Helen Reid

Biography

Helen Reid first came to public attention when she appeared on BBC2 in the National Keyboard Finals of the BBC Young Musician competition in 1998. In 2000 she won first prize in the Karic International Piano Competition. In 2006 she was hailed as a ‘rising star’ in The Independent magazine.  Helen has given recitals all around in England, at venues including the Wigmore Hall, Purcell Room, Fairfield Halls and Blackheath Halls, London, St. George’s, Bristol, Cheltenham, the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester and the Aldeburgh and Buxton Festivals. In addition, she was invited to Jordan to give a recital in honour of a new EU/Jordanian agreement in the presence of the Prime Minister, and has performed in Spain, Slovakia, Hungary, Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic, following success in the Anglo-Czech competition. Concerto performances have included Ravel G major as part of the Hallé Proms, Beethoven 4th and 2nd Concertos, Mozart F major with the City Chamber Ensemble, Khachaturian with the Surrey Philharmonic and Grieg with the Bardi Orchestra. Helen studied at Chetham’s School before going on to Royal Holloway, University of London, graduating in June 2000 with a 1st class honours degree in Music and German. She then studied in Cologne for a year before returning to take her Master’s degree in Music Performance at City University and the Guildhall School in London. Her teachers have included the late Enid Oughtibridge, Alicia Fiderkiewicz, Andrew Zolinsky, Arbo Valdma and Ronan O’Hora.  Helen’s repertoire is wide-ranging. She regularly performs for the Pleyel Society in Austria on 19th century instruments and also has a keen interest in contemporary music, giving premieres of works by Anthony Powers and David Matthews among others. In 2007 she will perform five newly commissioned works at Dartington International Summer School based around the idea of music and colour.  Helen is currently professor of piano at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and Trinity College of Music Junior Department and has given masterclasses at Hull University. She also has a strong interest in chamber music and has regular duos with flautist Gareth McLearnon, violinist Fenella Humphreys and cellist Sheida Davis. In addition, Helen is a member of the group Pianocircus, with whom she has performed in Malaga and at the Royal Northern College of Music.