Born into a musical family Helen started the violin aged four in Adelaide, South Australia. Once back in the UK her singing really took off when she was awarded a choral scholarship to Christ’s College Cambridge where she studied veterinary medicine. She qualified and worked as a vet (with a particular interest in cats), but the music called her back and she has been making her living as a musician since 2010.
She is a qualified Suzuki violin and viola teacher, director of Singing Strings workshop and regularly teaches on string courses around the UK. As a singer she performed in the UK and abroad and has established herself as a versatile choral conductor, specialising in working with community choirs, alongside directing regular “Come and Sing” workshops. She directs Twyford Singers and VetChoir UK.
Over the UK lockdowns of 2020-2021 Helen and her children started “Sing a Song a Day” – a daily live online singing session (with over 200 sessions) which gained a worldwide audience and was commended by the Royal Philharmonic Society for their Inspiration Award, offering people a sense of fun and community during a disjointed time.
Helen believes passionately that music is for everyone: you are never too young or old to be part of the musical community and friendships made through music-making last a lifetime.