 |
|
"When I practise, I am a philosopher,
When I teach, I am a scientist,
When I demonstrate, I am an artist."
B.K.S. Iyengar....
Helen Neilson is a freelance cellist and double bass player and
cello tutor based in London, leading a multi-faceted career which has continued over time to defy being put into any conventional
"binary" instrumentalist boxes! She combines an active performing career on both cello and double bass with regular
cello teaching commitments in some of London's most prestigious schools and a busy home teaching practice in South London,
working regularly on a one to one basis and in small group settings with children mostly aged 4 - 18. She is interested in
working with students from a variety of environments and backgrounds at all stages on their cellistic journeys. Helen is a
fully qualified Suzuki cello teacher and holds a
PGDip in Advanced Performance from the Royal College of Music and an MMus in Performance Studies from Trinity College in cello
playing. Her own cello studies included time working with Anna Shuttleworth, Melissa Phelps and Naomi Butterworth.
She completed her Level 5 (top level) Suzuki teacher training in September 2021, after over 11 years of study and training
in the field. She has worked with mentors including Carey Beth-Hockett (USA), Eulalia Subira (ES), Ruben Riviera (FR) and
Pamela Devenport (USA), having started her studies in Spain in Sept 2019 and then continuing online during the Covid-19 pandemic,
including a book 9-10 training course in the USA with Laura Shaw. Helen regularly freelances with orchestras, mostly as a double bass player, and is Principal
bass for St Paul's Sinfonia. She has played for opera companies including Opera Della Luna and Pegasus Opera, and has
toured with orchestras including the Berlin Metropolitan Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra of India on double bass. She enjoys playing chamber music
on the cello, and has given many chamber and solo recitals around London and beyond, over many years. She plays on a cello
made in Salisbury in 1784 named "Phoenix", whom she considers her partner and soulmate in the journey of life!
She enjoys exploring the use of body and mind in music performance,
and shares the findings of her research in lesson and workshop settings and through conferences and articles, having published in magazines including "The Strad" and the ESTA
Journal "ARCO". She has a special interest in neurodiversity and has significant experience of working with children
with a range of educational and behavioural needs, including children on the autism spectrum and with ADHD, both of which
are subjects she has researched extensively. Her work draws upon a knowledge of disciplines including yoga, Alexander Technique
and Feldenkrais among others to assist in teaching body movement for instrumental playing. Her experience of working on a
close one to one basis, and in small groups with many students across a range of ages over many years has allowed her to study
human behaviour and development at close range. She is particularly adept at spotting behavioural patterns, and is known in
her work for being sensitive and responsive to the needs of each individual student and working with patience over the longer
term path, both with children, and with their parents and carers, to help each individual fulfil their potential, using positive
and holistic approaches. She has provided long term stability in the teaching relationship to many children over the longer
term, including through the challenges of the Covid -19 pandemic, and enjoys the close work with the wider family which comes
with the instrumental teaching relationship, which can often span across ten years or more of a child's life.
Helen has a strong interest
in optimising set ups of string instruments of all sizes and levels in order to allow students the greatest levels of freedom
in playing at every stage of their development. She has worked closely with many luthiers and string specialists
over the years in order to develop her knowledge of the best instruments available for students at every stage of their
development at a range of budget levels, from the earliest steps of their musical journeys through to fine instruments, and
enjoys being involved in the processes of getting instruments working to their optimum potential, and of finding the best
possible match of instrument for each player as they develop. She enjoys frequenting the workshops and dealerships, dealing
with an ongoing chain of instrument repairs as well as working on set ups and regularly advising on string instrument purchases.
Helen is happy to advise string players and their families on businesses whom she considers safe and ethical for approaching
with regards to purchase of string instruments and bows, and to guide on the best luthiers for any particular job. She also
possesses a diverse collection of bows of many sizes, from the tiniest Twinkle bows upwards! She has a strong interest
in reading about the history of string instruments and bows and their makers, with a particular interest in English instruments
and the Hill tradition. She has a developing library which she is always happy to share with interested colleagues!
