Melanie is 19 years of age and comes from Portaleen. She received her fiddle tuitition from Roisin Harrigan and also benefited from various masterclasses over the years through the Inishowen Traditional Music Project and Cairdeas na bfFidiléirí. Melanie is now currently a full-time University student however, devotes much of her free time to playing, researching and teaching traditional Irish music. She has won various competitions at regional, national and international level with the most recent being the 2008 Ulster senior fiddle title.

Melanie comes from a strong musical background with music prevalent on both sides of her parents. Her mother Gertrude comes from an extremely musical family who have performed in various traditional music groups and Fleadh Cheoils. Both her maternal and paternal grandparents - the White Paddy & Henry Mc Laughlins – were famed accordian and fiddle players in the North Inishowen area.

Melanie's father, Paul, had a Great Uncle who possessed a strong musical ear and would often return from the Fayre in Carndonagh visiting neighbours to pass on the new tunes he had picked up that day. Various members of the extended Houton family continue to play music to this day. The musical touch has also been passed on to Melanie's sister Paula who is another music enthusiast. She too has won various competitions, performed worldwide, and is currently teaching Tin-Whistle and Flute on a regular basis.