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Mel Orriss studied flute at Chetham’s School of Music and then at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Peter Lloyd and Kathryn Lukas. As a student she was a semi-finalist in the BBC’s Young Musician of the Year Competition and also toured with the European Community Orchestra.

She now lives in Devon and teaches flautists of all ages, coaches flute ensembles and wood-wind groups, and is the Assistant Conductor and Woodwind coach of the Devon Youth Symphony and Concert Orchestras.  In 2018 Mel directed flute choirs at the British Flute Society’s Future Flute Fest in London and also at The Big Flute Festival, Dublin.

Her passion for arranging and composing led to her co-founding the music publishing company Wonderful Winds in 2010. The company has since built a global reputation for excellence, providing inspiring ensemble music for wind players of all levels worldwide, and its publications have been major prize winners in the National Flute Association (USA) Newly Published Music competition.

Recently Mel has also taken on the role of narrator with the quartet Festive Flutes, which has given scope to expand her love of splendid costumes!

In her spare time, Mel enjoys walking around Dartmoor and the Devon and Cornwall coast and spending quality time with her family and friends.

Updated: Sep 2021