Helen Neilson

Helen Neilson is a freelance cellist and cello tutor based in London. She combines an active performing career with regular teaching commitments in some of London's most prestigious schools. Helen holds an MMus in Performance Studies and has conducted research into the use of the body in music performance which has attracted various conference invitations. In Spring 2011, Helen was appointed as the director of Cello Club, the student division of the London Cello Society.

On this site you can view performance resume, learn about forthcoming events, see details of teaching activities, read an outline of academic work and read about some other events and activities. Photos and biography can also be downloaded.

Forthcoming events:

Ahead lies a busy term with a diverse mixture of student events and a range of different kinds of performance events. Here are a few things which may be of interest.

STUDENT EVENTS

Sun 5th Feb: Battersea home studio - performance class with visiting teacher William Bruce. Venue: Royal Academy of Dance, Battersea Square. 3-6pm. Observers welcome, but please enquire first.

Sun 4th March: Performance class for senior exam students - with Kwesi Edman. Venue: Barnes. 2-5pm. By invitation only.

Tue 6th March: Latymer Upper Strings day -including workshops with Alison Moncrieff-Kelly (cello basics and masterclasses); Peter Buckoke (Alexander Technique); Clare Lindley (Scots Fiddle and improvisation)

Sun 22nd April: Cello Day at the Royal Academy of Music - teachers include Irene Sharp and Selma Gokcen (Junior event) and Hannah Roberts, Robert Max, Leandro Silvera (Senior event). Full details and tickets for students and observers available on www.londoncellos.org.

London Cello Society website

CONCERTS

A few events which may be of interest to friends and to students include:

Fri 20th Jan, 7.30pm, St Alfege Church Greenwich, Tickets £12/£10

St Paul's Sinfonia plays:

Tim Jackson: Intrada

Mendelssohn: String Symphony no. 4

Finzi: Clarinet Concerto

Finzi: Romance for Strings

Strauss: Metamorphosen

Sat 28th January, 6.30pm St James' Piccadilly, Tickets £15/£12.50/£7.50

Corinthian Chamber Orchestra (I will be playing double bass!)

Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings

Stravinsky: Concerto for Piano, Winds and Double Basses

Mozart: Symphony no. 41, "Jupiter"

Wednesday 15th February, Hammerson House, Hampstead 2.30pm - private concert but open to invited guests - please enquire directly to Helen if interested in attending

Helen Neilson (cello), Izabella Bako (piano)

Programme to include:

JC Bach, Concerto in C minor, 1st mvt: Allegro molto ma maestoso; Beethoven, Twelve Variations on a theme from Handel's "Judas Macabbeus"; Tchaikovsky, Valse Sentimentale, op. 51 no. 6; Charles Chaynes, Improvisation a deux; Ulrich Schultheiss, Deux par Deux; Tchaikovsky: Nocture; Saint-Saens, Allegro Appassionato

NEWS

Helen will be playing bass with the Symphony Orchestra of India in Mumbai in late February 2012. She is looking forward to travelling to one of her favourite cities in the world!!

In November 2009, Helen gave the premiere performance of the solo cello version of Paul Barker's "Seven Dirty Sonnets".

Read about the work of Paul Barker

DVD reviews:

Helen reviewed a series of DVDs of legendary teacher and cellist, William Pleeth, probably best known as teacher of the legendary Jacqueline du Pre, giving masterclasses to advanced students at the Britten-Pears School for Advanced Musical Studies. These can be viewed on the Shar Publications website, from where the DVDs can be purchased directly.

Shar Publications website

Email: helen@helenelizabethneilson.com; Diary (MAS): 01306 500011