American flutist Helen Bledsoe is active as a soloist, ensemble member, teacher, improviser, writer, and composer of electronic works. Based in Cologne, she has been a member of Ensemble Musikfabrik since 1997. From 1999 to 2002, she was a also member of the Remix Ensemble of Porto, Portugal. From 2005 to 2013 she taught flute at the Conservatory of Bremen (Hochschule der Künste) and now gives masterclasses and workshops world-wide. Her writings have been published by Contemporary Music Review and Tempo. Her blog provides a basis of research for scholars researching contemporary performance practice and for composers who want to write for flute.
She won first prize at the International Gaudeamus Interpreters Competition after receiving her Artist Diploma with Harrie Starreveld in Amsterdam. Her earlier studies were completed at the University of Pittsburgh and Indiana University. Her studies also included Baroque Music, Jazz, and Carnatic (South Indian) Music. In the summer of 2000, she worked with Jahnavi Jayaprakash in Bangalore. Private studies with flutists Aurele Nicolet and Robert Dick have also provided a source of inspiration.
Helen is external artist consultant in AI-based creative and performance practices for the research group “Creatie” at the Royal Academy in Antwerp, coach for our youth ensemble Studio Musikfabrik and the European Contemporary Music Workshop (Warsaw/Düsseldorf), guest faculty for the Lucerne Festival Academy, and guest professor for the academic years 2022 – 2024 at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music in Riga. Her current research is in the development of electronic instruments that combine machine learning with human interaction.
At the moment she is dedicated to bringing works that combine improvisation with accessible electronics to audiences, both as a performer and a composer.