HELEN HARRISON 
MUSIC DIRECTOR AND CONDUCTOR

A warm, natural and communicative presence on the podium British conductor Helen Harrison inspires exciting and compelling performances from the artists she collaborates with from orchestras, opera companies and choirs.
Helen is the Music Director and Conductor for the Young Sinfonia, the Royal Northern Sinfonia’s Youth Orchestra at the Sage Gateshead. She is a 2022/2023 Participant on the flagship programme for Women Conductors run by the Royal Philharmonic in partnership with the Royal Northern Sinfonia. Helen is the Music Director positions for the award-winning Blackpool Symphony Orchestra and Preston Opera and previously Lytham Choral Society and the Lancashire Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Recent guest conducting highlights include the Royal Northern Sinfonia, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sinfonia Viva, Leeds Conservatoire, Northern Opera Group and Outreach Opera. She regularly guest conducts non-professional ensembles including Wilmslow Symphony Orchestra, Cobweb Orchestra, Bolton Festival Chorus, Salford Choral Society.
Helen read Music at Cambridge University and studied Conducting at the Royal Northern College of Music and is coached and mentored by Jessica Cottis.
Selected for the inaugural Women Conductors Course in September 2018 run by the Royal Opera House, the Royal Philharmonic Society and the National Opera Studio Helen has subsequently taken part in a range of courses run by the Royal Opera House working with Sian Edwards, Alice Farnham and Jessica Cottis. She has also conducted in International Masterclasses held at the RNCM.
As a comprehensive school student brought up in Lancashire Helen is passionate about everyone having access to the life changing opportunities that music can bring and alongside her own work serves as a board member for Orchestras Live bringing world class orchestras to new audiences.
​An engaging communicator, Helen is an experienced panelist both as a host and a guest for live and online events; most recently she appeared on a panel for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra as part of the Women’s Euros 2022 cultural events. Helen is a regular podcast contributor to the Operacast podcast covering the latest opera news, reviews and discussion from the world of opera.

PAUL CHARLES CLARKE
​DIRECTOR

​Paul Charles Clarke is an international tenor singing major roles through UK, Europe and the rest of the world! In the UK he has performed at ROH, Glyndebourne, WNO, Scottish Opera, ENO and Opera North.
He has also performed in Paris, Hamburg, Frankfurt Royal Danish Opera and Madrid.
In the USA he has performed for many years at Seattle Opera and the Metropolitan Opera New York, as well as Houston, Dallas and Florida Grand Opera.
He has been fortunate to sing with conductors and directors such as Sir Charles Mackerras, Sir Simon Rattle, James Levine, Sir Jonathon Miller, Peter Stein and Sir David MacVicar.
He has recorded major roles with RCA, Philips, Teldec and Chandos including a Grammy Nomination for best Opera Recording 2010.

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PIPPA LANE
​ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AND CHOREOGRAPHER 

Pippa is currently studying for the BA (Hons) in Music Theatre at the University of Central Lancashire, in which she is a member of the award-winning Chamber Choir. Since starting her degree, she has performed in various productions, adding Nola/Zanth (Weird Romance) and Baker’s Wife (Into the Woods) to her repertoire as well as the production roles of Assistant Director and Costume Team.
Previous theatre credits include Tess (Blue Stockings), Eponine (Les Misérables), Gabriella (High School Musical), Wednesday (The Addams Family), Bet (Oliver!), as well as originating the role of Cathy (Larks Ascending). Pippa has also appeared in several pantomimes, with parts such as Prince Valiant (Sleeping Beauty), Colin (Mother Goose) and notably Dick (Dick Whittington), in which she was awarded the District NODA for Best Female in a Pantomime alongside the Regional NODA for Best Pantomime.
Pippa has also studied dance since a young age, completing RAD Grade 8 Ballet, ISTD Advanced 1 Modern Theatre and Tap as well as studying Contemporary, Commercial and National Dance.
In regards to Preston Opera, Pippa has grown up with the company, often watching her mum, Marie Louise Lane, perform in various starring roles from backstage, and even making an appearance in A Masked Ball (2011) as part of the children’s chorus. However, Pippa rediscovered her love for opera and classical music during the pandemic and has since contributed to the company mainly through publicity and social media, designing posters for Carmen, Die Fledermaus, the Amanda Roocroft Masterclasses and even Eugene Onegin. She is delighted to be Assistant Director and Choreographer for Eugene Onegin, working alongside Paul, Helen, Nathan and the rest of the company and she hopes you enjoy this brilliant reimagining of this opera!



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NATHAN SMITH
​ASSISTANT MUSIC DIRECTOR AND ACCOMPANIST

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​Nathan Smith (MRES, BMUS) is an aspiring orchestral and choral conductor. He studied music at Durham University and achieved First-Class honours. In his final year he conducted Elijah in Durham Cathedral and won the following awards: ‘Best Musical Director,’ ‘Best Concert’ and a ‘lifetime achievement award for services to music at Durham University.’ More recently Nathan completed a research MA on the later romantic style of Sir Arthur Sullivan which prompted the following comment by his examiners: ‘There is little doubt that this work will contribute considerably to the ongoing rehabilitation of Sullivan’s operas’. In addition to assisting Helen Harrison, Nathan is also a répétiteur at Savoynet, Musical Director at LGN Community Choir, Head of Vocal Studies and Chapel Choir at Rossall School, and recently completed his tenure as Guest Conductor at Burnley Orchestra.