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Classically trained from a young age, Helen Bower is a versatile violinist with an eclectic approach to her musical life. Her love of music has led her to perform with artists from many different musical genres (think touring with a rock band one week to working with a symphony orchestra the next!) Helen is always striving to provide performance platforms for the artists she works with, as well as opportunities for local communities to share in her creative projects.
Helen graduated with a First Class Honours Degree from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, London and upon graduation was awarded the Vivian Prindl Outreach Prize for her music/dance collaboration "In the Loop". As a classical violinist she has worked with conductors Sir Charles Mackerras, Diego Masson, Miles Golding and Edward Gardner. She has also had coaching from Ofer Falk (Allegri Quartet) and Michael Bochmann (English Symphony Orchestra) and played in masterclasses with Pieter Schoeman (London Philharmonic Orchestra) and the Wihan Quartet. In London, Helen was a founding member of The Benzaiten Ensemble, a dynamic string quartet who performed for recitals, workshops, weddings and functions, as well as regular live and studio session work.
After relocating to Melbourne, Helen began working with many of the local orchestras and 2015 saw her take on the position of President for the Victorian Youth Symphony Orchestra. She was delighted to guide the orchestra through a highly successful year with a significant increase in concert attendance and orchestral membership allowing the orchestra to program a dynamic and adventurous season the following year.
Currently working as a busy freelance musician, Helen is a member of newly formed group Ensemble Density led by Melbourne composer Charles MacInnes, was violinist for Taylor Mac’s ‘24-Decade History of Popular Music’ as part of Melbourne Festival and can often be found performing as one of the Bourke Street Mall buskers with her 5-string electric violin and live looping equipment.
Creatively, Helen has spent her time in Australia developing new and original work for solo violin and live electronic looping under the project title The Looping Glass. In 2014/2015 her show "Through the Looping Glass" [TTLG] was performed in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth and was nominated for the music award at Perth FRINGE WORLD Festival. Continuing her exploration of the use of live looping in a contemporary classical music context, Helen has worked with Melbourne composer Charles MacInnes to transform TTLG into "Lost in the Looping Glass" which premiered at the 2015 Melbourne Fringe Festival, toured to Perth and New Zealand early in 2016 and the UK in 2017. “Lost in the Looping Glass” was also featured at Melbourne’s 2017 WHITE NIGHT Festival.
Alongside her classical and creative work, Helen can often be found on stage with a band or in the recording studio. She has previously worked as violinist and backing vocalist for London based rock band The Fanclub, played for recordings, live shows and UK festival performances for The Silent League and Mishaped Pearls, as well as writing, recording and performing with electronic breakbeat band Ocarina. Helen has also recorded at Abbey Road for Children In Need and 1916 The Musical. In Australia she has performed and recorded for singer/songwriter Lydia Goldthorpe and Melbourne-based band Oliver's Army and has recently begun working with Amy Pollock.
Helen graduated with a First Class Honours Degree from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, London and upon graduation was awarded the Vivian Prindl Outreach Prize for her music/dance collaboration "In the Loop". As a classical violinist she has worked with conductors Sir Charles Mackerras, Diego Masson, Miles Golding and Edward Gardner. She has also had coaching from Ofer Falk (Allegri Quartet) and Michael Bochmann (English Symphony Orchestra) and played in masterclasses with Pieter Schoeman (London Philharmonic Orchestra) and the Wihan Quartet. In London, Helen was a founding member of The Benzaiten Ensemble, a dynamic string quartet who performed for recitals, workshops, weddings and functions, as well as regular live and studio session work.
After relocating to Melbourne, Helen began working with many of the local orchestras and 2015 saw her take on the position of President for the Victorian Youth Symphony Orchestra. She was delighted to guide the orchestra through a highly successful year with a significant increase in concert attendance and orchestral membership allowing the orchestra to program a dynamic and adventurous season the following year.
Currently working as a busy freelance musician, Helen is a member of newly formed group Ensemble Density led by Melbourne composer Charles MacInnes, was violinist for Taylor Mac’s ‘24-Decade History of Popular Music’ as part of Melbourne Festival and can often be found performing as one of the Bourke Street Mall buskers with her 5-string electric violin and live looping equipment.
Creatively, Helen has spent her time in Australia developing new and original work for solo violin and live electronic looping under the project title The Looping Glass. In 2014/2015 her show "Through the Looping Glass" [TTLG] was performed in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth and was nominated for the music award at Perth FRINGE WORLD Festival. Continuing her exploration of the use of live looping in a contemporary classical music context, Helen has worked with Melbourne composer Charles MacInnes to transform TTLG into "Lost in the Looping Glass" which premiered at the 2015 Melbourne Fringe Festival, toured to Perth and New Zealand early in 2016 and the UK in 2017. “Lost in the Looping Glass” was also featured at Melbourne’s 2017 WHITE NIGHT Festival.
Alongside her classical and creative work, Helen can often be found on stage with a band or in the recording studio. She has previously worked as violinist and backing vocalist for London based rock band The Fanclub, played for recordings, live shows and UK festival performances for The Silent League and Mishaped Pearls, as well as writing, recording and performing with electronic breakbeat band Ocarina. Helen has also recorded at Abbey Road for Children In Need and 1916 The Musical. In Australia she has performed and recorded for singer/songwriter Lydia Goldthorpe and Melbourne-based band Oliver's Army and has recently begun working with Amy Pollock.
