Helen Pridmore

Soprano Helen Pridmore was born in England and grew up in Canada, where she began her musical studies. She obtained her B.Mus. in Voice from the University of Saskatchewan and the M.Mus. in Voice from the University of Toronto. She also holds the Licentiate Diploma in Piano from Trinity College of Music, UK. At the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY she earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree, studying with Carol Webber, and taught for both the Voice and Theory Departments. Helen Pridmore served on the Voice Faculties at the State University of New York (Fredonia) and at Nebraska Wesleyan University before joining the Music Department at Mount Allison.

Helen Pridmore has performed across Canada and the U.S. as both soloist and chamber musician. In concert she has performed works ranging from Handel's Messiah to Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire. With a special interest in new music, she has premiered and sung many works by Canadian and American composers, including Helen Hall, Jim O'Leary, alcides lanza, Randall Snyder, W.L. Altman and others. She has performed at the Sound Symposium in Newfoundland and is a regular guest of the Third Chair Chamber Players in Lincoln, Nebraska. Helen Pridmore is featured on a CD of the works of the American composer Gardner Read (Albany Records).

Some recent media reviews:

"...after singing Mozart and Britten beautifully, with a combination of pure tone and inspiring musical intelligence, Pridmore mesmerized the audience with a stunning tour-de-force in Kurtag's uncompromisingly difficult 'Sayings of Peter Bornemisza'."
--Stephen Pedersen, Halifax Chronicle Herald, Feb. 2008

"The best sign of success after the recital was the [voice] students attempting to impose extended vocal ideas into their own voices."
-- Garry Gable, Professor of Voice, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Jan. 2007

" ...a fabulous performance at Robinson...every piece was put across to the audience so vividly." -- Jeremy Thurlow, Director of Studies, Robinson College, Cambridge University UK, April 2007

" .... the haunting voice of Helen Pridmore...unusual vocal inflections..." --- Robert Haskins, American Record Guide, May 2004

" Soprano Helen Pridmore achieved a tour de force in Helen Hall's difficult Circuits. Her interpretation...was quite beautiful." --- Stephen Pedersen, Chronicle Herald, May 2003

" Soprano Helen Pridmore skillfully maintained an impressive solo show." --- Kathy Kennedy, Musicworks, January 2003

" Notable among the concerts involving scored music was New Brunswick soprano Helen Pridmore's performance of Montreal composer Helen Hall's 'Circuits'....Pridmore's measured exploration of the cyclical process of breathing contained an extraordinary resonance of endurance and renewal." --- Tim Dallett, Arts Atlantic, September 2002

Helen Pridmore is also a member of Motion Ensemble, New Brunswick's new music group. Its repertoire is an eclectic mix of post-classical and experimental music, often utilizing electronics and visual media. Motion Ensemble has recently completed two tours in Canada, and made its USA debut in New York city in 2003. Motion Ensemble has released two CDs, one of works by John Cage (read a review!) and one of music by Canadian composer Veronika Krausas.

In addition to her performing career, Dr. Pridmore also pursues research in extended vocal techniques and new music for voice. She has presented papers and recitals at conferences of the College Music Society, the Canadian University Music Society and the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), and has had her work published in the NATS Journal of Singing. She is a voting member of the Canadian Music Centre.

Helen Pridmore’s activities at Mount Allison have been many and varied. Apart from teaching voice, she is also the musical director of the Opera Workshop, with whom she organizes a tour of Maritime schools every spring. She has organized symposia on the music and culture of the Second Viennese School (2001) and the music and thought of John Cage (2002). She has helped to found and oversee the University’s student-run art gallery in the Conservatory. More recently, she has been active in organizing music events for the
OK.Quoi?! Contemporary Arts Festival, which is produced in collaboration with Struts Gallery/Faucet Media Arts Centre. Her work in creative activity, research, and teaching was recognized in 2005 with one of Mount Allison's Paul Paré Awards for Excellence.