Classical Harp and Flute by Candlelight

Begin your weekend in style with an enchanting evening of classical harp music in the stunning, candlelit setting of St Mary Le Strand. Performed by the acclaimed Equinox Duo (Harp – Esther Beyer, Flute – Mina Middleton) , this captivating recital features a beautifully curated programme of timeless works, perfect for lovers of classical music and newcomers alike.

Make a night of it—St Mary Le Strand is ideally located near a wide selection of restaurants and bars, offering the perfect opportunity to continue your evening in central London.

Featuring
The Equinox Duo
Esther Beyer – harp
Mina Middleton – flute

Programme
Mozart – Andantino from Concerto for Flute and Harp
Fauré – Sicilienne
Fauré – Berceuse
Debussy – Premiere Arabesque (harp solo)
Lili Boulanger – Nocturne
Fauré – Impromptu (harp solo)
Coleridge Taylor (arr. Equinox Duo) – Deep River
Flute solo (TBC)
De Falla – Nana
Hamilton Harty – In Ireland

Equinox Duo
Formed in 2016 during their undergraduate studies at the Royal Academy of Music, the Equinox Duo have performed in concerts across the UK. Concert highlights include the Swaledale Festival (2024), Barnes Music Festival (2023), Buxton International Festival (2021), and a recital of recent works for flute and harp at the Royal Academy of Music (2020). Excited by contemporary music, the duo have premiered works by composers such as Cameron Biles-Liddell and David Nunn. The duo aim to continue commissioning new music for the ensemble to broaden the repertoire for the instrument combination. In addition to their work as Equinox Duo, Esther and Mina enjoy performing in other chamber groups, as soloists and in orchestras. They initially began playing together as members of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain in 2014.

Mina Middleton is from Northamptonshire, but spent 5 years in Manchester learning with Belinda Gough, Laura Jellicoe and Katherine Bryan at Chetham’s School of Music. Her time at the school culminated in a performance of the Nielsen Concerto at the Bridgewater Hall (2016). Mina then went on to complete a BMus and MA at the Royal Academy of Music where she studied with Kate Hill, Michael Cox, Katherine Baker, Karen Jones, Patricia Morris and Helen Keen. Mina enjoys a varied freelance career and her love of the performing arts has led her to play the flute on screen for the BBC drama series Fleabag and solo alto flute for the soundtrack to MacBeth at the Chichester Festival Theatre (2019). In 2021-2023 she held the flute chair with the Les Misérables official UK tour and is a regular deputy on other touring musicals. She currently holds the flute chair on the Fiddler on the Roof UK Tour. She has been a member of Sinfonia Cymru since 2020 and freelances with other orchestras such as the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
Esther Beyer

Esther Beyer is an award-winning professional harpist based in London. Competition successes include first place in the inaugural Royal Academy of Music Bicentenary Award (held at Wigmore Hall, 2020) and reaching the final of the 2020 Sir Karl Jenkins Music Award (in association with Classic FM). Esther is also a yeoman of The Musician’s Company. A passionate orchestral musician, Esther has worked with orchestras including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, English National Ballet, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and BBC Concert Orchestra.

A keen advocate of the importance of music in the community, Esther frequently works in schools, nurseries, hospitals and with people living with dementia. Highlights include work with organisations such as the London Sinfonietta, London Rhymes, Imperial Health Charity (giving interactive music sessions in cancer care and dialysis wards), The Musicians’ Company, National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, Wigmore Hall, and City of London Sinfonia’s Sound Young Minds Initiative.

Esther studied at the Royal Academy of Music with Karen Vaughan and Susan Blair, graduating with a Bachelor of Music (First Class) and a Master of Music (Distinction) degrees in 2020 and 2022. In 2020 she was a recipient of the Regency Award for outstanding contribution. Esther is a grateful recipient of a Wolfson Foundation Grant (2018), which allowed her to purchase her Salvi Iris harp.