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The English-born soprano, Helen Cassano, grew up in Madrid. She studied Music at Royal Holloway, University of London (1999-2002), graduating with Bachelor of Music degree in 2002. She then moved to Belgium, where she obtained Master of Music degrees in Singing and Chamber Music, as well as a Teaching diploma, at the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel (2004-2007), and through an Erasmus-exchange, at the Koninklijk Conservatorium Den Haag. She then studied Choral Conducting at the Lemmensinstituut in Leuven with Erik Van Nevel (2009-2011) and obtained her Master in Choral Conducting in 2011.
Helen Cassano has performed as a soloist in cantatas by J.S. Bach and Dietrich Buxtehude, George Frideric Handel's Messiah and Samson, Ravel's Trois Poèmes de Mallarmé, Monteverdi's Orfeo, Jomelli's Ifigenia, etc. Upon arriving in Belgium, she embarked on a career as a choral and ensemble singer, performing with groups such as Ex Tempore, Psallentes, Octopus Solisten, Currende, Vlaams Radio Koor, Encantar, Euterpe Baroque Consort (Director: Bart Rodyns), Choeur d’Opéra de Namur, Arsys Bourgogne, Studium Chorale Maastricht, Choeur de l'Opéra de Wallonie, De Nederlandse Bachvereniging (Director: Jos van Veldhoven), Nederlands Kamerkoor. Since 2003, she sings extensively with the Choeur de Chambre de Namur and with the Solistes du Choeur de Chambre de Namur, conducted by Jean Tubéry, notably in CD-recordings of music by Carissimi and Johann Pachelbel, and in a European tournée with Monteverdi's Orfeo, in which Helen performed the roles of Ninfa and Speranza.
Helen Cassano is also a founding member of Vox Luminis (since 2004), with whom she has performed in several award-winning CD-recordings. Their recording of Heinrich Schütz' Musicalische Exequien won the Gramophone Award for Best Recording of the Year 2011.
Helen Cassano also teaches singing in the music academy of Oud-Heverlee and conducts the Brussels Chamber Choir (since 2007). She currently lives in Gent Area, Belgium. |
