Helen Bentley
SINGING . PIANO . SONG WITING . PRODUCTION
musician, performer, composer, educator
As a self-employed freelance musician and educator since 2002 Helen Bentley has her ‘fingers in pies’ as her late Grandfather would regularly say to her.
Her work in 2024 is dominated by her role as a session singer and singing teacher, as well as managing R Manor Music studio in Birmingham city centre. Helen is a regular member of a number of professional music performance groups including the Audrey Mattis Chorale (AMC) gospel choir, Ultimate R n B and Ultimate Night at The Disco. She did over sixty professional singing performances in 2023 and her diary for 2024 and 2025 is already filling up. Helen has worked diligently over many years to develop her singing and performance technique, studying and applying the art of singing in a variety of styles. She is currently exploring further professional performance opportunities this year, including a jazz duo for voice and piano with jazz pianist and composer Robbie Moore.
In the past she was a founding member of bands writing and developing original music and songs, including Dubcherry and Slococo, with whom she also worked as a composer and producer. She is currently working on finishing her own solo album which she hopes to be ready for release at some point this year.
Helen is the very proud owner of a music studio in Birmingham city centre called R Manor Music. With the support of close friends and colleagues she has built, managed and operated the studio for over ten years now, and has recently refurbished the performance space in preparation for some live recording projects due to happen throughout 2024. Regular clients that use R Manor Studio include some of the best session musicians in Birmingham. She has also hosted artists from across the UK and further afield.
Helen plays piano and keyboards to a high standard, and I can play other band instruments such as guitar, bass and drums well enough to aid her performance, writing and teaching. She played piano, cello and oboe as a child and can read and write music notation to a good level. Helen's music technology skills are also strong with regard to programming, recording and production.
As an educator of children young people and adults Helen has over twenty years continuous experience. She started her music teaching career at Access To Music in 2002 after studying on their ‘Creating Music Through Technology’ course. She taught a wide range of subjects, and within a two years became the course leader for the Vocal Artist programme.
She has been working as a visiting industry practitioner at Birmingham Ormiston Academy (BOA) for the last ten years, and continue to work there on a regular basis, teaching on the Music and Musical Theatre pathways at BOA. She is also one of three visiting singing teachers. Her singing students develop their skills and work towards shows, auditions and exams.
Other music educational work she has done over the years include working at the ‘Total Music Powerhouse’ summer school at Uppingham School with Alexis Ffrench. Alexis hired her on consecutive years as a tutor on the programme. In Birmingham she has been a teacher and workshop leader in a range of schools and community projects. She worked for Symphony Hall outreach projects with Andy Vine including visually impaired children and on another occasion with students from deprived areas of Birmingham running DJ and music production workshops.
She worked for B:Music last year on the Summer School as a lead tutor and also the Step Up project teaching DJing and Production to children with special educational needs. Toni Grehan from B:Music has more exciting music projects lined up for 2024 and beyond for which Helen will be taking part as a tutor.
Helen is passionate about music and music education, and is confident in delivering music workshops, leading projects and producing music concerts. She has a proven track record of delivering high quality music education including focus on improvisation and aural skills. She is greatly influenced by jazz music and related genres, and encourages young people to understand and experience their own musical heritage, and that of others.