A strong interest is the impact of environment upon development. She specialises
in leading large cello groups in workshop and group teaching settings, and is interested in how these can
inspire and motivate students as part of their wider path of learning. Helen has led large group workshop sessions at events
including London Cello Society "Cello Days" over ten years and more; open lessons and workshop sessions for students,
their parents and teacher trainees at courses including CelloFest and LSG Bryanston International Summer School over many
years, and she has coached orchestral sections on courses including South London Youth Orchestra and for the Duet Group Philharmonic
concerts at the Royal Festival Hall. Teaching activities include:
Helen is the Director of "Our Cello Community"
Suzuki cello and musicianship group programme, which runs in at West Hill Primary School in Wandsworth Town
SW18 on 6 Saturday mornings a term. A belief behind the work is that children learn best directly from other children. Skills
developed include communication and ensemble skills, and the social elements of musical development which are achieved through
playing together in a consistent and stable environment. This programme is open to any cello students studying with the Suzuki
Method, with the agreement of their teacher, or other cello students working in any method at grade 6+ levels for advanced
groups and ensembles. Full information and information on how to join is available on the programme website:
Our Cello Community website:
Sunday 4th February 2024: Cello Orchestra
and Vamoosh Play Day with Thomas Gregory
and Helen Neilson Open
to student cellists from beginner to grade 8+ levels, up to age 18. Senior
event for grade 2 - grade 8+: Cello orchestra with Thomas Gregory: 10.30am - 3.30pm; £42
Junior event for beginner to grade 2: Vamoosh with Helen Neilson, then join Thomas Gregory and the
Cello Orchestra for one combined piece: 12.30 - 3.30pm; £21 Full details and event booking on Eventbrite:
Cello Orchestra and Vamoosh Play Day Sun 4th Feb Booking:
 Helen is Head of
Strings at Latymer Upper School, where she runs cello and chamber groups as well as maintaining a thriving cello class, working
with students aged 7-18 from beginner to Diploma levels. Her
regular weekly schools include Latymer Upper School (inc. Head of Strings); St Paul's Girls' School
and the Aldgate School (formerly the Sir John Cass Foundation Primary School). She has designed and led large scale cello workshop events for the London Cello Society, and prior to establishing
her own Suzuki group programme, "Our Cello Community", previously developed successful cello group programmes over
several years at Bayswater Suzuki Group and earlier at Little Venice Suzuki Group. Courses and workshops taught on include South London Youth Orchestra, Dulwich
Youth Orchestra, Duet Group Philharmonic courses, Bryanston LSG International Summer School, CelloFest, Pro Corda Cello Course
and LCS Cello Days. She is on the advisory council to the London Cello Society, having previously been the director of Cello Club, their Junior Division. She is particularly interested in creating environments
and designing events which inspire and motivate students. Helen has experience of both teaching on
and designing and managing events for young string players. She is also interested in professional development for
teachers and is currently consultant and mentor to the team of cello teachers on the London Music Masters Programme,
bringing quality music tuition to children in inner city London primary schools. She has lectured at Cambridge University
on "The Practical Application of the Singing Voice in Instrumental Teaching". Helen was recently a syllabus
consultant involved in setting the cello syllabus for Trinity cello exams for 2020 - 2023, which is now being used ongoing. You can watch her video
discussing the Trinity cello syllabus here:
Trinity Strings Syllabus 2020-2023 video
"Our Cello Community"
home studio lessons are based in SW4 in the Clapham area, and the supporting Suzuki cello
group and musicianship programme is based at West Hill Primary in Wandsworth Town area SW18, running six Saturday mornings
a term. Students attend weekly individual lessons mid-week after school, and attend the supporting cello community group
programme. Applications are invited from new families to join our community. Priority will be given to new beginners
age 4-7 years old. The group programme is open to any cello students learning with the Suzuki Method. Please email Helen
for details of how to apply, or complete the form on the "Joining Us" section on the Group programme website.
Helen is Head of Strings at Latymer Upper School where
she has a large cello class of preps and senior students, boys and girls; she oversees the chamber music programme; coaches
several chamber music groups; organises and co-ordinates major events for string players and also maintains the string instrument
fleet. Her cello students have won music awards and music scholarships at yr 7 and sixth form entry levels, have been awarded
winning places in the school music competition and include some outstanding examination results. A particular highlight
of her week is prep cello group! Latymer Upper School recently won multiple awards at the Times Educational
Supplement (TES) Awards February 2018 for best Independent-State Partnership Work; Best Senior School and Best Independent
School in the UK.
Orchestral activities include:
Helen regularly freelances with various orchestras as a double
bass player, and enjoys engaging with various orchestral communities from the very roots of the
orchestra! She loves exploring the large scale symphonic repertoire and being at the very foundation of the smaller
chamber orchestra works and frequently plays as guest principal for various professional freelance and community orchestras.
Helen is regular principal bass with St Paul's Sinfonia based at St Alfege Church in Greenwich. They continued to deliver
many live stream concerts during the Covid-19 pandemic, which are available to view on their website. She enjoys exploring
the chamber music repertoire on the bass and has had fun playing at various festivals and on tours around
the UK and abroad. A highlight was playing bass with the massed cello orchestra in the final night concert of the Casals Festival
2018 in the Abbaye Saint Michel de Cuxa in Prades, France, where Casals gave early performances of the Bach Cello Suites.
