Biography
Helen has been commissioned to compose music for over 25 plays, choral ensembles, TV and dance.
She has wide ranging experience as a composer, singer, pianist, recording artist, musical director and lyricist. She is drawn to different genres of music from choral music to jazz piano improvisation and world music and with her classical background brings these eclectic influences to her compositions. Helen’s family is from Cork in Southern Ireland. She grew up in London and studied piano and singing at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. She first began composing for plays and her skills were developed writing in different musical genres. Early work includes the musical ‘Getting Through’ which won the British Drama Award for best show for young people, touring the UK and internationally.
OPERA -Helen was commissioned to compose the music for the critically acclaimed opera adaptation of the classic novel The Secret Garden funded by the Arts Council. ( see opera page)
Further theatre productions as composer/MD include ‘Gaslight’ – Derby Playhouse, ‘Canto Libre’ – national tour, ‘From the Mississippi Delta’, The Young Vic and Contact Theatre Manchester, ‘Carrington’- Chichester Festival Theatre and RADA. She has performed as a singer/pianist soloist at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club.
In 2014 Helen received the first music commission from Lewes Town Council to write the words and music for a work to commemorate the Battle of Lewes 1264, her work The Sword Of Freedom was premiered at Lewes Town Hall ( see The Sword of Freedom page).
She was honoured to devise the towns official 100 year anniversary concert commemorating World War 1
entitled The Winter of the World. Performances 2014 and November 2018.
CHORAL WORK - Helen has written the music and libretto for The Phoenix Cantata - a large scale dramatic choral work for around 100 voices (see Cantata page). Plans are currently in progress with Cornwall Music Service Trust (CMST) to produce and perform the world premier at Truro Cathedral in 2025.
RECORDINGS- Helen has recorded many sound tracks and 3 CDs ranging from multitracked soundscapes and voice - To the Flame and Into the Light, to classical/jazz influenced solo piano music - Leo Rising.
She has wide ranging experience as a composer, singer, pianist, recording artist, musical director and lyricist. She is drawn to different genres of music from choral music to jazz piano improvisation and world music and with her classical background brings these eclectic influences to her compositions. Helen’s family is from Cork in Southern Ireland. She grew up in London and studied piano and singing at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. She first began composing for plays and her skills were developed writing in different musical genres. Early work includes the musical ‘Getting Through’ which won the British Drama Award for best show for young people, touring the UK and internationally.
OPERA -Helen was commissioned to compose the music for the critically acclaimed opera adaptation of the classic novel The Secret Garden funded by the Arts Council. ( see opera page)
Further theatre productions as composer/MD include ‘Gaslight’ – Derby Playhouse, ‘Canto Libre’ – national tour, ‘From the Mississippi Delta’, The Young Vic and Contact Theatre Manchester, ‘Carrington’- Chichester Festival Theatre and RADA. She has performed as a singer/pianist soloist at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club.
In 2014 Helen received the first music commission from Lewes Town Council to write the words and music for a work to commemorate the Battle of Lewes 1264, her work The Sword Of Freedom was premiered at Lewes Town Hall ( see The Sword of Freedom page).
She was honoured to devise the towns official 100 year anniversary concert commemorating World War 1
entitled The Winter of the World. Performances 2014 and November 2018.
CHORAL WORK - Helen has written the music and libretto for The Phoenix Cantata - a large scale dramatic choral work for around 100 voices (see Cantata page). Plans are currently in progress with Cornwall Music Service Trust (CMST) to produce and perform the world premier at Truro Cathedral in 2025.
RECORDINGS- Helen has recorded many sound tracks and 3 CDs ranging from multitracked soundscapes and voice - To the Flame and Into the Light, to classical/jazz influenced solo piano music - Leo Rising.