School of Physics, Engineering and Technology
- School of Physics, Engineering and Technology
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- Helena Daffern
Professor Helena Daffern BA (Hons), MA, PhD
Email: helena.daffern@york.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1904 32 2350
Fax: +44 (0)1904 32 2335
Research Area: Communication Technologies » Audio and acoustics
Areas of Expertise: Singing voice analysis, singing health, choral singing practices, vocal pedagogy, voice synthesis, voice source analysis, singing performance, history of the singing voice
Biography
Biography
Helena is currently a Professor in Music Technology in the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology. She completed her PhD in Music Technology in the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology at the University of York in 2008 and obtained a Masters degree in singing performance from the University of York before training as a postgraduate at Trinity College of Music.
Her doctoral thesis examined the acoustic differences between operatic and early music singing which she continued to explore at postdoctoral level. Her research remains focused on voice science and acoustics, particularly classical singing techniques and vocal pedagogy, drawing on her experiences as a singing teacher.
To this end, Helena has formed York Centre for Singing Science, a research centre exploiting all perspectives of voice research. She also continues to run the York Audio Network, a successful project which promotes cross-discipline collaboration in audio research at the University. A trained BBC expert, Helena has appeared on radio and television broadcasts including BBC Breakfast, and Click for the World Service.
Helena continues to sing professionally as a soloist and with various ensembles and opera companies including Opera Holland Park, Opéra de Baugé, Yorkshire Baroque Soloists, Northern Sinfonia, and has recorded for Warner Music UK, NMC records, and Oxford University Press.