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Helen Francis studied at the Birmingham School of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music. Her tutors included: Linda Vaughan, Pamela Cook, David Johnston and Catherine Wilson. Helen won a number of major prizes whilst at college and sang in a wide range of concerts and operatic productions. She took part in master classes given by Tito Gobbi, Peter Pears, John Carol-Case and April Cantelo. During her professional life Helen has sung with many orchestras and has been fortunate to work with conductors such as: Sir Georg Solti, Sir Neville Mariner, Sir Charles Groves and Richard Hickox.
Operatic roles include: Mrs Peachum in the Beggars Opera – John Gay, Marcellina in Marriage of Figaro – Mozart and Ottavia in Coronation of Poppea - Monteverdi.
Helen performs at concert venues throughout Britain and has also sung in France, Poland, Israel and Portugal. As well as her solo singing Helen has been a member of the BBC Northern Singers, Britten Singers and has worked with Ex-Cathedra.
Helen is a member of the BBC Daily Service Singers, broadcasting frequently on BBC Radio 4 from Manchester and St. Martin in the Fields church in London. She has sung on two recent CDs featuring the singers; has appeared in several TV broadcasts and was interviewed as part of a documentary celebrating the 70th anniversary of the BBC Daily Service.
Her recent solo performances have included: St. John Passion - J.S.Bach, Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen - Mahler and Petite Messe Solennelle - Rossini. In recitals with David Dubery (piano) and John Turner (recorder) she has been performing new compositions specially written for her. Future plans involve a return trip to France in June, performances of Bach’s B minor Mass, Beethoven’s Mass in C along with other recital and other concert engagements.
Alongside this busy life in music making Helen teaches singing at Liverpool University and Chetham’s School of Music, works as a vocal tutor at the Northern Ballet School in Manchester and has a private teaching practice in Bolton. Helen is a singing coach for the National Youth Choir.
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