Natalie Helm

About Natalie

American cellist Natalie Helm is the Principal Cello of the Sarasota Orchestra.

Helm’s recent engagements include solo appearances with the Sarasota Orchestra, Dana Point Symphony, and Montgomery Symphony Orchestra. Natalie’s goal to create exciting and innovative concert experiences has inspired the P.E.R.M.A. Concert Series: Music and Positive Psychology; Bach Immersion: the Bach Suites in collaboration with other art forms; and Her Journey: An all-female composer program. Chamber appearances include recitals throughout the U.K. and U.S. with the genre-crossing DuoSkope and Sorella Duo. Helm’s performances have been broadcast on NPR, iHeart Radio, Fox News, and PEOPLE Magazine.

Music is a powerful elixir for change and Helm has embraced this idea through Upward Notes, INC. As Founder and Executive Director, she brings musicians together to perform and create opportunities to bring positive social change to underserved communities. Upward Notes performs at jails, homeless shelters, foster care homes, schools, addiction centers, animal shelters, domestic abuse safe houses, and assisted living facilities throughout the United States.

Helm spends her summers on faculty at Brevard Music Festival, Interlochen Arts Camp, Curtis Institute of Music’s Summerfest, and Associate Faculty at the Sarasota Music Festival.

She has given masterclasses at USF, UCF, Miami University, and has been on the faculty of the Pasadena School for Strings in Pasadena, California; Montgomery Music Project in Montgomery, Alabama; and Go-go Allegro in Boston, Massachusetts and was a member of the Des Moines Opera Festival for three seasons.

Helm plays on a Raphael di Blasio cello from 1803.

My goal is to encourage the student to put the score, the phrasing, the composer's intentions as top priority. We improve our technique and control of the instrument in order to deliver those intentions more clearly and at a higher level. I enjoy meeting the student where they are at on their musical journey and excelerating their progress to the next level.