AN internationally-renowned flautist from Malvern has used lockdown time to bring musicians and creatives on board for a celebration of the great outdoors, including the Malvern Hills.

Lockdown has been hard for many performers, but the Freedom to Roam album is set to be something positive, in the shape of a new album and supporting video.

Appropriately enough, given the title, Freedom to Roam, some of the socially-distanced filming for a launch video has been on the Malvern Hills.

The founder of the project is Malvern's Eliza Marshall who, in normal life, is a very busy flute player at the highest levels.

She said: "I hold the chair at The Lyceum Theatre in London for The Lion King, tour and record with Peter Gabriel, Paul McCartney, Robbie Williams and appear as soloist on numerous Hollywood film scores, including Lord of the Rings, The Great Gatsby and Prometheus.

"But this year has been absolutely devastating financially with no live performances allowed, but I have been busying myself with a creative project which I would love to share with the world."

A Kickstarter campaign to set the ball rolling was filmed on the Malvern Hills in January, with a target in dollars of $13,955. So far, $3,884 has reached the pot.

If all goes to plan, the Freedom To Roam: The Rhythms of Migration project will include an album "of entirely self-penned new works, and a new short documentary film, exploring the challenges and frustrations of the forbidden freedoms within humanity, the exploitation of land and animals".

Since graduating from The Royal Academy of Music, Eliza’s career "has been as diverse as my musical tastes".

Growing up listening to the great Russian composers, whilst also enjoying Paul Simon and Baka Beyond, she has carved a niche for herself as a cross-genre player, enjoying performing with orchestras, on film-soundtracks, numerous albums.

Featuring her unique Indian bansuri playing, she appeared in 2014 for the World Premiere of Joby Talbot’s ballet “The Winter’s Tale”, as the onstage soloist at The Royal Opera House with The Royal Ballet.

On board with the new project, among a host of other creatives, is Nicholas Jones, an award winning documentary filmmaker.

The album will be recorded at Rockfield Studios in Monmouthshire.

Proceeds from the fundraising will pay for this, hopefully meet costs for a documentary, and also raise funds for the Born Free Foundation.

More details are on the Freedom to Roam kickstarter page.