artist for Making Music Young Concert Artist Award and the only harp finalist in the 'Gaetano Zinetti' International Chamber Music Competition, Verona.

Kate is originally from Glasgow, and trained at Trinity College of Music and the University of Chichester where she was the recipient of the UK Harp Association Award and the Croydon Music Festival Concerto Prize.

Melanie White is a London-born flautist who honed her craft at Trinity Laban Conservatoire, London, under the tutelage of Michael Cox & Pat Morris. With three decades of experience, she has built a reputation as a versatile performer who captivates audiences with her solo and principal flute performances in a wide range of professional and regional orchestras in London and the home counties, for which she has held the Principal Flute position for many years.

Since moving to the South Coast, she also holds the Solo Flute in the Royal Marines Association Concert Band, and Principal Flute with the Havant Symphony Orchestra. As a recitalist, Melanie enjoys performing solo flute programmes bringing lesser-known works to light, in particular female composers such as Rhonda Larson.

Her musical prowess transcends genres, weaving between the classical and electronic/ jazz styles featuring on a recording of Aisling Iris's 'Night Moves' album, and on 'Eternal Light' with the Priory of Resurrection of New Hall on the Deutsche Grammophon label.

An experienced music educator, Melanie is a dedicated teacher since 1990, currently Flute Professor at The Royal Military School of Music in Portsmouth. Her tutelage has encompassed students of all ages, from children to mature learners, with many gaining places at music Conservatoires and National Children's Orchestra of GB.

Melanie is a lover of original artwork and is planning to collaborate with other art forms and projects for future performances.