Helen Kennedy

Helen Kennedy AMusA. ADMT (Merit) Syd Con. MMTA (NSW)

In 1985 Helen graduated from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music with high distinction. She studied piano with Igor Hmelnitsky. Her performing experience encompasses work in Australia as well as overseas in New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and London. For many years, Helen worked as a director of music with the Australian National Youth Performing Arts Group and has extensive experience both as an accompanist and conductor for numerous public concerts, national and international corporate events, events for the Sydney Olympic Games, Royal occasions and Sydney celebrations. In 1996 she was the Piano Accompanist for the Australian Youth Choir’s International Concert Tour. Helen runs a practice in Surry Hills and, over the years, many of her students have gained places at the Sydney Conservatorium and at universities, including Sydney and NSW, in performance majors. One of her teaching specialities is in the adult learning sphere where she has developed the successful PianoExpress® system. This system offers a unique and exciting fast-track learning approach to suit today’s busy adult lifestyles with classical, jazz and popular styles. PianoExpress® is also a rewarding product for teachers to use in their own studios (www.pianoexpress.com.au).

From 2012 Helen was commissioned to record the piano collection of Sydney composer, Mark John McEncroe. The first two collections of these beautiful classical works, Reflections & Recollections, are available online on ITunes, Amazon Music, Spotify, Jango music, CD Baby, Fish Fine Music Town Hall, Sydney and also direct from the composer www.markjohnmcencroecomposer.com

Helen was also commissioned to record Mark’s first work for piano and orchestra ‘Natalie’s Suite’ with the Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra in the Czech Republic. The album ‘Dark Clouds in Life: Natalie’s Suite & Other Works’ was released in the USA in March 2017 by Parma Music and Navona Records. This album has made the Top 10 Classical CD’s for 2017 on Canada’s Textura site. The album is also available through the above online music download sites.