Born in Hawick in the Scottish Borders, Helen Leach has a growing international reputation as one of Scotland’s leading female composers, with tracks from her Divine Art 2024 debut album Diary of the Bee continuing to receive regular broadcasts on radio stations around the globe, including American Public Media and ABC Classic FM in Australia; together with European radio stations such as WDR3 in Germany and DR DK P2 in Denmark. Helen is delighted that RNZ Concert in New Zealand have frequently broadcast the violin and piano version of Prelude for a Royal Swan to mark the 2026 Centenary Year of the late Queen Elizabeth II. In Great Britain, Aled Jones showcased her Cup of Kindness for Burns Day on Saturday 25th January, 2026, bringing about her Classic FM debut. The album has been oft included on BBC Radio 3 by several well-known presenters such as Petroc Trelawny, Tom McKinney, Georgia Mann, Sarah Walker, Sara Mohr-Pietsch, Hannah Peel, John Toal, and Al Ryan. A frequent inclusion on the new sister channel BBC Radio 3 Unwind playlists, Diary of the Bee tracks are streamed regularly to thousands of listeners.
With a background as a clarinettist and church musician, Helen enjoyed a rich and diverse musical upbringing in the Scottish Borders, being fortunate to come under the wing of the late Brian Bonsor MBE and his wife Mary, as well as Head of Music at Hawick High School, the late Ian Seeley and his Assistant at that time Edward Ferguson. Becoming Principal Clarinet with the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, Helen went on to study at the Royal Northern College of Music; a Virtuosi Society Bursary enabled additional Clarinet study with Gervase de Peyer in Washington, D.C. After graduating, Helen was, for a number of years, a Director of Worship in Manchester and there directed the music for live BBC Radio 4 broadcasts.
Helen returned from Manchester to her roots in the Scottish Borders in 2019 and has been loving her new lifestyle in this scenic part of the world, teaching and devoting time to composition. In 2022, she became Composer-in-Residence at the stunning Palladian mansion of Marchmont House, Berwickshire, and the historic Lorimer Music Room there has seen the premiere of many of her recent chamber works. Helen was the recipient of generous funding from the Hugo Burge Foundation for her Diary of the Bee album, which enabled her launch as a composer. Her sheet music is published by United Music Publishing and, at the request of HRH King Charles III, a copy of her The Call to Care for Creation was placed in the Royal Library at Windsor Castle.
Helen loves working as part of the BBC Songs of Praise team, and has, since 2024, conducted and arranged the ensemble music for the annual BBC Young Chorister of the Year event with Aled Jones. Additionally, the episode from Canongate Kirk, Edinburgh, filmed in 2022, for which she conducted and arranged music, has received numerous repeat TV broadcasts. Helen is excited to be in the Conductor role for a new episode of BBC Songs of Praise, filmed in June 2026 from St Cuthbert’s Chapel in Ushaw Historic House, Durham.
Helen is always happy when surrounded by children – she has six of her own – and this, together with her background as a church musician and teacher has shaped her ethos of musical accessibility whilst striving to attain international standards of musicianship. She looks forward to sharing the music and inspiration of her upcoming second album, Window to the Stars, and hopes it brings peace and harmony to the broken world.
