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)

​'May's.... terrifically bolshy, punky, cocksure performance as Valletto... an amusing caricature of a roosterish teenage boy.' The Idle Woman, The Idle Woman Blog, 16/05/17 (2017)

'...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…' Andrew Benson-Wilson, Early Music Reviews, 10/07/17 (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.' Dr Enza de Francisci, Plays To See, 02/06/17 (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)

Oxford born, Helen currently lives and works in London. Having studied with Marcio da Silva, and previously with Jenny Miller, she looks forward to studying for a Masters in Vocal Performance at the Royal Academy of Music from September 2018.

Helen first developed her love of singing in choirs run by renowned vocal coach and composer Lin Marsh, and as the Peschek Memorial Vocal Scholar at Wantage Parish Church. She also trained in ballet, modern and tap dancing through the Tompsett School of Dance. At 15 Helen successfully auditioned as a Special Provisions Musician at Wells Cathedral School, one of the UK's five specialist music schools. She secured ABRSM Grade 8 in voice, saxophone, viola and piano, and A-levels in Music, English, and Drama & Theatre Studies. Helen's vocal studies developed under Nigel Perrin; she sang in the Chapel Choir, and became a founder member of the Wellensian Consort (winners of the BBC Choir of the Year 2010).

Subsequently Helen gained a David Lloyd Vocal Scholarship to study Music at Cardiff University; Helen Field and Sara Wallander-Ross became her vocal coaches. At Cardiff Helen was awarded the Geraint Evans Prize for outstanding recital performance, and performed regularly as a soloist with the Cardiff University Chamber Choir, including for Mozart’s Coronation Mass and Fauré's Requiem. Helen graduated with a 2:1, BMus (Hons) in 2012.

​Since graduating Helen has secured her DipABRSM (Distinction) and her LRSM. She has performed as a soloist for opera and oratorio in a range of venues, undertaking opera projects with Hampstead Garden Opera, Woodhouse Opera, Ensemble OrQuesta, New London Opera Players, OperaCoast, Opera Anywhere, Secret Opera, Barefoot Opera, and Stanton St John Opera, and oratorio engagements with Hastings Philharmonic and Haslemere Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. Helen has also continued to develop her love of choral singing with The Epiphoni Consort and as a scholar of The Philharmonia Chorus, and still sings with the Wellensian Consort, including representing the UK in the semi-final of the 2013 EBU Competition, 'Let the People Sing'.

(Biography only to be reproduced with permission.)

Teaching: Helen's varied teaching roles have included: singing teacher at St Philomena's Catholic High School for Girls; Teaching and Learning Adviser at the Ballanta Academy of Music in Freetown, Sierra Leone (see Outreach); and Boarding House Assistant at Headington School, Oxford. Helen is also a fully qualified Gymboree teacher, trained to teach the unique combination of music and movement across all five developmental stages, from birth to five years.

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