Helen Newby

Helen Newby continually seeks ways to expand the technical and expressive boundaries of her instrument through close collaboration with other innovative performers, composers and artists. She has been recognized for her “warm tone” and “intimate balanced sound” (The Washington Post), and as a “superb” and “committed champion” of new music (Cleveland Classical). Newby’s passion for collaboration and experimentation has led her to work with and premiere compositions by a number of both emerging and established composers, including Philip Glass, Steve Reich, Chaya Czernowin, Marcos Balter, David Lang, and Tania León, among others. Helen is a member of Puerto Rican artist Residente’s touring band, with whom she has performed in over a dozen countries. She is also a frequent substitute cellist on Broadway, having appeared in the musicals “Gypsy”, “Suffs”, and “Death Becomes Her”, among others. 

In addition to an active career as a performer, Newby is equally dedicated to education and working with emerging composers, performers, and communities of listeners. She has given concerts and workshops for undergraduate and graduate students at institutions including Oberlin College, Brown University, and DePauw University, among others. She maintains a private teaching studio in Brooklyn, NY. 

Newby began her cello training with Rachael Lonergan in Los Angeles, followed by studies at Oberlin College with Darrett Adkins (B.M.) and San Francisco Conservatory of Music with Jennifer Culp (M.M).