February 2026
Mozart, Don Giovanni, Ensemble OrQuesta
Fringe Theatre Awards 2025-26
Nominations: Opera Production, Opera Performance, Opera Direction.

January 2026
Despina, Mozart, Così fan tutte, Ensemble OrQuesta.


'A special mention to Helen May, whose Despina was outstanding: sharply characterised, vocally confident,
and fizzing with comic intelligence.'
Hugh Philpott, 17/01/26

August 2025
Donna Elvira, Mozart, Don Giovanni, Ensemble OrQuesta.

'May is superb at lighting every flicker of her tragic obsession: from steely to outraged to melting and finally, resignation.'
Simon Jenner, View from the Gods, 27/08/25

March 2025
Donna Elvira, Mozart, Don Giovanni, Ensemble OrQuesta.

March 2024
Adina, Donizetti, L'Elisir d'Amore, Opera South East.

February 2024

February 2023
Monteverdi, L'Incoronazione di Poppea,
Ensemble OrQuesta, Grimeborn Festival, Arcola Theatre​
OFFIES FINALIST
Company and Orchestra
OPERA PERFORMANCE
Congratulations to the Poppea team

February 2023


​August 2022
Monteverdi, L'Incoronazione di Poppea,
Ensemble OrQuesta, Grimeborn Festival, Arcola Theatre
OFFIES nominee:
OPERA PERFORMANCE and OPERA PRODUCTION​
Congratulations to the Poppea team.

July 2022
Poppea, Monteverdi, L'Incoronazione di Poppea,
Ensemble OrQuesta, Arcola Theatre, Grimeborn Festival

★★★★★ REVIEWS ★★★★

​​'Helen May as Poppea and Julia Portela Piñón as Nerone are wonderful as the lovers.
​Both have exquisite voices and are utterly convincing in their erotic passion.'
★★★★ Jane Darcy, The Reviews Hub. 27/07/22
​read more>

June 2022
Mimi, Puccini, La Bohème
Hastings Philharmonic Orchestra

‘A fantastic performance of Bohème with fine singing from Helen May.
​Not a dry eye in the house.’
@hastingsantony, Anthony Mair, 12/06/22 
​read more>

February 2022
Emilie, Rameau, Les Indes Galantes
Ensemble OrQuesta, The Cockpit

★★★★ REVIEWS
​
​​'Helen May as Emilie is once again superb,
​with the flexibility of tone and dramatic power that holds an audience rapt'.
★★★★ Owen Davies, Plays to See, 17/02/22 
​read more>​

January 2022
Helen is delighted to announce her role debut as
​Mimi, Puccini, La bohème with Hastings Philharmonic Orchestra.
Kieran Staub Conductor
Leonel Pinheiro Rodolfo
Marcio da Silva Marcello
Celena Bridge Musetta
Vitor Bispo Schaunard
Vedat Dalgiran Colline
read more>

​December 2021
​Handel, Alcina
​Ensemble OrQuesta, Arcola Theatre, Grimeborn Festival

'Handel stripped down and brilliant'
Named No 4
​'The Top Ten Classical Music Performances of 2021'
Fiona Maddocks, The Observer, 25/12/21 

November 2021
Fauré Requiem
Billingshurst Choral Society

'The ‘Pie Jesu’ highlighted the stunningly beautiful voice of Helen May..'
Anthony Gilsenan. Sussex Express, November 2021.
​read more>

October 2021
Helen is delighted to announce her role debut as
La Contessa, Mozart, Le Nozze di Figaro with HPO Ensemble
Chaplin Theatre, Robertsbridge.
Conductor, Kieran Staub
Vinehall School, 17/10/21
read more>

​​August 2021
​Alcina, Handel, Alcina
​Ensemble OrQuesta, Arcola Theatre, Grimeborn Festival

★★★★ REVIEWS

​​​'the work is packed with dazzling arias, many sung by Alcina..
here ​superbly sung by Helen May.'
★★★★ ​Fiona Maddocks, The Observer, 28/08/21
​read more>

June 2021
Climine, ​Cavalli, L'Egisto
​Hampstead Garden Opera, The Cockpit

★★★★ REVIEWS

'A shout-out must go to Helen May... She’s a hugely expressive singer, with velvety rich tones and the ability to convey the raw vulnerability of her character...'
​​The Idle Woman Blog, 09/06/21
​read more>

July 2020
MA (Distinction) DipRAM
Royal Academy of Music

Helen is delighted to graduate from the Royal Academy of Music with a
​Master of Arts, Vocal Performance, with Distinction.
She has been awarded a DipRAM for outstanding final recital.

