Helen Twomey (Greenhalgh) profile picture

Helen Twomey (Greenhalgh)

Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, ameteurs built the Ark, professionals built the Tita

About Me


I'm Helen Twomey (nee Greenhalgh) and I am a violinist based in East London. I have been playing the violin since 1984, (which was quite a long time ago for those that remember!) and I work as a classical musician, a rock musician, alongside singer-songwriters and as a teacher. That's diversity for you - I love it. (That's me playing on Christina's track you can hear.)
Born in Beverley (That's near Hull), moved down to Bristol when I was 3 and then started the violin at the age of 7 and a half. I'm actually not a Bristolian at all, merely raised alongside them. Our town was full of young violinists who were of a very good standard and naturally, competition was strong. I gained a place at Trinity College of Music and moved to London, where I have stayed ever since.I entered Trinity College of Music, London in 1995-99, where I studied violin with Gillian Findlay, the piano and the viola. Piano playing wasn't for me. People around me suffered when I practised the piano so I was advised to give it up - by the teacher. Now I only play it as a form of mental torture, even the kids I teach will tell you that. I took up the viola instead with my Bristol teacher Richard Crabtree. I return for regular violin check-ups with Richard - When I can!!!
After rejecting the option to remain at Trinity to do a post-grad, I entered the "Institute" of Education (University of London)1999-2000 and decided to qualify as a teacher, receiving Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in 2001. In March 2004, I was awarded an LTCL in violin performance.
I now do Freelance work with orchestras/Chamber ensembles around London and the UK, a violinist with rock-band "Metzanine", work for singer-songwriters developing string parts. I also work as a freelance violin teacher within the London area and can teach both the ABRSM and TrinityGuildhall syllabus.I own a Didier Nicholas Aine violin c.1820, a red "Bridge Electric" Violin c.2006 (yep,he's the latest addition!) and David Milward viola c.1998. Some Boss ME-50 effects pedals...which make me sound more like an electric guitarist...so they'd better watch out!I love to do a good job properly and love whatever I do. If I don't love what I do, I don't do it!
Thanks for dropping by and reading about me!
Helen x
[email protected]
Some of the current projects:
Daniel Ward-Murphy gigs, details and profile: Daniel Ward-Murphy
Metzanine band details and updates: Metzanine @ myspace
Christina Nicola details and updates: Christina @ myspace
Morgensterns Diary Service (for Classical enquiries)
Helen @ Morgensterns Diary Service
Gig with Daniel Ward-Murphy at The Bedford, London (UK)
13 February 2007...

My Interests

I run the Race for Life for Cancer Research UK every year and i've raised hundreds of pounds so far in my three years of doing it. It's a really good and thought-provoking thing to do.I have done the Nike RunLondon 10km Campaign for the last 2 years, I am sure I can beat the kids still! (anyone want a challenge next sports' day? I had the 1500m school record by the way...15 years ago) There's nothing better than a glass of wine and monopoly at home with friends after a nicely cooked home dinner...My husband spends a lot of time in the kitchen and I love eating it all. Not very rock n'roll now.

I'd like to meet:

Anyone who is not too spooky and wants "to do!!!"
In the Bristol area or around London I don't mind!
Quartets,
DJ's,
chamber ensembles,
singer-songwriters,
Rock bands,
Indie bands
Any ex students who remembers a nice, calm teacher...
... anything experimental or not!

Music:

Music is what I do for a living. I play, I teach, I listen endlessly to it. I am never tired of it! For those that remember the 1980's education programmes, does anyone remember this? Room 101 had me addicted to this!(see blog. You'll have to disable Christina on my profile or you'll get two songs!) Click here to reminisce!
This caught my eye too!
I iPod EVERYTHING...This is no particular order: Bach, Massive Attack, Mozart, Bruch, The Levellers (thanks to my Brother!) Kreisler to Jamiroquai, ooh- BRAHMS VIOLIN CONCERTO! Avril Lavigne, Scissor Sisters, The Prodgy, Bjork, Abba, PWEI, The Frames (Thanks Andy), Telemann, Chilli Peppers, Miri Ben-Ari, Seth Lakeman (Kitty Jay(live), The Bold knight (live) and The Lady of the Sea(Hear her Calling) are well recommended (Wo, amazing fiddle player), The Police, Sting, A-Ha, Nelly Furtado (her old stuff was better), Portishead, Tricky, Radiohead, Basement Jaxx are fun, Ricky Martin, Therapy? Hard-Fi, Sonique (although a little dated now), ooh, Guns n' Roses...and anything I will need to pick up by ear. I love to go to gigs and hear other live bands who are unsigned and are fab to listen to and watch. Better than some of that commercial Pap.

Movies:

The Shawshank Redemption
The Devil's Advocate
James Bond,Pierce Brosnan was very nice, as is Daniel Craig.
Top Gun (Come on girls, back us up!)
The Incredibles (Edna was brilliant!)
Antz
The X-Men series (surprisingly!)

Television:

Hell's Kitchen. It's nice to see that someone cares so deeply about what they do! Passionate about perfection, obsessed in doing a good job and maintaining a standard that they expect. Spooks. Wicked TV show. One problem is they're getting rid of all the nice-looking ones. Father Ted, Faulty Towers and Monty Python always makes me laugh.

Books:

Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, It's not about the Bike by Lance Armstrong (wow,what a guy!), Always Playing by Nigel Kennedy. Also am a big fan of Sevcik op.8 and op.3, Fleish's Das Skalensystem, Fantasias by Telemann...This is confusing as books and music books seem to blend into one... The Suzuki Violinist by William Starr has also inspired me. I am finding out that Mr Suzuki (who's no longer with us, rest in peace) is a phenomenal man.

Heroes:

The old School violinists:
Milstein, Heifetz, Stephane Grappelli, Kreisler
...They don't do violinists like that any more!!!
Rafa Benitez (Being a Liverpool Supporter)
Gordon Ramsay
Jose Mourinho (girls. you understand that one eh?)
Lance Armstrong
Bjork
All those that stand up and are who they are, I loved that Reebok campaign of "I am what I am".

My Blog

If Joshua Bell gets less than $40...per hour...

Ok, Internationally renowned star on the violin, goes to the Washington DC tube to do a spot of busking...This guy gets thousands of pounds to perform and always has a very good turn-out at concerts,...
Posted by Helen Twomey (Greenhalgh) on Tue, 17 Apr 2007 09:36:00 PST

As the school kids descend...

I have had a "small" profile invasion as "a certain Hackney School" has realised that one of their teachers' has a profile...Brap Brap!Let me tell you about them. They're great kids who are not afraid...
Posted by Helen Twomey (Greenhalgh) on Sat, 25 Nov 2006 11:06:00 PST