Description
Born in Hawick, in the beautiful Scottish Borders, Helen enjoyed a rich and diverse musical upbringing, becoming Principal Clarinet of both the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland and National Youth Chamber Orchestra of Scotland. Former Head Girl of Hawick High School, Helen gained a place to study at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester; a Virtuosi Society Bursary enabled additional Clarinet study with Gervase de Peyer in Washington DC. After graduating, she went on to follow an exciting and varied career in and around Manchester, particularly involved in church music, whilst raising a young family. Teaching, performing and directing across a huge spectrum of styles, Helen worked for a number of years as a Director of Worship in Didsbury and has directed the music for live BBC broadcasts, including her own compositions and arrangements, on Radio 4. She has recently conducted and arranged music for BBC Songs of Praise in Edinburgh. Helen is delighted to have returned to her homeland with her husband, organist Simon Leach, and their children, and is loving her new lifestyle in this scenic part of the world, combining instrumental and theory teaching with composition. She has composed music for recent royal milestones, which Simon has played at Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh.
Helen Comments: I composed The Black Rood of Scotland near the outset of lockdown, in the outhouse of my late father’s cottage in Hawick, in the Scottish Borders, where we were staying at that time. Written as a personal devotion for Holy Week 2020, I held the hope that, one day, my husband, Simon, would be able to play it when churches re-opened and he would take up his new appointment of Director of Music at Canongate Kirk, Edinburgh. Simon did indeed give its first performance at Remembrance in Canongate Kirk that year. The Black Rood of Scotland seems to have been a holy relic brought to Scotland by St Margaret of Scotland (1045-1093), who became a Scottish Queen when she married King Malcolm III.
Facing the unprecedented turmoil and grief of the pandemic, I wanted to connect with the Christian roots of the country and The Black Rood of Scotland is a depiction of the love and longing of Christ upon the Cross.
