Helena Burns is a Brisbane-born violist undertaking her second year at ANAM in 2025 under the tutelage of Caroline Henbest. She graduated with a Bachelor of Music and First Class Honours from the University of Queensland (UQ) in 2021 and will graduate with her Master of Philosophy from UQ in early 2025. Throughout her time at UQ, Helena had the privilege and joy of studying with the wonderful Professor Patricia Pollett.
Helena is an avid orchestral musician who frequently performs in her hometown of Brisbane and throughout Australia. Helena performed with Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra on several occasions throughout 2023 as an Upbeat Artist and in 2024 as a guest artist. She has performed in many subscription series concerts at Queensland Performing Arts Centre and Toowoomba’s Armitage Theatre, the Orange Chamber Music Festival, Queensland Ballet’s Trilogy and their 2023 regional tour of North Queensland. She also performed at Beef Week in Rockhampton and at the Mackay Festival of Chamber Music in 2024. Helena features on Camerata’s studio recording of Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings which was released in late 2024 and is currently available on all streaming platforms. In 2024, she made debut performances with the Auckland Philharmonic, West Australian Symphony Orchestra and the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and in 2025 will participate in the Australian Youth Orchestra’s Summer Season and International Tour.
In addition to orchestral performance, Helena enjoys performing as a chamber musician. She is a founding member of Amiti String Quartet, an ensemble which has been increasingly active on the Australian music scene in recent years. In 2025, Amiti String Quartet will release recordings of works by emerging Australian composers including Abigail Lui’s “The Colour of Time” and Ollie Muller’s “KINETIC”.
Helena is excited to return to ANAM this year and is excited to participate in Melbourne’s vibrant arts scene and creative community in the year ahead. She hopes to continue exploring all Melbourne has to offer and learn as much as possible about the kind of musician she wants to be!
FROM: QLD. Lands of the Yuggera and Turrabal People.
Helena is supported by ANAM Syndicate donors Mick and Margaret Toller, George and Kathy Deutsch, Moyna Wilson.
Photo by Pia Johnson