About Helen

A warm, natural and communicative presence on the podium British conductor Helen Harrison inspires exciting and compelling performances from the artists she collaborates with from orchestras, opera companies and choirs. State educated, Helen is passionate about everyone experiencing the transformative power of classical music in all its forms.

Highlights 2024:

BBC Radio 3 Debut - BBC Concert Orchestra - 'Friday Night is Music Night' Sept 2024

BBC Concert Orchestra debut - 'Friday Night is Music Night' July 2024

Young Sinfonia & Royal Northern Sinfonia - Side By Side July 2024

Northern Silents Sinfonia debut - live to film 'Chaplin's 'The Kid' June 2024

Leeds Conservatoire & Orchestra of Opera North - Side by Side - return November 2024

Southbank Sinfonia debut - January 2024

National Children's Orchestra - return March 2024.

At a glance:

Music Director and Conductor;

Young Sinfonia, the Royal Northern Sinfonia's Youth Orchestra

The Glasshouse International Centre for Music.

ORCHESTRAS

BBC Concert Orchestra - 'Friday Night is Music Night' for Radio 3 July 2024

Southbank Sinfonia - Side by Side Project with Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School, Jan 2024

Royal Northern Sinfonia

Side by Sides with Young Sinfonia,

The Snowman - Live to film,

Premiere 'In the Swamp by the Light of the Moon', Book Frann Preston-Gannon, composer Iain Farrington,

In Harmony North East Side by Side 10th Birthday Celebration Concert.

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Relaxed Performance.

Sinfonia Viva

Peter & the Wolf Family Event, Paddington's First Concert - country wide, Pioneers Project LIVE & Recordings.

Northern Silents Sinfonia Chaplin 'The Kid' - live to film - June 2024.

National Children's Orchestra Midland Projects, March 2024; NCO U12 Summer Residential and Concert, August 2023.

Leeds Conservatoire - Red Violin Festival Flashmob, Trinity Shopping Centre Leeds 2024, orchestra projects with Orchestra of Opera North

Trinity Laban Conservatoire Summer School Project Orchestra 2023.

OPERA

Productions include 'Eugene Onegin' Tchaikovsky, Offenbach 'Tales of Hoffman', 'Carmen' Bizet, 'Macbeth' Verdi, 'West Side Story' Bernstein, 'Norma' Bellini, 'The Merry Widow' Lehar, 'Don Giovanni' Mozart.

Northern Opera Group; Sherlock Holmes New Opera R&D, Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitor, Musical Confusion.

Outreach Opera, La Boheme North West Tour.

MUSIC IN THE COMMUNITY

Music Director & Conductor - Blackpool Symphony Orchestra.

Music Director & Conductor - Preston Opera.

CONDUCTING COACHING AND TEACHING

Lecturer in Conducting - Leeds Conservatoire

Conducting Workshop - Durham University

Train the Teacher Workshops - North West Music Mark

Workshops with a range of youth orchestras, schools and non-professional orchestras.

MASTERCLASSES AND TRAINING

Royal Philharmonic Society Flagship Women Conductor Programme with Royal Northern Sinfonia 2022/23 Alumnae