Helen Leaf, a distinguished alumna of Trinity College of Music, London, not only graduated with first class honours but was also awarded a Fellowship Diploma in singing, Licentiate Teaching Diplomas in piano and singing, the Alan J Kirby Conducting Prize and the Louise Band Prize for Musicianship. She attained a Master’s Degree in Music Performance Studies from The City University, London and went on to found and direct Opera Shop before collaborating with top-tier record producers both in London and in Los Angeles.
A seasoned educator, Helen has shared her knowledge at prestigious performing arts colleges such as Mountview Theatre School, Northern Ballet School, Renaissance-Arts and SLP College, Leeds. She was the children’s voice coach for The King And I National Tour and many of her students have graced prominent stages in the West End, Off Broadway, National Tours, television as well as professional pantomimes. Helen’s pupils have pursued higher education at leading performing arts colleges and showcased their talents with the elite National Youth Music Theatre Company. Her protégé’s have achieved exceptional results in the LCM and ABRSM Music Theatre and Singing examinations earning Helen invitations to adjudicate at Music and Drama Festivals and school competitions.
As the co-founder of danSing Performing Arts in Harrogate, Helen has written and devised musical theatre performances, arranged songs, and taught vocal technique, repertoire and harmony singing. She has hosted workshops for danSing with West End directors, artists and choreographers and directed numerous performances bringing professional and amateur performers together to help raise thousands of pounds for national and local charities.
In her role as musical director at Brackenfield School, Helen has written children’s musicals and songs including Betty's with Me for the Betty’s Tea Shop Centenary (performed on BBC Look North), Christmas in Yorkshire (featured on ITV Calendar News) and Song for You, Ma'am (composed especially for Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee). Her song arrangement, Yorkshire Medley, was performed live at the York Railway Museum for the Eve of the Tour de Yorkshire and her Songs of The Great War and Choral Suite from Les Misérables were performed by Brackenfield Choir at the Music for Youth Nationals in Birmingham receiving the prestigious award for innovation.
During the global pandemic, Helen finished writing her first full-scale musical. Ursula is a gothic musical drama which combines fact and fiction, unites real and imaginary characters, and explores the fascinating life of Ursula Sontheil, better known as Mother Shipton.
A seasoned educator, Helen has shared her knowledge at prestigious performing arts colleges such as Mountview Theatre School, Northern Ballet School, Renaissance-Arts and SLP College, Leeds. She was the children’s voice coach for The King And I National Tour and many of her students have graced prominent stages in the West End, Off Broadway, National Tours, television as well as professional pantomimes. Helen’s pupils have pursued higher education at leading performing arts colleges and showcased their talents with the elite National Youth Music Theatre Company. Her protégé’s have achieved exceptional results in the LCM and ABRSM Music Theatre and Singing examinations earning Helen invitations to adjudicate at Music and Drama Festivals and school competitions.
As the co-founder of danSing Performing Arts in Harrogate, Helen has written and devised musical theatre performances, arranged songs, and taught vocal technique, repertoire and harmony singing. She has hosted workshops for danSing with West End directors, artists and choreographers and directed numerous performances bringing professional and amateur performers together to help raise thousands of pounds for national and local charities.
In her role as musical director at Brackenfield School, Helen has written children’s musicals and songs including Betty's with Me for the Betty’s Tea Shop Centenary (performed on BBC Look North), Christmas in Yorkshire (featured on ITV Calendar News) and Song for You, Ma'am (composed especially for Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee). Her song arrangement, Yorkshire Medley, was performed live at the York Railway Museum for the Eve of the Tour de Yorkshire and her Songs of The Great War and Choral Suite from Les Misérables were performed by Brackenfield Choir at the Music for Youth Nationals in Birmingham receiving the prestigious award for innovation.
During the global pandemic, Helen finished writing her first full-scale musical. Ursula is a gothic musical drama which combines fact and fiction, unites real and imaginary characters, and explores the fascinating life of Ursula Sontheil, better known as Mother Shipton.