Helen Seddon-Gray
Lecturer in Music
MusB (Hons) (Manchester), GRNCM, MusM (Hons) (Manchester), PhD (Manchester)
Email: [email protected]
- Research and interests in the field of Composition, Cross-cultural studies, 20th Century Music Studies, the influence of belief systems on music, AI.
- Teaching on undergraduate (music theory, music history, performance studies (cross-cultural approaches and general), cross-cultural approaches to composition and improvisation, Artistic Development modules, Engagement with Learning, Personal Tutoring)
- Co-ordination of Personal Tutoring Provision
- Supervision of Masters Projects
- PhD review chair and panellist
Helen Seddon-Gray’s compositions are currently published by editiondb.com. Works include On Eagles’ Wings for solo piano, Lullaby for Lila for percussion duo and Lalit for solo horn. Lalit was written in collaboration with colleagues and students at RNCM Horn Department incorporating inspiration from the North Indian Classical Khayal Style. In 2020 the piece led to a collaboration with RNCM Alumni to produce a video of RNCM alumni horns playing Lalit. 26 horn players in the music profession, in orchestral seats in the UK and abroad or freelancing took part. Shahana for solo piano, first written for the 70th birthday celebrations of Helen’s PhD supervisor John Casken, was also incorporated into a virtual project in 2020 with the RNCM keyboard department (students and staff).
Currently, Helen is writing a book of Contemporary horn studies, incorporating focused studies and exercises on extended techniques.
Helen completed her PhD under the supervision of Professor John Casken at The University of Manchester, following completion of her Masters Studies in Composition, also at the University of Manchester. As an Undergraduate, Helen studied on the Joint Course, studying French Horn and 18th Century Hand-Horn under the tutelage of David Cripps, Bob Ashworth and Becky Goldberg at the RNCM alongside an Undergraduate Degree at the University of Manchester. Helen held teaching roles at the University of Manchester (as a Graduate Teaching Assistant) and at Salford University before taking up the role as an Academic Tutor, and later Lecturer at RNCM. Her research at doctorate level focused on her aesthetic standpoint, harmonic and structural language and polarities in music.
Helen has run a private music teaching business for many years and is currently a shareholder and strategist for Seriously Social, a Social Media Marketing Consultancy Company with her husband Ian Anderson Gray.
