MIRACLE MUSICIAN
ABOUT US
Miracle Musician was set up in 2019 by musicians, Miranda Woodward and Ellen Porter.
We know that trying to become a professional musician is extremely difficult, it can sometimes feel like it's going to take a miracle to make these dreams become a reality... But it's just a lot of hard work, dedication. We are here to try and provide some help, advice and support for aspiring musicians.
We hope you will find something that you can relate to on our website. If you have any suggestions, comments or questions about anything, please do not hesitate to get in touch via the contact form!
ELLEN PORTER - CELLO
Ellen Porter is a British cellist and studies at the Royal Northern College of Music with Eduardo Vassallo and Jennifer Langridge. In 2016 she was awarded the RNCM Annie Fletcher Award having previously studied with David Smith. As a soloist she has performed across the East Midlands and Manchester and in 2014 she made her concerto debut with the Rutland Sinfonia. She has taken part in masterclasses across Europe with Miklos Perenyi, Leonard Elschenbroich, Guy Johnston, Peter Somodari and Hannah Roberts.
As a committed orchestral cellist, Ellen has worked with conductors such as Edward Gardner, Jac Van Steen, Tom Seligman and Mirga Grazinyte-Tyla. For five years she played with the CBSO Youth Orchestra, eventually becoming Principal Cellist. In Summer 2019, she was appointed as Principal Cellist for the Berlin Opera Academy, having received the Elizabeth Luxton Memorial Scholarship. She is now Principal Cellist with the Piccadilly Symphony Orchestra as well as performing with all of the RNCM’s Orchestras.
Ellen is also passionate about historical performance and has studied baroque cello with Susan Sheppard, Sarah MacMahon and Viola de Hoog at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam’s Early Music Summer School. She has performed across the North West of England with RNCM Baroque Soloists and Baroque in the North (formerly the Northern Baroque Sinfonia).
Ellen currently plays on a modern Italian style cello dated 2012, and is supported in her further musical study by The Edna Newill Charitable Trust, to whom she is very grateful.
MIRANDA WOODWARD - TRUMPET
Miranda started playing the trumpet at the comparably late age of 13, after becoming fascinated by her late great grandfather’s cornet mouthpieces. However, it was only when she started lessons with John Dickinson that she felt truly inspired and realised her dream of becoming a professional trumpeter was within reach.
In 2016, despite being offered highly coveted places to study music at Durham University, Miranda accepted a place at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire with full scholarship. Under the guidance of Jonathan Holland (Principal Trumpet CBSO), Miranda quickly progressed, before she was offered a place at the prestigious Royal Northern College of Music.
During her time in Birmingham, Miranda discovered her love for the natural trumpet after hearing its raw, natural timbre for the first time. Soon Miranda became an advocate for creating historically informed performances. Miranda was easily able to transfer this passion to the RNCM where she studies natural trumpet with David Hendry.
During her time at the RNCM, Miranda has been principal trumpet with the RNCM Symphony Orchestra, Brand New Orchestra and Concert Orchestra as well as performing side by side with musicians from The Halle, Manchester Camerata, Opera North and Tafelmusik Baroque Ensemble.
As Manchester has a thriving and ever-growing music industry Miranda has also been able to play with many local amateur orchestras including; Wigan Choral Society, Parbold Chamber Choir and Piccadilly Symphony Orchestra.
Miranda is currently studying with Tracey Redfern (Northern Ballet & Manchester Camerata) and Rhys Owens (Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra).
