Biography
imagesHelen’s family is from Cork in Southern Ireland. She grew up in London and at seventeen won a scholarship to study 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. Her jazz piano suite ‘Birds of Paradise and Prey’ was choreographed for Dance Advance at the Royal Ballet, performed at The Place. She was composer/MD for 5 productions at RADA including ‘Oedipus Rex’, and 'Cloud Nine’.
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. She has written music for various productions at Quicksilver, Theatre Centre and the Unicorn Theatre for Children. She has performed as a singer/pianist soloist at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, and formed the jazz/world music band ‘Luminus’. TV work includes composing the music for the BBC series ’Edge of Life’. Helen has recorded 3 CDs ranging from multitracked soundscapes and voice - To the Flame and Into the Light, to classical/jazz influenced solo piano music - Leo Rising.
In 2014 Helen received the first music commission from Lewes Town Council to write the words and compose the 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 is honoured to also devise the towns official 100 year anniversary concert commemorating World War 1.
The Winter of the World includes music, poetry and screen projected archive images.
Performances 2014 and November 2018.
CHORAL WORK - Helen has written the music and libretto for The Phoenix Cantata - a large scale musical odyssey for 3 choirs and soloists. (see Cantata page). She received funding from Arts Council England to complete this ambitious work for 100 voices. She was invited to have the world premiere of the dramatic multi- generational work at Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site in Shropshire. Plans are currently in progress with CMST - Cornwall Music Service Trust to produce and perform the complete work in Cornwall in 2023.
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. She has written music for various productions at Quicksilver, Theatre Centre and the Unicorn Theatre for Children. She has performed as a singer/pianist soloist at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, and formed the jazz/world music band ‘Luminus’. TV work includes composing the music for the BBC series ’Edge of Life’. Helen has recorded 3 CDs ranging from multitracked soundscapes and voice - To the Flame and Into the Light, to classical/jazz influenced solo piano music - Leo Rising.
In 2014 Helen received the first music commission from Lewes Town Council to write the words and compose the 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 is honoured to also devise the towns official 100 year anniversary concert commemorating World War 1.
The Winter of the World includes music, poetry and screen projected archive images.
Performances 2014 and November 2018.
CHORAL WORK - Helen has written the music and libretto for The Phoenix Cantata - a large scale musical odyssey for 3 choirs and soloists. (see Cantata page). She received funding from Arts Council England to complete this ambitious work for 100 voices. She was invited to have the world premiere of the dramatic multi- generational work at Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site in Shropshire. Plans are currently in progress with CMST - Cornwall Music Service Trust to produce and perform the complete work in Cornwall in 2023.