Geraint Evans Recital Prize for Outstanding Vocal Performance - Cardiff University (2011)

David Lloyd Vocal Scholarship - Cardiff University (2009)

Special Provisions Music Place - Wells Cathedral School (2007)

Dikon Peschek Memorial Scholar - Wantage Parish Church (2006)

'As Nerone and Poppea, Helen May and Kathleen Nic Dhiarmada are superb. It is a real triumph to conjure up a passionate affair out of 400 year old words and music... May nicely catches the difficult balance between autocratic emperor and lovestruck suitor and, in a role that would probably have originally been sung by a castrato, she makes a convincing male hero.. The famous final duet between the two of them is spell binding.' Nerone, L'Incoronazione di Poppea, Ensemble Orquesta, Cockpit Theatre. Plays to See, February 2019. (2019)

Haydn Nelson Mass: ‘This piece is brimming with delicious chorus numbers and some true highlights for soprano soloist. Helen May does a supreme job with the soprano role.' Art scene in Wales, March 2019. (2019)

'Helen May... a mellifluous Diane..' Hippolyte et Aricie, Grimeborn Opera Festival, August 2019. Planet Hugill. (2019)

'Helen May’s finely sung Pamina seemed a far stronger character than the text sometimes gives her credit for, and her rendition of ‘Ach, ich fühl's’ was very effective and moving'. Mozart, Die Zauberflöte, Hastings Observer, June 2019. (2019)

'It’s difficult to pinpoint a standout performance as every person involved demonstrated a high level of vocal and acting skills. However, the scenes and duets between Poppea and Nerone must be mentioned for their intensity and passion, excellently delivered by Kathleen Nic Dhiarmada and Helen May'. Nerone, L'Incoronazione di Poppea, Ensemble Orquesta, Cockpit Theatre. thespyinthestalls.com, January 2019. (2019)

'The soloists were superb... The Crucifixus and O Salutaris were sung by soprano Helen May beautifully and faultlessly...' Rossini's Petite Messe Solenelle, Lark Reviews, July 2019. (2019)

'…the ever-impressive Helen May. May drew out the disguised princess’s anger, shame and angst to perfection. …She blazes out among the sober Persians…' Amastre, Xerse, Ensemble OrQuesta, Grimeborn Opera Festival, August 2018. The Idle Woman Blog, September 2018. (2018)

It's hard to single anyone out, but Helen May's Despina was outstanding... A name to watch.' Despina, Cosi fan tutte, Woodhouse Opera Festival. Surrey Gazette, September 2018. (2018)

'...Helen May was very effective in the small role of Mélisse in Act 4.' Owen Davies, Plays To See, 11/08/2017 (2017)

'…. there was some impressive singing, notably from Helen May (Diane) ….. demonstrating excellent fluidity in (her) ornaments, and .. having the rare ability to sing a proper trill…' Diane, Hippolyte et Aricie, Woodhouse Opera/Ensemble OrQuesta. Early Music Reviews, July 2017. (2017)

'Helen May was superb as one of the Three Little Maids at the last Simonsbath Festival’s @Opera Anywhere's production of The Mikado'. @Simonsbath Festival Twitter, June 2017. (2017)

'May, whose passionate acting leading up to the seduction scene with Damigella (Conner) is more than credible and convincing.. the almost acrobatic dance sequences among the lovers, employed throughout the opera, is also especially captivating.' Valletto, l’Incoronazione di Poppea, Hampstead Garden Opera, May 2017. Plays To See, June 2017. (2017)

'May's.... terrifically bolshy, punky, cocksure performance as Valletto... an amusing caricature of a roosterish teenage boy.' L'Incoronazione di Poppea, Hampstead Garden Opera, May 2017. The Idle Woman Blog, May 2017. (2017)

'Other singers that I liked from this cast were Ashley Adams, Phénice, Helen May, La Glorie/Mélisse, John Holland-Avery, Ubalde, and Matthew Morgan stepping aside from conducting to sing the role of Un Amant from on high.' Andrew Benson-Wilson, Early Music Reviews, 15/08/2017 (2017)

'Soprano Helen May filled the building with richly glowing tone, the top of the voice thrilling as it floated above the choir.' Dr Brian Hick, Lark Reviews, 05/11/2017 (2017)

'The audience will be able to welcome back the beautiful soprano voice of Helen May to sing with the choir..' Christopher Cormak, Rye News, 26/10/2017 (2017)

Helen is a London-based lyric soprano recognised for the 'mellifluous', 'alluring', and 'affecting' quality of her vocal tone, her 'arresting stage presence', and the conviction and intensity of her dramatic characterisation. She has extensive experience in contemporary music projects, having been privileged to create the role of Nimue in the world premiere of Keith Beal's opera Merlin, with Hastings Philharmonic; to perform as soloist in the world premiere of Orlando Gough’s Bayeux, which was commissioned for the 950th celebration of 1066; to create the role of Ruth in the world premiere of John Whittaker's chamber opera The Three Wayfarers, (Opera Anywhere); to provide solo vocals for the multi-awarding winning short science-fiction film APEX, produced by Numinous Pictures; to create the role of Aisha in the world premiere of Roger Simmonds' Lizzie Strata (Oxfordshire Contemporary Opera); and to cover the role of Aurora in the world premiere of Noah Mosley's opera Aurora, for Bury Court Opera.

