Polaris Duo
Saxophone & Harp
"What a joy it was to hear this unusual pairing of instruments...the sax was beautifully controlled and the harp rich in sound, resulting in a beautiful colour to the music."
- Peter Ruddock
About Us
Gillian Blair (saxophone) and Elinor Nicholson (harp) formed the Polaris Duo in 2011 whilst studying at the Royal Northern College of Music. They have since been exploring an eclectic range of repertoire and possibilities for this unusual instrumentation.
The duo perform regularly around the UK and in 2018 made their international debut in Croatia at the World Saxophone Congress. They have performed at UK venues including the Bridgewater Hall, Buxton Opera House, Warwick University and Leeds International Concert Season as well as regularly performing for music societies. They are BBC Introducing Artists, were 2nd prize winners in the British Harp Chamber Music Competition and have been featured in the Lake District Summer Music ‘New Generation Artists’ Concert Series.
The Polaris Duo is dedicated to presenting new music and expanding the repertoire for this uncommon pairing of instruments. The duo enjoy arranging existing works and commissioning new music from composers which has led to them giving UK, European and World premieres of numerous works. Their most recent commissions include compositions by Melissa Douglas, Esther Swift and Paul Mitchell-Davidson. In Summer 2019 they collaborated with composer Gavin Wayte on an Arts Council England funded project working with pupils from a local sixth form college to create music around the theme of borders. This project also saw the duo give the premiere of Gavin’s work ‘Crossing’ for Soprano Saxophone, Harp and Electronics at the Uppermill Summer Music Festival. The duo have continued to work with Gavin on a further expansion of the piece, ‘Crossing 2’, which was premiered by the duo and the RNCM New Ensemble at the 2019 ‘New Music Manchester’ Festival.
They released their debut album; ‘illuminate’ in April 2018. The music featured includes original works by Manchester based composers Andy Scott, Rob Buckland and Melissa Douglas alongside arrangements of works by well known composers including C.P.E. Bach and Camille Saint-Saëns.
In addition to their work as performers, the Polaris Duo is passionate about education and outreach and has delivered workshops for the ‘Classical Kids’ Concert Series and Piccadilly Symphony Orchestra’s Outreach Programme. They are proud to be artists for Yehudi Menuhin’s ‘Live Music Now’ Scheme where they perform to people who may not normally have the opportunity to experience live music.
Gillian Blair - Saxophone
Praised for her ‘flawless and accomplished’ performances (Peterborough Telegraph) and ‘honest and genuine music-making’ (D’Addario Competition), Gillian Blair enjoys a varied career as a concert saxophonist, chamber musician and educator. She has won first prize in competitions including the International Young Musician Competition at the Llangollen Eisteddfod, the D'addario Single Reed Competition, the RNCM Woodwind Competition, the Charles Scarratt Award for Young Musicians and the RNCM's Sir John Manduell Prize.
As a soloist, she has performed around Europe, North America and Asia at festivals and concert series' including the BBC Proms, EurSax, Koganei Miyajigakki Hall (Tokyo), PepsiCo Recital Hall (Texas), University of Arkansas, World Saxophone Congress, Oklahoma State University, North American Saxophone Alliance Conference, the Palaver Festival and several broadcasts on BBC Radio 3. She has appeared as a guest soloist with ensembles including the Band of the Coldstream Guards, Commonwealth String Orchestra, Piccadilly Symphony Orchestra, University of Arkansas Saxophone Ensemble, City of Peterborough Symphony Orchestra, Wirral Symphony Orchestra, Bolton Chamber Orchestra, the RNCM Percussion Ensemble and the RNCM Saxophone Orchestra. In June 2023, Gillian gave the premiere of Lucy Armstrong's Saxophone Concerto with the Arch Sinfonia in London and gave a subsequent performance with the Liverpool Mozart Orchestra at the Tung Auditorium.
Gillian enjoys regular work as an orchestral player with ensembles include the Halle Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra of Opera North, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Manchester Concert Orchestra and London Concert Orchestra.
Gillian holds Bachelors and Masters degrees from the Royal Northern College of Music where she was a finalist in the RNCM’s prestigious Concerto and Gold Medal competitions and received scholarships from the Oglesby Charitable Trust, the Helen Mackaness Award and the Countess of Munster Trust. Upon graduating, Gillian was awarded the Timothy Reynish Award for outstanding contribution to the RNCM. She has received tuition and appeared in masterclasses with acclaimed international artists and studied at the renowned 'l’Université Européenne de Saxophone' in Gap, France.
Gillian is a Henri Selmer Paris Artist and a Vandoren UK Artist.
For more information, visit www.gillianblair.com
Elinor Nicholson - Harp
Elinor is an award winning harpist with a wealth of experience performing at events and concerts throughout the UK. Her performances span solo recitals, orchestral engagements, chamber music concerts and solo performances at weddings and functions.
Career highlights:
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BBC proms performance with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
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Songs of Praise Christmas and New Year TV broadcasts
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Touring with the band Evanescence on their 'Synthesis Live' tour
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Performing alongside well known names including Nicola Benedetti, Alfie Boe, Katherine Jenkins and Russel Watson
Elinor studied at the Royal Northern College of Music, gaining both a first class honours degree and a Masters of Music with distinction. During her studies, Elinor won the prestigious RNCM Concerto Competition and was twice a finalist in the RNCM Gold Medal competition- the highest accolade for performance offered by the college.
Elinor is passionate about chamber music and is a member of the Polaris Duo (saxophone and harp). This duo is committed to expanding the repertoire available for saxophone and harp and have both provided work premiers and commissioned many works for their instruments. They are ‘BBC Introducing Artists’ and have subsequently had music from their album 'illuminate' broadcast on BBC Radio 3.
Elinor also performs extensively with the genre-defying harp quartet CLOUDS. The ensemble performs folk-inspired original compositions by celebrated composer Esther Swift.
Elinor is passionate about performing music in outreach settings and regularly works for Yehudi Menuhin’s ground-breaking scheme ‘Live Music Now!’. This programme sends musicians to perform and run workshops in schools, care homes, hospitals and day centres. Elinor is a fellowship musician on the Live Music Now! scheme and has spent a year placement in a special educational needs school, supporting children’s musical and personal development.
For more information, visit www.elinorharp.com
