Helen Keen
Hon ARAM Professor of Piccolo
Helen decided to make music her career after studying French and Spanish at Cambridge University
Helen was Principal Piccolo with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for fifteen years, leaving in 2019 to concentrate on teaching at the Academy. During her time with the RPO she gained extensive experience of life as an orchestral player and detailed knowledge of a wide repertoire.
She is currently a busy freelance performer: in addition to her work as Principal Piccolo with English National Ballet, she can be heard on numerous film scores, enjoys exploring extended techniques when freelancing with London Sinfonietta, and deputises in The Lion King orchestra, playing panpipes and bansuris.