Helen Harrison, Music Director
We are proud that Helen Harrison started her professional orchestral conducting journey with us at BSO in 2011.
A warm, natural and communicative presence on the podium Helen Harrison inspires
exciting and compelling performances from the artists she collaborates with across
orchestras, opera companies and choirs.
Helen recently made her debut with the BBC Concert Orchestra conducting ‘Friday Night is
Music Night’ broadcast on BBC Radio 3. Guest conducting includes the Royal Northern
Sinfonia, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sinfonia Viva, Northern Silents Sinfonia, the
Orchestra of Opera North side by side with Leeds Conservatoire, Hull Urban Opera Group,
Northern Opera Group, Outreach Opera and the National Children’s Orchestra.
Born, raised and living in Lancashire Helen is passionate about bringing the transformative
power of music to her own community and is proud to be the Music Director for Preston
Opera and the award-winning Blackpool Symphony Orchestra.
Recognised as one of the leading conductors in the country for her work with young people
Helen is the Music Director for the Young Sinfonia, the Royal Northern Sinfonia’s Youth
Orchestra. She relishes training the next generation of musicians conducting the National
Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain, Trinity Laban Summer School Orchestra, Leeds
Conservatoire and previously the Lancashire Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Helen is committed to providing opportunities for all musicians to develop their conducting
skills. Besides mentoring and coaching conductors individually she is in demand across the
country to deliver workshops for organisation across the country for both Music Leaders and
young musicians including Future Talent, Music Hubs, Music Mark, Durham University as
lecturing at Leeds Conservatoire.
Educated at a comprehensive school in Blackburn, Lancashire Helen read Music at
Cambridge University and studied Conducting at the Royal Northern College of Music. She
is an Alumna of the flagship programme for Women Conductors run by the Royal
Philharmonic Society and the Royal Northern Sinfonia. She has taken part in international
Masterclasses run by the Royal Opera House, the Royal Philharmonic Society, the National
Opera Studio and the Royal Northern College of Music.
Helen is the Interim Chair for Orchestras Live who work across England connecting
communities with world class orchestras and their life changing power.
An engaging communicator Helen has contributed to broadcasts on both Radio 3 and Radio
4 including a special edition of Soul Music exploring ‘Sailing By’ celebrating 100 years of the
‘Shipping Forecast’ in 2025.
https://www.helenharrisonconductor.co.uk
May 2025