She enjoys the range of characters she meets along the way and the perspective it gives her into a wide range of interesting
environments.
St Paul's Sinfonia website
|
|
|
For orchestral work diary enquiries, please
contact Helen directly by email. See social media channels for more regular updates on events.
Highlights of 2024 to include:
Sunday 14th January, 6pm, St John’s Church, Hyde Park Crescent (double bass
with orchestra): Epiphany Carols - a service filled with music, to celebrate the end of Robert Greenhill’s
time as Director of Music here after many years! Church service - open to all, with champagne reception afterwards.
Friday 19th January, 7.30pm, St Alfege Church, Greenwich: St Paul’s Sinfonia (bass). “Italian
Strings” Programme to include: Corelli: Concerto Grosso; Resphigi: Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite. No. 3; Bottesini:
Concerto for Double Bass; Nino Rota: Concerto per Archi; Scelsi: Natural Renovatur. With Alex Ferkey (double bass). Tickets
£20/£15.
Sunday
21st January, 6.00pm, St John's Church, Hyde Park (bass): Bob Chilcott's "A Little Jazz Mass" for
piano, double bass and choir, with the wonderful choir of St John's Church .
Sunday 28th January,
3.00pm, Duke’s Hall, Royal Academy of Music: London Suzuki Group “Groups Festival” (cello). Cellists
of “Our Cello Community” will perform: Romberg: Sonata in E Minor (cello quartet arrangement by Rodney Farrar)
and Suzuki: Etude (with accompaniments “Rumination” and “Cogitation” by Carey Beth-Hockett).
Sunday 4th February 10.30am - 3.30pm, West Hill Primary School, Wandsworth Town, SW18 5ST: Cello Orchestra
and Vamoosh Play Day with Thomas Gregory. “Our Cello Community” invites student cellists of all levels, beginner
to grade 8+, up to age 18, to join us for a fun day of Cello Orchestra pieces by Thomas Gregory, and Vamoosh classics, led
by Helen Neilson. Tickets £42/£21. Full details and booking link on Eventbrite: https://vamoosh-cello-playday.eventbrite.com
Thursday 8th February 7.00pm, Latymer Upper School. We look forward to welcoming Raphael Wallfisch
to give a cello recital for our school community! Programme to include Schumann, Bridge, Nin and Elgar.
Tuesday
27th February, 4.15pm - 8.30pm, Latymer Upper School. We look forward to welcoming Nic Pendlebury, Head of Strings
at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, and his faculty team including Sally Pendlebury and Jan Schmolk to give
an evening of masterclasses for our advanced chamber music students, followed by a 7.00pm concert featuring items by our students
groups and the Trinity Laban faculty members.
Thursday 21st March, 6.30pm, Cadogan Hall. A special
gala concert for the Latymer Foundation’s 400th Anniversary. Featuring groups and faculty from Latymer Upper School.
Sunday 24th March, 12.00pm and 5.00pm, Royal College of Music. London Suzuki Group “Stellar
Strings” concert, featuring Suzuki string students, working across all levels.
Tuesday 9th - Friday
12th April, James Allen’s Girls’ School. (Cello tutor) South London Youth Orchestra. A course for young
string players to build and develop orchestral skills. Four orchestras, open to students from entry level approx grade 2,
to grade 8/Diploma level. Plus Cello Choir.
Friday 19th April, 7.30pm, St Alfege Church, Greenwich. St
Paul’s Sinfonia (bass). “Bohemian Borders”/Framing Fauré and Sibelius. Programme to include:
Smetena: Bartered Bride Overture; Sibelius: Humoresques; Fauré: Violin Concerto Movement; Dvorak: Symphony no. 7. With
Fenella Humphreys (violin). Tickets £20/£15.
Sunday 21st April, 10.00 - 6.00pm, Royal Academy
of Music. London Cello Society “Cello Day” (cello). A vibrant and fun filled day of joyful cello community
action including group and solo performance opportunities and workshop sessions. Senior Event (Grades 5-8+) Faculty to include:
William Bruce, Joseph Crouch, Ben Davies, Penny Driver, Alexandra Mackenzie, Robert Max, Helen Neilson; Artiste Masterclass:
Joely Koos. Junior Event (grades 1-4) Faculty to include: Dan James, Ollie Mansfield, Helen Neilson, Josh Salter. Beginner
class: Lara Moore. Cello Club Members prices: Senior event £52/ Junior event £46/Beginners £30/Observers
£12.50; Non-members prices: Senior event £58/Junior event £50/Beginners £35/Observers £15.
*********************************************************************************************************************
Photo by Irena Pechon
*********************************************************************************************************************
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Helen Neilson |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|