Born in the Azores Islands, Portugal, Helena began her musical studies in classical guitar and holds a degree from the Ponta Delgada Conservatoire studying with Luciano Lombardi, Gianna de Toni, Hamilton Gonçalves and at Lisbon with Paulo Amorim.

In 2003 she began to study Lute and Theorbo and is awarded a degree by the Music Department of Évora University.

In 2009 Helena completed her Post-Graduate Diploma in Performance Studies Master Degree, in Historical Performance Practice at the Early Music Faculty at Trinity College of Music, London.

She studies the renaissance Lute, baroque Lute, baroque Guitar and Theorbo with David Miller at Trinity College of Music in London. Continuo playing with James Johnstone and David Miller. Early Music Theory and Interpretation [Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque] with Phillip Thorby, Belinda Sykes, Stephen Preston. Also Chamber Music with Rebecca Milles, Alison Crum, Timothy Tavers-Brown, Walter Reiter.

Helena participated in several courses and master-classes with internationally renowned scholars and performers such as: Jacob Herigman, Frances Kelly, Dr. Anne Daye, John Crawford, Dr Owen Rees, Dominique Vellard, Peter Phillips, Graham O’Reilly, among others.

As a performer Helena has worked with many ensembles, as soloist and as continuo player in Portugal and abroad, performing a diverse and extensive repertoire.

She teaches at Escola de Música do Conservatório Nacional - Lisboa.

Her other great passion is photography, and Helena has studied Photography and Image Editing with the professional photographer Pedro Vilhena honing her refined taste and keen eye for beauty.

www.helenaraposo.net