Symphony Under the Stars

2023 Symphony Under the Stars conductor Helen Martell has dedicated her life’s work to music education and orchestral conducting. As a music educator, she has taught all levels of orchestra. She frequently guest conducts district and regional events and previously taught string orchestra for the Norfolk Public Schools. In addition to being the VSO’s Director of Education & Staff Conductor, Helen is also the Music Director and Symphony Orchestra Conductor for the Bay Youth Orchestras of Virginia.

After graduating from the University of Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in Saxophone Performance and Music Education, Helen Martell performed in a professional saxophone quartet and performed with the Virginia Symphony under the direction of JoAnn Falletta and the Virginia Wind Symphony under the direction of Dennis Zeisler. Concurrently she established herself as an educator in the Chesapeake Public Schools. Following her passion for orchestral conducting, Helen Martell joined Bay Youth Orchestras of Virginia (Hampton Roads Premiere Youth Orchestra) as Concert Orchestra Conductor in 2001 and became the Music Director and Symphony Orchestra Conductor in 2007. As a dedicated lifelong learner, she received a master’s degree in music education with an emphasis in conducting from Old Dominion University in 2018.

As a passionate and dedicated educator, she has had the privilege of teaching string orchestra at The Academy of International Studies and Young Scholars at Rosemont for the Norfolk Public Schools for eighteen years.