Helen has performed fully-staged operatic roles across a range of periods and genres, including: Alcina (Alcina, Handel, Ensemble OrQuesta); Diane (Hippolyte et Aricie, Rameau, Grimeborn Opera Festival); Woodpecker (The Cunning Little Vixen, Janáček, Royal Academy Opera); Pamina (Die Zauberflöte, Mozart, Hastings Philharmonic with Ensemble OrQuesta); Amastre (Xerse, Cavalli, Ensemble OrQuesta, Grimeborn Opera Festival); Despina (Cosi fan tutte, Mozart, Woodhouse Opera Festival); Nerone (L'incoronazione di Poppea, Monteverdi, Ensemble OrQuesta, Cockpit Theatre); Morgana (Alcina, Handel, Secret Opera); Galatea (Acis and Galatea, Handel, Ensemble OrQuesta); Giannetta (L’elisir d’amore, Donizetti, Woodhouse Opera Festival); Barbarina (Le Nozze di Figaro, Ensemble OrQuesta); Valletto, L'incoronazione di Poppea, Hampstead Garden Opera); Calisto (La Calisto, Barefoot Opera and Ensemble OrQuesta); Diane (Hippolyte et Aricie, Rameau, Woodhouse Opera with Ensemble OrQuesta); First Lady (The Magic Flute, Mozart, London Opera Players); and Yum Yum (The Mikado, Gilbert & Sullivan, Opera Anywhere). In scenes at the Royal Academy Helen has recently taken the role of Tatyana (Eugene Onegin, Tchaikovsky).

As an oratorio soloist, Helen has performed for: Poulenc’s Gloria (Grange Choral Society); Schubert’s Mass in G, and Holst’s Two Psalms (Hastings Philharmonic); Haydn's 'Nelson Mass’ (Cardiff University Symphony Chorus and Chamber Orchestra); Mozart’s Requiem in D minor and Poulenc’s Stabat Mater (St. John's, Hyde Park); Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music and Handel's Dixit Dominus (Epiphoni Consort); Handel’s Messiah (Haslemere Symphony Orchestra and Chorus); and Mozart’s Coronation Mass in C major and Fauré’s Requiem (Cardiff University Chamber Choir); and has performed with a number of renowned chamber ensembles for competitions, BBC broadcasts, CD recordings, and concerts in the UK and abroad.

Recent solo concert performances include: Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle with the Hastings Philharmonic Choir; joining the Lambeth Orchestra and the Dunraven Chamber Choir, taking the roles of the Dew Fairy and Sandman, for a concert performance of Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel; and joining chosen Royal Academy of Music soloists in a recital of Austrian songs under the auspices of the 'Transcending Borders' concert series at the Italian Cultural Institute, performing Schoenberg’s Vier Lieder, Opus 2.

Forthcoming performances include: the role of Mrs Page (Sir John in Love, Vaughan Williams) in scenes for Royal Academy Opera in November, and, joining chosen Royal Academy of Music soloists in a recital of Italian arias and songs at the Italian Cultural Institute under the auspices of the 'Transcending Borders' concert series. Helen has a wide range of exciting projects booked into her diary for 2020, which she looks forward to announcing in due course.

In September 2019 Helen commenced her second year of study for a Master of Arts in Performance at the Royal Academy of Music, under the tutelage of Nuccia Focile. She is one of just three sopranos selected this year to join the Academy's prestigious Preparatory Opera Course. Helen also benefits from private teaching with the Brazilian baritone, Marcio da Silva, and has been privileged to participate in masterclasses given by distinguished opera singers such as Isobel Buchanan and Toby Spence. She is grateful for the ongoing support of the William Gibbs Educational Trust and the Josephine Baker Trust. Helen's undergraduate studies in music took place at Cardiff University, where she held the David Lloyd Vocal Scholarship, was awarded the Geraint Evan Prize for outstanding recital performance, and performed regularly as a soloist with the Cardiff University Chamber Choir. Helen is an alumna of Wells Cathedral School, one of the UK's five specialist music schools, where she was awarded a 'special provisions' music place in the sixth form.
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From September 2019 Helen commences her second year of study for a Master of Arts in Performance at the Royal Academy of Music, with Nuccia Focile. She is one of just three sopranos selected this year to join the Academy's prestigious Preparatory Opera Course. Helen also benefits from private teaching with the Brazilian baritone, Marcio da Silva, and has been privileged to participate in masterclasses given by distinguished opera singers such as Isobel Buchanan and Toby Spence. She is immensely grateful for the generous ongoing support of the William Gibbs Educational Trust. Helen's undergraduate studies in music took place at Cardiff University, where she held the David Lloyd Vocal Scholarship, was awarded the Geraint Evans Prize for outstanding recital performance, and performed regularly as a soloist with the Cardiff University Chamber Choir.

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