NEWS
Premiere with the Subotica Philharmonic in Serbia
01.12.2019
Ave Maris Stella for Soprano and String Orchestra premiered with the Subotica Philharmonic orchestra in the City Halls, Subotica, Serbia on 12 December. The concert, in conjunction with PARMA Recordings featured soprano Alenka Ponjavić Vojnić and received widespread national press.
Winter Concerts across Perthshire
30.09.2019
Helen's choral music feature in four Christmas concerts across Perthshire including a premiere of Credo with Pitlochry & District Choral Society on 8th December in PItlochry.
Helen on Pushing Boundaries
18.05.2019
In the run-up to 2019's Perth Festival of the Arts, which Helen administers, Helen was interviewed by Keith Bruce for The Herald.
Voices of Earth and Air Vol II - Works for Chorus
26.04.2019
VOICES OF EARTH AND AIR 2 presents the best that modern choral compositions have to offer. Settings of traditional prayers are mingled with ethereal stories and otherworldly visions, and each of the eight compositions both stand unique and work together harmoniously to create a collection that nods to the future of choral music. The album released by Navona Records on 26 April features Helen's award-winning piece Gloria in excelsis Deo. The album or individual tracks can be purchased here.
Inside Story Composer Feature
17.04.2018
An interview on Helen's music and upcoming recording release featured on PARMA Recordings's Inside Story.
"Spectacular writing for voices"
10.04.2019
Helen's work Gloria in excelsis Deo featured on radio show Music of our Mothers, broadcast in the USA on 10 April. The show broadcasts exclusively the work of female composers throughout the ages. The piece was reviewed by host Ellen Grolman as 'spectacular writing for voices'.
Mass for the Spirit by Helen MacKinnon
01.12.2018
Building on her settings of Gloria in excelsis Deo and Agnus Dei, choral composer Helen MacKinnon has completed her full Mass in Latin for SATB choir and piano. The 20-minute Mass for the Spirit celebrates the joy and deep reflections of the mass. The full score is available to choirs for purchase.
Perth Festival of the Arts
05.10.2018
From September, Scottish composer Helen MacKinnon will also be organising and programming for Perth Festival of the Arts, one of Scotland's longest-standing and leading arts festivals which runs each May in the city of Perth.
Member of Scottish Music Centre
14.03.2018
Helen was delighted to join the Scottish Music Centre - championing Scotland's music - past, present and future as a Scottish composer.
See Helen's composer profile.
Florence Choral Festivals 2018
08.08.2018
A stunning performance of Helen's a cappella setting of Gloria in Excelsis Deo took place in Chiesa di Santa Monica as part of the 2nd Andrea del Verrocchio International Choral Festival. The performance by the University of The Philippines Singing Ambassadors won best performance of a contemporary composer's piece.
Sell out Evening of Sacred Song in Glencarse
04.11.2017
A showcase Evening of Sacred Song concert in All Saints Church, Glencarse, Perthshire saw Helen and a choir of local singers accompanied by Gordon Murch, perform a whole programme of new sacred choral music. The event saw the UK premiere of Helen's work Gloria in Excelsis Deo and the world premiere of May the Road Rise up! The sell-out concert raised £860 for the Perth & Kinross charity PKAVS and the Church.
New choral work showcase in Perthshire
03.10.2017
On Friday 3 November, Helen is directing a showcase of her new choral music with a choir of 21 singers from Perthshire. For more details visit Small City Big Personality events listing.
Introduced as artist with PARMA Recordings
15.09.2017
Helen signed as an artist with New England audio production house PARMA Recordings in the USA earlier this year to record her setting of Gloria in excelsis Deo. Under the baton of Jiří Petrdlík, Prague Mixed Chamber Choir recorded the work, which will be released in 2019. Photo by Fraser Band Photography.
Read the PARMA Recording news blog or coverage of Helen's story by Small City Big Personality Perth.
Premiere of Gloria in excelsis Deo in Florence, Italy
21.06.2017
Following her feature with Florence Choral Festivals, Helen's composition Gloria in excelsis Deo for mixed voice choir premiered in Florence as part of the Leonardo Da Vinci International Choral Festival on 13 July. The piece was performed by Kammerchor Manila - one of the Philippines top chamber choirs - under the musical direction of Anthony Go Villanueva. The choir not only won the Contemporary category with a Gold Diploma, but went on to win a number of other categories and take home the Festival Grand Prix.
'Emerging composer' feature in Choral Festival in Italy
16.09.2016
Building on her connections to Florence, Helen was invited by Artistic Director Leonardo Sagliocca to feature as in the Emerging Composers Corner of Florence Choral Festivals. The series of choral festivals, named after the great Italian artistic masters, brings together singers from around the world.
Helen interviewed by BBC about new music
17.05.2016
Helen joined Perthshire artist Georgia Crook for a live interview on The Janice Forsyth Show on BBC Radio Scotland on 17 May.
New work for Perth Festival of the Arts
25.03.2016
Helen is thrilled to be working with Perth Festival of the Arts to write a new work for this year's festival in May. Commissioned as part of the Festival's 45th year Sing to the Lord a new song will premier during the Festival Service on Sunday 22 May in St John's Kirk, Perth, performed by local singers under the baton of Craig Dennis. See Press Coverage.
Helen MacKinnon and musical director Craig Dennis are joined by singers who performed in the premiere and Perth Youth Orchestra. Photo by Fraser Band.
Premiere of My Voice in Christ Church, Oxford
22.01.2016
As a female choral composer, Helen was delighted to work with The University of Oxford to compose a new work My Voice for an international Conference on the theme of 'Women and the Canon'. The work for female voices and piano explored gender, voice and authority through composition and performance.
The premiere took place in the stunning setting of Christ Church, Oxford on 22 January 2016.
Helen awarded in Ennio Morricone Competition
23.7.2015
As part of the Florence International Choir Festival 2015, Helen was invited to Italy to receive a Special Mention Award for her setting of Gloria in excelsis Deo. The award was made by a panel of judges chaired by Maestro Ennio Morricone as part of the 2nd International Competition of Choral Composition 'Ennio Morricone'.
Photo below from L to R: Helen MacKinnon, Gaetano Lorandi, Leonardo Sagliocca, Noriko Ieda, John Damsma, Andrea Angelini and Andrea Benedetti
