Helen was born in 1974, and began trombone studies at age 7 with Anne Higgs; her first performing experience was with the Cheddar Valley Junior Brass Band. After moving to Saffron Walden in Essex, she studied with Willi Watson and also joined the Essex Youth Orchestra where she met Denis Wick with whom she began studies aged 15.

Helen reached the Brass Final of the BBC Young Musician of the Year Competition in 1992 was also a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. She studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Eric Crees. During this time she held the principal trombone position in both the European Union Youth Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Youth Orchestra.

In 1995 she won the Bronze Medal in the Shell/London Symphony Orchestra Music Scholarship competition where she performed the Gordon Jacob Concerto with the LSO. Helen won the Woodwind & Brass Award and the Philip Jones Memorial Prize in the 2003 Royal Over-Seas League Music Competition.

In 2004 Helen was appointed Principal Trombone of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and is the first female trombonist ever to hold the position of principal trombone with a London Orchestra. She is also a member of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and often works as a guest principal with orchestras across the UK.

Helen's Equipment:

Tenor Trombone:
Conn 88H
Rose Brass Bell
Standard Slide
Denis Wick 5ABL

Medium bore trombone:
King 608F
Rose Brass Bell
Lightweight Slide
Denis Wick 6BS    

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