York Early Music Festival appoints Helen Charlston as artistic adviser
Florence Lockheart
Tuesday, May 10, 2022
The mezzo soprano will start the role this month and advise on the 2022, 2023 and 2024 festivals.
York Early Music Festival (YEMF) has announced that mezzo soprano Helen Charlston has been appointed to the role of artistic adviser. Effective from this month, Charlston’s appointment will cover the 2022-2024 festivals.
Charlston takes over from harpsichordist Steven Devine, who will leave the role after this year’s festival, and join fellow advisers emeritus professor of music at the University of Huddersfield, John Bryan; artistic director of the Baroque at the Edge Festival, Lindsay Kemp and director of Yorkshire Baroque Soloists and Yorkshire Bach Choir, Peter Seymour
YEMF administrative director and director of the National Centre for Early Music (NCEM), Dr Delma Tomlin MBE said: ‘Artistic Advisers play an important part in the development of our work, and we are sure Helen’s expertise and experience will be huge assets to the festival. Helen has a long association with York and we are looking forward to working with her.’
A graduate of Trinity College, Cambridge and founder participant in the Rising Star of the Enlightenment’s programme, Charlston performed as a soloist alongside the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. She is a BBC New Generation Artist, a City Music Foundation artist (2018) and a member of Les Arts Florissants’ Young Artist Programme.
Her accolades include first prize at the London Handel Competition in 2018 and the Ferrier Loveday Song Prize in last year’s Kathleen Ferrier Awards. She was also as a member of Fieri Consort when they won the Cambridge prize in the York Early Music International Young Artists Competition 2017. Her second solo album, Battle Cry, will be released this May.
Charlston said: ‘It’s such an honour to be working with one of Europe’s most important and progressive Early Music festivals, with a reputation for promoting and championing the work of young emerging artists.’
York Early Music Festival 2022 runs from Friday 8 July until Saturday 16 July. You can find out more here.
You can find out more about Helen Charlston here.
