Accompanist & rehearsal pianist
" Dear Helen, Thank you so much for your sensitive and hugely competent playing, and your support of me and helpful suggestions. It all made a big difference and helped me with the exam a lot. "... Vimala
" Very friendly and ideal for my daughter's first music exam " ... Bridget
" Thank you so much for your help and encouragement to Daniel when you accompanied him in his Grade 5 cello examination this summer. You really helped him to play to the best of his ability. You were brilliant at putting him at ease and giving him useful tips to play really well. You made all the difference because you really boosted his confidence. " ... Nicola Alexander
" Helen, you're a one-man orchestra! - people were craning their necks to watch you play at the concert this evening! " ... Berni Mundy
" Thank you so much for being such a support with the choir Helen. I know how much they all appreciate your patience and your smile! " ... Tracey Hansford, Cantabile, Wells, Somerset
" Very friendly and ideal for my daughter's first music exam " ... Bridget
" Thank you so much for your help and encouragement to Daniel when you accompanied him in his Grade 5 cello examination this summer. You really helped him to play to the best of his ability. You were brilliant at putting him at ease and giving him useful tips to play really well. You made all the difference because you really boosted his confidence. " ... Nicola Alexander
" Helen, you're a one-man orchestra! - people were craning their necks to watch you play at the concert this evening! " ... Berni Mundy
" Thank you so much for being such a support with the choir Helen. I know how much they all appreciate your patience and your smile! " ... Tracey Hansford, Cantabile, Wells, Somerset
- Excellent sight reader
- Versatile and flexible accompanist
- Adept at playing SATB parts
- Classical and musical theatre styles
- Experienced in working with vocalists and instrumentalists
- Exam work, concerts or festivals
Helen is the accompanist for Cantabile in Wells, Somerset and Woodlands Church Choir, Bristol. She is available for exam accompaniments in the Bristol area and is the regular accompanist for concerts and recitals with Gillian Wells, Soprano.
Helen studied piano with Christine Robertson whilst at Katharine Lady Berkeley's School, then with Margaret Gulley and Kate Miller at University during a music degree. She had experience of being an accompanist from an early age, playing the organ and piano in churches and to accompany choirs. Helen rehearsed and conducted a musical production at the age of 17, going on to use these skills at University with the Gilbert and Sullivan Society and the Footlights Society where she was repetiteur for ‘The Gondoliers’ and assistant MD for ‘Guys and Dolls’. At University she gave solo piano recitals but particularly enjoyed working with vocalists to develop repertoire for their degree recitals.
Helen went on to work full time as a music teacher in a busy secondary school music department. As the main pianist in the department she accompanied the bulk of the exam and concert performances up to A- level and grade 8 standard. Excellent sight reading skills proved invaluable, but Helen also enjoyed the opportunity to build up a rapport with an instrumentalist or singer to bring out the finer details of the music.
Helen is now an experienced pianist and expert in playing SATB parts or piano accompaniments in all styles, whether classical or musical theatre. She enjoys accompanying vocalists, instrumentalists and choirs in rehearsals and concerts. You will find Helen to be friendly and encouraging to work with. Having conducted amateur choirs, orchestras and musical theatre productions for many years, she has experience of running instrumental or choral rehearsals with adults and children. She particularly enjoys collaborating with a conductor as rehearsal pianist and repetiteur.
Helen's fees are usually £36 an hour, but please get in touch to enquire about how she can help with your rehearsal or production.
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Here is an example of repertoire from a concert with sopranos Gillian Wells and Frances Gregory
Voi Che Sapete from Le Nozze Di Figaro - Mozart Una Donna A Quindici Anni from Cosi Fan Tutte - Mozart Piangero La Sorte Mia, Giulio Cesare - Handel Mio caro bene from Rodelinda - Handel Die Forelle - Schubert Nur Wer die Sehnsuchtkent - Schubert Apres un reve - Faure Adieu - Faure The Prayer, from Hansel and Grettel - Humperdinck Flower Duet - Delibes Si, Mi Chiamano Mi Mi - Puccini O Babbino Caro - Puccini Come To Me In My Dreams - Bridge Tell Me The Truth About Love - Britten Fly Home Little Heart - Novello My Dearest Dear - Novello I Can Give You The Starlight - Novello Someone To Watch Over Me - Gershwin I Could Have Danced All Night from My Fair Lady - Loewe The Tipsy Aria - Offenbach Belle Nuit, O Nuit D’amour from Tales Of Hoffman - Offenbach The Cat Duet - Rossini |
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