Born in London, Helen Tunstall studied at the Royal College of Music with Marisa Robles and Fiona Hibbert. She is principal harpist of Endymion, the London Sinfonietta and the Orchestra of St. John's Smith Square and leads a busy freelance career playing solo, chamber and orchestral music with all the major London orchestras and ensembles.Performances this year include the South Bank, Barbican, Aldeburgh, Istanbul, Athens, Berlin, and Bruges festivals and appearances with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia, Academy of Ancient Music, Orchestra of St.John's Smith Square, London Sinfonietta, Lontano and Endymion.
She is a top London studio player recording classical, contemporary, film, T.V. and commercial music. Recent recordings are Harrison Birtwistle's new work "Orpheus Elegies" for oboe and harp, works by Tarik O'Regan for Collegium, songs with Chris Botti for Columbia label as well as films, 'Asterix', 'Wallace and Gromit', 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory', ' History of Violence ', TV music for ' Life in the Undergrowth', and music for pop artists.Helen teaches harp at the Royal Academy of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.