Clarinetist Rachel Fillhart moved from her native Canada to the U.K. on being awarded scholarships to study at the Royal Academy of Music and later, the Royal Northern College of Music. After graduation she spent several years living in Portugal as the assistant principal clarinetist with the Orchestra of the Algarve, giving concerts across Europe. Now based in Manchester, Rachel has a busy freelance career performing with orchestras throughout the U.K. Her interest in music and health began to develop whilst working with her trio, Manchester Reed Trio. Together they trained with ‘Musique et Santé’ in Paris, and perform regularly for the charity ‘Music in Hospitals’. In 2015 Rachel was selected as Opus Music CIC’s apprentice musician at Nottingham QMC Children’s Hospital. She set up ‘Cascade Music’ in 2016 as an organisation to provide access to live music in healthcare environments.
Martin has performed as a soloist at many notable and prestigious venues and has also been broadcast live on BBC Radio 3. As well as being supported by the Countess of Munster Recital Scheme, he was most recently presented with the ‘Interpretation Prize’ from the International Piñero Guitar Competition. Martin has released 2 albums, one with the Astrum Guitar Duo, and most recently, his solo album Recital. He has been heavily involved with Music In Hospitals for several years and also with the Live Music Now scheme. He has performed many genres and styles of music in a huge variety of community settings, and is very much looking forward to the next venture with Cascade.
Cascade Music is a new organisation founded in 2016 by Rachel Fillhart, dedicated to bringing high quality live music into healthcare settings. Cascade’s musicians have secured a year-long residency at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital where they will be working once a week.
Our musicians interact with patients, families and staff on hospital wards, engaging with them and offering access to creative opportunities. Music can provide diversion, distraction from pain, and an alleviation of anxiety, and can offer a moment of normality in a stressful environment.
