Although identifying primarily as a jazz musician, Helen’s career has evolved to include many musical projects in differing styles.
From the mid-90s Helen began to find work as an orchestra pit musician for national touring productions of musicals such as 42nd Street and Singing in the Rain. Starting with the locally written and produced show Starbuck, Helen began working as musical director for theatre productions: credits include the long-running cabaret series Women in Voice, the Queensland Theatre Company’s We Were Dancing and several productions with La Boite Theatre Company (Way Out West, Long Gone Lonesome Cowgirls).
Helen was also a founding board member of the Brisbane Cabaret Festival as Music Consultant: she performed and provided musical direction for many of the shows and tours generated by the organisation.
Women In Voice
From humble beginnings at a funky, upstairs venue in Brisbane’s West End to rubbing shoulders with large-scale international productions at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, and, in 2005, a season at Sydney’s Star City Showroom, Women in Voice has had an impressive journey.
Among the artists that have presented over the years there have been music legends such as Chrissie Amphlett and Deborah Conway; Alison St Ledger and Margret Roadknight; Katie Noonan, Carita Farrer and the eclectic talents of Christine Johnston.
These and many other voices have become part of the WIV canon – a proud testament to this courageous concept showcasing talented female vocalists in an up-front, uncomplicated manner that results in one of the liveliest, funniest and most professional shows in town.
