Across the year the duo will develop their skills and confidence in participatory, creative music practice across the Wigmore Hall Learning programme.

Flarra Duo is the partnership of flautist Penny Cairney-Leeming and harpist Hannah Runting, respectively described as ‘uncannily luminous’ and ‘bold and fearless’. Together, they have performed at Charlton House, the Royal Academy of Music, and St Marylebone Parish Church in partnership with Wigmore Hall. Through their work together, they forge connections with audiences, devising innovative performances and bringing to light unexplored music for the much-loved flute and harp pairing.

A versatile and passionate musician, Penny is known both for her skilled ensemble playing and confident soloist performances. Since making her debut at the Barbican, she has performed as a soloist across the country, in venues including Hampton Court Palace and St John’s Waterloo. She is also a founding member of the award-winning chamber ensemble Zephyr Flutes, with whom she is performing in Wigmore Hall this summer. Penny is an advocate for contemporary music and works with a range of composers and ensembles, including the Riot Ensemble, London Sinfonietta and the Royal Academy’s Manson Ensemble, her performances with which include the highly acclaimed Boulez Anniversary concert. She is a committed outreach practitioner working with a wide range of communities, and recently recorded an album in collaboration with Glyndebourne and the ‘Raise Your Voice’ charity.

Hannah, a recent scholar of the Riot Ensemble ‘Arts Mentor Lucerne’ scheme, grounds her musical identity in contemporary music. She premiered Shin Kim’s concerto ‘Dream Poem’ on BBC Radio 3, performed Boulez’s ‘Sur Incises’ with the Manson Ensemble, and is a founding member of experimental ensemble ‘[FLUX]’. She is praised for her simultaneously analytical and imaginative work, combining musicological research with a drive to share meaningful musical experiences. Hannah is a harpist for the disability championing ensemble ‘Paraorchestra’, regularly performing immersive and accessible shows, including at the BBC Proms, Dublin National Concert Hall and the Southbank Centre.

Hannah's award-winning compositions have seen multiple sold out performances, and her works often feature in Flarra Duo programming.

We are really excited to have the chance to work with such an incredible team to explore how we can make music accessible and engaging for so many different communities