top of page

The Orchestra: A Young Person's Guide Charlotte Harding; Massed Ensemble1,500 musicians

Music For Youth Proms, Royal Albert Hall, November 2026

  • Royal Albert Hall Debut; Music For Youth Proms; Nov 2026; 3,000 young musicians in massed ensemble.

  • Guest conducting; BBC Concert Orchestra, London Mozart Players, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sinfonia Viva, Bath Philharmonic Orchestra, Northern Silents Sinfonia, Sinfonia Smith Square and the National Children's Orchestra.

  • Broadcast on BBC Radio 3 with the BBC Concert Orchestra - 'Friday Night is Music Night'.

  • Opera; English Touring Opera; conducted performances and assisted, Streetwise Opera.  Repertoire includes La Traviata, La Boheme, Carmen, Macbeth, Eugene Onegin, Pagliacci,  Tales of Hoffman, Norma, Don Giovanni, The Merry Widow, Amahl & the Night Visitor, The Gondoliers and West Side Story.

  • Stories and Orchestra; 'Paddington's First Concert', 'Peter and the Wolf' - Sinfonia Viva; 'The Swamp in the Light of the Moon' composer Ian Farrington - Royal Northern Sinfonia, 'Stan and Mabel' - 'Greatest Orchestra in the World', 'Race for Space', 'Duck with no Luck' - Composer Paul Rissman - Polly Ives and Concerteenies.

  • Live to Film; 'The Snowman', Chaplin's 'The Kid'; Bath Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Northern Silents Sinfonia.

  • Music Director - Young Sinfonia - the Royal Northern Sinfonia's Youth Orchestra.

  • Artistic Lead and Conductor - University of Liverpool Symphony Orchestra managed by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic.

  • Conducting Coach and Workshop Leader; RAF, Music Hubs, One to Ones, Durham University, Leeds Conservatoire, Yorkshire Young Musicians and Music Hubs.

  • Alumna - Royal Philharmonic Society's Flagship Conductor Programme 2022/23.

  • Chair - Orchestras Live; an advocate for Orchestras and the power of music to transform lives.

Helen Harrison in rehearsal

'We’re still in awe of how Helen Harrison expertly led our massed ensembles for three Creative Project pieces to create a truly beautiful memory for our young musicians at this year’s Music For Youth Proms 2026 at the Royal Albert Hall.' 

Music For Youth

'Underpinning all this was the orchestra under the capable direction of Helen Harrison.  Her crisp beat and decisive intentions inspired confidence from the start.' 

Opera Magazine

'Helen Harrison has to be one of the most engaging conductors, such great empathy with the orchestra and the audience.'

Audience member

Helen Harrison conducting in the Royal Albert Hall
Helen Harrison conducting sepia shot
Helen Harrison conducting in rehearsal

©Helen Harrison

bottom of page