With the generous help of scholarships, Helen studied at Wells Cathedral Specialist Music School and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she studied with David Takeno. She continued her studies in Austria with Gerhard Schulz of the Alban Berg Quartet and the Russian pedagogue, Zakhar Bron.

She returned to London in 1990 and worked as a freelance violinist with groups such as the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, the Academy of St Martin in Fields, the Endymion Ensemble and the Spice Girls. She was also one of the founder members of the Fibonacci Sequence.

In 1998, she took a break from her playing for several years to complete a History degree at Cambridge University, and in 2001 joined the Philharmonia as their Principal Second Violin. Since leaving the Philharmonia earlier this year, she has rejoined the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and has performed with a variety of ensembles including the Opera Orchestra at Covent Garden, the London Philharmonic and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestras. As a chamber musician she plays in the Forde Ensemble and has appeared at various music festivals such as the International Musicians’ Seminar in Cornwall and Sangat in India.

Can be heard in:
Deux-Elles series
Friday 17 Sep 2010
through to Saturday 18 Sep 2010