February 2020
Calisto, Cavalli, La Calisto
The Cockpit

Helen May, La Calisto
​ OFFIES Nomination for Performance
​(Opera Production)

January 2020
Calisto, Cavalli, La Calisto
The Cockpit

★★★★ REVIEWS
 
'As Calisto, Helen May excels. Despite the comic chaos that sometimes surrounds her,
​she keeps the tragic heart of the opera beating with admirable passion'.
​Owen Davies, Plays to See, 05/02/20
​read more> 

October 2019
Josephine Baker Trust Award
Royal Academy of Music

Helen is delighted to have been accepted as a Josephine Baker Trust artist.
Following auditions at RAM and RCM the Trust chooses a select number of artists who are offered a variety of solo opportunities and receive funding from the Trust to contribute towards their fees.

September 2019
Royal Academy of Music
Preparatory Opera Course

Helen is delighted to be one of just three sopranos to be offered a place on the Preparatory Opera Course at the Royal Academy of Music, 2019-20.
She will continue to study under the tutelage of Nuccia Focile and Iain Ledingham and will receive additional coaching and guidance from Philip Sunderland.

June 2019
Helen is delighted to announce her role debut as
Pamina, Mozart, Die Zauberflöte​
with Hastings Philharmonic Orchestra at St Mary in Castle, Hastings.

​
'Helen May’s finely sung Pamina seemed a far stronger character than the text sometimes gives her credit for, and her rendition of Ach, ich fühl's ​was very effective and moving'.
Brian Hick, Sussex Express, 03/06/19

March 2019
Haydn, Nelson Mass
Cardiff University Symphony Orchestra and Chorus
Llandaff Cathedral 

'A perfect choral piece followed, with Haydn’s 'Nelson Mass'. This piece has some true highlights for soprano soloist. Helen May does a supreme job with the soprano role.'
Art scene in Wales, 15/03/19

February 2019
Poppea, Monteverdi, L'Incoronazione di Poppea
The Cockpit

★★★★★ REVIEWS ★★★★ 

'As Nerone and Poppea, Helen May and Kathleen Nic Dhiarmada are superb.'
★★★★★ Owen Davies, Plays to See, 02/02/19
​read more>

September 2018
Royal Academy of Music
Master of Arts, Vocal Performance

Helen is delighted to be taking up a place on the Master of Arts, Vocal Performance course at the Royal Academy of Music, 2018-2020.
She will be studying under the tutelage of Nuccia Focile and Iain Ledingham.

September 2018
Despina, Mozart, Cosi fan tutte
Woodhouse Opera Festival

'It's hard to single anyone out, but Helen May's Despina was outstanding...
A name to watch.'
Surrey Gazette, 20/09/18

August 2018
Amastre, Xerse, Cavalli 
​Ensemble OrQuesta, Arcola Theatre, Grimeborn Opera Festival

★★★★ REVIEWS

'...the ever-impressive Helen May...was perfectly cast here.'
★★★★ The Idle Woman Blog, 02/09/18
​read more> 

July 2018
St John's Hyde Park, Choral Scholarship
William Gibbs Trust Award

Helen is delighted to have been offered a choral scholarship at St John's Hyde, Park.
Helen looks forward to the singing opportunities this offers, and is grateful to the William Gibbs Trust for their support during her Master of Arts at the Royal Academy of Music.

November 2017
Schubert Mass in G
Hastings Philharmonic Choir

'Soprano Helen May filled the building with richly glowing tone,
the top of the voice thrilling as it floated above the choir.'
Lark Reviews, 05/11/17

May 2017
Valletto, Monteverdi, L'Incoronazione di Poppea
Hampstead Garden Opera
Jacksons Lane Theatre

REVIEWS

'May's..terrifically bolshy, punky, cocksure performance as Valletto..​.' 
The Idle Woman Blog, 16/05/17
read more>