Piano
Helen joined the Sheffield Music Academy in 2022. Born at the Sheffield University Music Faculty (formerly Jessop's Maternity Hospital!), she holds a First-Class degree from the University of Cambridge where she studied MML (MA) and European Literature (MPhil), before completing an MMus in Piano at Trinity College of Music in London.
Helen's playing is noted as much for its passion as for its sensitivity and cultural authenticity. It has been praised by critics as 'so beautiful' (BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour), and 'satisfyingly understated' (Music & Vision). She was described by Telecinco as 'a magnificent musician'.
Helen has performed internationally as well as live on BBC Radio 3 and 4, and across the UK's major venues, including the Purcell Room, Milton Court Concert Hall, St John's Smith Square, St Martin-in-the-Fields, St James's Piccadilly and The National Gallery.
With a passion for chamber music and vocal accompaniment, Helen has collaborated with many illustrious names, including Dominic Miller, Lizzie Ball, Luis Gomes, Ian Anderson, Vanessa Lucas-Smith, Omar Puente, Coro Cervantes, Clara Rodríguez and Nina Corti, and she has also shared a platform with Morgan Szymanski, Fábio Zanon and Marcelo Bratke.
Helen is a specialist practitioner of Ibero-American repertoire and a committed advocate for cultural diversity in classical music. She has premiered many works by Latin American composers in the UK, including Villa-Lobos and Guastavino, and has also commissioned new works by pre-eminent Latin American composers such as Lorenz and González-Medina.
Helen's recent projects include the recording of her debut album TangOpera (due for release later in 2023), which explores the lyric routes of the tango; and a programme with Spanish soprano, Lorena Paz Nieto, bringing to light the secret works of Luso-Hispanic women composers, titled Mujeres: ¡Presentes!
Helen also works in event production, promotion and programming as Artistic Director of ILAMS and Echoes Festival. She is currently co-curating a special 2023 Latin American edition of the Leeds Opera Festival.