CADDICK, Helen

Notes:  Helen Caddick (born 1969) is a composer for concert, dance, film, TV and theatre. Passionate about bringing live music to new and diverse audiences, and to broaden the reach of contemporary music by staging works in unusual settings, Caddick’s music has been described as ‘powerful, evocative, modern and original’. Her compositions are multi-dimensional and take inspiration from a host of ideas including the heroic women of Afghanistan to JMW Turner, across a striking and diverse range of genres. As well as gaining media coverage overseas, her work has been performed at London’s South Bank, Turner Contemporary, Margate, at the Timezones Festival, Italy and in a range of more intimate spaces and has featured on Channel 4, SkyArts, BBC 3’s Late Junction, Channel Radio and Resonance FM.

Born in London, Caddick studied piano with John Tilbury, violin and singing before gaining a BMus (Hons) in Composition from Goldsmiths, studying with Melanie Daiken and Edward Gregson. She furthered her training at the London College of Music studying Composition for Film and TV with John McLeod. In 2015, as part of Secret Southbank, Caddick performed her work Between Sleeping and Waking for Piano solo at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall. It was subsequently performed at All Saints, Tudeley in 2016 and at the 2018 POW! Festival, marking the centenary year of British women gaining the vote. Inspired by Turner’s paintings, Caddick’s 2016 Septet Haze premiered at the opening of the JMW Turner: Adventure in Colour exhibition at Turner Contemporary and performed as part of wider events for the 2019 Turner Prize, with a new film by Phil Miller. Caddick spoke to Sky Arts about Haze as part of their Tate Britain's Great British Walks series, in 2017. To mark the gallery’s 5th Anniversary, Bright Planet premiered at Turner Contemporary. Inspired by Pedro Reyes’ Palas por Pistolas, Bright Planet was reimagined for the 2018 Deal Festival with dance choreography by Vanessa Michielon and Songhay Toldon.

Amphora 2017 premiered at the Arp: Poetry of Form exhibition at Turner Contemporary. Inspired by Dadaist Jean Arp, it was selected as a top pick favourite in The Musician, Spring 2018. It’s London premiere was at the 2018 Tête à Tête Opera Festival. During the 2020-2021 lockdown, Caddick created Sophie, an Opera inspired by the life and work of Swiss Artist/Dancer Sophie Taeuber-Arp. Following a semi-staged sharing of extracts at Tête à Tête 2021, plans are in development to bring the fully realised work to the stage. We Are Here, is inspired by women in Afghanistan protesting for the right to work and education. Commissioned by the Lilith Ensemble who aim to redress the balance of 50:50 gender representation in live performance around the world, the work is due for release in 2022. Film scores include memo for Channel 4, directed by Ian Cross - part of a series of films on Artificial Intelligence and Inflight, nominated for award at the Künstmedia Internationale Festival. Scores for theatre include Hush directed by Donnacadh O’Briain nominated for a Fringe 1st at the Edinburgh Festival 2005 and The Powder Room by Sharon Byrne.