Helen Bower.
Violin, viola, electric violin.
Image by Daniel Rabin.
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I started playing violin just before I was 4 and piano at about 7 years old. It may have been partly to copy my older sister who was playing cello and piano, but I think I was always very drawn to the violin. I have especially fond memories of my early years of learning with violinist Polly Waterfield, whose enthusiasm, creativity and warmth were so infectious. However, it was at music college in London that I discovered my love of collaborating, and exploring how to create new music and art with other creators. My time there, the friends I made, and being surrounded by creatives trying to make their way really ignited this passion for creativity, which has only been fueled further since relocating to Melbourne. Huge thanks must go to my parents, who made it possible for myself and my sister to be part of so much music making when we were growing up - I am so grateful they always found a way to make it work.
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Diapsalmata comes straight to mind, both the premiere in Melbourne and then the second performance in Geelong. A really special project I am so happy we could perform more than once. I also loved Labyrinth this year - such a supportive vibe through the whole production process and really fun to explore non-traditional staging.
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I love community libraries. Absolutely love them. Other than with my violin, or in my garden, being in a community library is a place where I feel happy, safe and at home. You get to take books and films and music and even plant seeds home for free(!) and know that everyone else can too. One of my favourite things is to reserve a few books at a time and not look at the email to see which one has arrived when I get the notification. Then when I arrive at the library it is a complete surprise which book is waiting for me - especially as I've usually forgotten what I've ordered by then!
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What a tough question. I don't think I have an answer to that - so many! But I do love François Gérard's Daphnis et Chloé, and I also have a beautiful print of a portrait of Frida Kahlo by Johanna Wilbraham, which I love having in my work space at home.
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Choosing something from the western classical is just too hard, too many favourites! So I'll go with Hangin' Out by Betty Davis on The Columbia Years album - never fails to get me on my feet.
UK born violinist Helen Bower is a bold, adventurous and versatile musician with a passion for collaboration. Since relocating from London to Naarm in 2012, Helen has forged a prominent name for herself in both the classical and contemporary Australian music scenes, with performances at venues such as Melbourne Recital Centre, Melbourne State Theatre, Hamer Hall, The Forum and Sidney Myer Music Bowl, and for festivals including Melbourne Festival, Melbourne Fringe Festival and WHITE NIGHT.
Helen trained at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London, studying with Ann Hooley (Archaeus Quartet) and upon graduation was awarded the Vivian Prindl Outreach Prize for her music/dance collaboration In the Loop. Whilst studying, she worked closely with Trinity composers to perform and commission new works, before branching out to produce interdisciplinary projects with artists in fields as diverse as film, dance, spoken word, poetry, textiles, sculpture and graffiti. Since relocating to Australia, Helen has created two shows for violin and electronic looping which have been performed across Australia, NZ and the UK, as well as playing several tours across China, with children’s educational chamber-music performances.