The Guildhall School of Music & Drama is one of the world’s leading conservatoires and drama schools, offering musicians, actors, stage managers and theatre technicians an inspiring environment in which to develop as artists and professionals. The School is a global leader of creative and professional practice and promotes innovation, experiment and research. Rated No.1 specialist institution in the UK by the Guardian University Guide 2013 and 2014, it has over 800 students in higher education, drawn from nearly 60 countries around the world. The School is also the UK’s leading provider of specialist music training at the under-18 level with nearly 2,500 students in Junior Guildhall and the Centre for Young Musicians.
Helena Gaunt, Vice Principal and Director of Academic Affairs, Guildhall School of Music & Drama
Professor Helena Gaunt (PhD, MBA (Distinction), LGMS(PCS), BA Hons (Cantab), FGS, FRSA) is Vice Principal and Director of Academic Affairs at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, providing strategic leadership in academic development, research, enterprise and internationalisation. She is a National Teaching Fellow (2009) and Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Having been a professional oboist and member of the Britten Sinfonia, she has more recently developed research expertise and has published widely. Current interests focus on ensemble practices in the performing and fine arts, creative entrepreneurship, and the potential for the arts to contribute to education and development practices more widely. Helena is the Chair of the Innovative Conservatoire (ICON) partnership, providing pioneering professional development internationally for conservatoire teachers.