Helena Summerfield

“Helena is one of those people whose enthusiasm is infectious. You literally feel the energy and passion just by talking to her and you also imagine that if every young girl had her as a teacher, female jazz musicians would be everywhere, and the world would generally be a better place.”

Fiona Ross – founder of Women in Jazz Media

 

Helena Summerfield is the Learning and Participation project manager at Jazz North (the jazz talent development agency for the North of England). She was the lead jazz tutor at Trafford Music Service when they received the 2021 ‘Will Michael Jazz Education Award’ and became ‘Jazz Educator of the Year’ at the 2022 ‘Parliamentary Jazz Awards’ in recognition of her work on Jazz North’s ‘Jazz Camp for Girls’. Helena was the interim programme manager for the National Youth Jazz Collective (NYJC) between March 2023-June 2024.

As a performer Helena plays saxophone, flute and clarinet in a number of Manchester based bands including NGUVU and Mike Hall’s ‘Boplicity’. She has been involved in online musical collaborations with Sofa Sessions and the jazz trumpeter Samir Saif. Helena has co-created 3 interactive children’s shows with Ain’t Misbehavin’ that have been successfully performed around the Northwest of England.

To keep up to date with Helena’s gigs and projects follow her on Instagram and Linktree

photo credit – Manchester Jazz Festival 2022