Skip to main content

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

  • What's on
  • Your Visit
  • About Us
  • Take part
  • Support us
  • My Account
  • Search

Site Menu.

Main Site Sections.

  • What's on
  • Your Visit
  • About Us
  • Take part
  • Support us
  • Digital Programmes

More Site Pages.

  • My Account
Return to main

Loading...

Cellos

Helen Edgar

Tutti Cello and Player Nominated Trustee
Headshot of cellist Helen Edgar.

Helen was born in East Sheen, London and began playing the cello aged just 5. Her first teacher was Julia Pringle – ‘brilliant at inspiring young children’. Helen went on to study Cello with Margaret Moncrieff, and later with Dougie Cummings, Derek Simpson and Lionel Handy at the Royal Academy of Music where she won solo and chamber music prizes before graduating with the Academy's highest award, the Dip. R.A.M. in both solo and ensemble playing. Scholarships enabled her to continue her studies at the Banff Centre for the Arts in Canada, Britten-Pears School with William Pleeth and at Prussia Cove with Steven Isserlis.

As cellist of the Hellier String Quartet, Helen performed widely throughout Europe and Asia, including a private recital to the Princess of Wales. The Quartet studied with the Amadeus, Alberni and Borodin Quartets and were Ensemble in Residence at the Britten-Pears Foundation in Aldeburgh.

Helen played with the BBC Concert Orchestra for 9 years, and also worked as a freelance player with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, City of London Sinfonia and Irish Chamber Orchestra.

Since joining the Cello section in 2006, Helen has made regular appearances in the CBSO’s chamber music series, Centre Stage. She has particularly enjoyed the chance to perform with visiting artists including Baiba Skride, Sakari Oramo, Peter Donahoe and Simon Trpeski.

Outside the CBSO, Helen is Teacher of Cello at Birmingham Conservatoire and collaborates with fellow CBSO musicians Catherine Arlidge, Bryony Morrison and Amy Thomas in the quartet 'The Stringcredibles'. As well as taking live performances and creative music making workshops into schools, their project 'Stringcredibles Apprentices' encourages young instrumentalists to create vibrant, interactive performances for primary age children, supporting classically trained musicians to engage more effectively with new audiences.

Image gallery

Helen Edgar is pictured at as a child playing the cello. Helen is sat outside. The image is slightly muted in colour due to age.
Credit : Helen Edgar
Photograph of cellist Helen Edgar laughing whilst performing in a Key Stage 1 Schools' Concert. She is wearing a sash and a headband with baubles on it.
© 2022 Credit : River Rea

Live in concert

  • Centre Stage: Vaughan Williams' Piano Quintet

  • Centre Stage: Atlantic Connections

Profile photograph of Helen Edgar sitting with her cello and smiling

Supported by Patrick and Tricia McDermott

Meet more of our players

  • Headshot of cellist Miguel Fernandes

    Miguel Fernandes

    Sub-principal Cello
  • Headshot of cellist Kate Setterfield

    Kate Setterfield

    Sub-principal Cello 
  • Headshot of cellist David Powell

    David Powell

    Sub-principal Cello
  • Photograph of Arthur Boutillier holding his cello in front of a wall decorated with graffiti

    Arthur Boutillier

    Principal Cello No.3

Further content for Helen Edgar

Keep exploring... Meet the whole Orchestra

Photograph of Kazuki Yamada conducting the orchestra at Symphony Hall

Contact Details

(0121) 616 6500 information@cbso.co.uk

More Site Pages

  • News & Stories
  • Jobs
  • Press
  • Contact
  • Hire

Legal Pages

  • Terms & conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookie policy
  • Site Map
  • Safeguarding Policy
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • X
  • TikTok
  • YouTube

Principal Funders

Supported using public funding by Arts Council EnglandSCC

Small Print

©2025. The CBSO is a registered charity in England (No. 506276).

Address: CBSO Centre, Berkley Street, Birmingham, B1 2LF

Website by Supercool.