Helen Minshall LTCL, GMus, PGCEHelen started brass lessons at school in Ayrshire, Scotland, at the age of 12, initially on French Horn, then Tuba. She joined the Ayr Area Schools Brass Band, and later progressed to adult bands in Ayrshire. In 1980 Helen was one of the first students on the brand new “Graduate Diploma in Band Musicianship” course at Salford College, at a time when it was very difficult for women to be accepted in the world of brass bands!
Helen has a vast amount of experience both as a performer and teacher. Over the last 40 years she has held teaching posts throughout the North West of England; in Wigan, Bury, Salford, Bolton, and in 1988-9 she spent a year in the Sultanate of Oman, as Low Brass Tutor to the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra. She has also worked as Bass Tutor with the National Children’s Brass Band of Great Britain. Helen and her husband Stephen started the highly successful Astley Youth Band in 1994, building it into a thriving ensemble where countless young musicians played their first notes, many who have progressed to the country’s finest conservatoires, and some who are now professional musicians. The band recently celebrated its 30th anniversary. There are now 3 bands and a choir within the organisation, attended weekly by over 100 members. The band is a registered charity run by a team of hard-working volunteers. In 2015, following a successful 15 years as Head of Brass for Bolton Music Service, Helen set up a thriving music teaching company, Minshall Music LTD with her daughter, Samantha and son in law Neil Raisbeck, delivering brass lessons and bespoke music curriculum lessons in schools in Bolton, Salford and Wigan. At a similar time, Helen was appointed Musical Director of the Lancashire Youth Brass Band, now recognised as one of the UK’s leading youth bands, and recently won 2nd place at Youth Brass in Concert. Helen’s many years of hard work with young people in brass bands were formally recognised in 2014 when she was presented with the Mortimer Medal for services to young people in the brass band movement, from the Worshipful Company of Musicians. In September 2024 Helen was delighted to win Classic FM’s Visiting Music Teacher of the Year and was presented with the award at the Royal Albert Hall on 21st October! For the last 4 years Helen has been an active member of the Brass Foundations team at Brass Bands England, and thoroughly enjoys the opportunity to travel all over the North of England and further afield, delivering workshops to inspire youngsters, and helping bands with recruiting and retaining players. She says, “It’s the best job in the world!” |
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