Kate Ghent
Leader
Kate grew up in Wakefield in West Yorkshire and moved to Essex in 1988. She began playing the piano at the age of eight and six months later began to learn the violin, soon realising that this was her preferred instrument. She was taught by Harvey Marsden, a member of the Halle Orchestra and she played in a variety of youth symphony orchestras, also making several solo performances in the local area during those years.

At the age of sixteen, Kate passed her Grade 8 violin and piano and decided to go to a Teacher Training College which specialised in music, enabling her to continue to play with the college orchestra and ensembles throughout the course. Beginning her Bachelor of Education course at Bretton Hall College for Performing Arts, she continued with her violin lessons with a new teacher, Frank Horner, also a member of the Halle Orchestra.

Graduating in 1988, Kate initially took a teaching post in Upminster in an infants school and after two years she took a second post in a local junior school where she was responsible for music and the special needs department. She has recently moved on from there to Oakfields Montessori School in Upminster as music specialist. Kate also teaches piano and guitar.

She plays with the Brentwood Philharmonic Orchestra and the Southend Philharmonic Orchestra. Kate first joined the HCO in 1989, taking up the position of leader in 1990.