Helen Deakin

Helen leads a busy freelance life, with particular expertise in playing and coaching chamber music. She has an extensive specialized knowledge of the clarinet / cello / piano trio repertoire. She is also very experienced in organising and coaching chamber groups of varying sizes, combinations and genres, with repertoire ranging from Baroque to the 20th century. Helen is passionate about chamber music and her ultimate aim is for all players to explore a wide range of music, to improve their performing and rehearsal skills and, above all, to enjoy themselves.

Working with young players, Helen directed the Rugby Chamber Ensemble for 25 years. Many successes included the first performance of Guy Woolfenden’s “Suite Française” and its subsequent appearance at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, concerts at the Edinburgh Festival and at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. She has had considerable success with groups in both the National Festival of Music for Youth and in the National Chamber Music for Schools Competition, reaching the final on a number of occasions.

As well as working with young players, Helen really enjoys coaching adult groups. She has directed a series of weekend chamber music courses for adults at the University of Warwick as part of the 'lifelong learning programme’. Currently, she directs a series of chamber music courses at The Flavel Arts Centre in Dartmouth (where she is also a Trustee).