BFS Piccolo Day

Secrets to Confident Piccolo Performance

With Guest Artists Helen Benson, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and Jenny Hutchinson, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.

Supported by Sandy Hay.

Sunday 24th January 2026, 10 am - 4 pm
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Jennens Road, Birmingham 

 

Join us for an exciting day of piccolo playing in Birmingham! We are delighted to be joined by Helen Benson of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and Jenny Hutchinson of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.

Take your piccolo-playing to the next level in skill and confidence. Learn new warm ups, techniques, tools and performance skills for managing the tougher moments in the piccolo chair.

The day will include:

  • Special classes by Helen and Jennifer - descriptions below,

  • Masterclasses,

  • Technique Clinic Masterclass with Jenny and Helen,

  • Piccolo choir led by Sandy Hay,

  • Helen and Jennifer will perform a joint recital at the end of the day.

Helen’s Class:

  • Advanced technique with particular focus on orchestral excerpts.

  • Suitable for players of a high level and for those who aspire to be professionals. 

Jenny’s Class:

  • Essential skills for confident piccolo playing.

  • Suitable for players with some experience of playing the piccolo and of grade 8 standard and above.  

We will be joined by Just Flutes

Tickets: £40 for BFS members | £50 for non-members

 

About Helen Benson

Helen Benson was appointed Principal Piccolo of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in 2022. She has appeared as guest Principal Piccolo with several of the UK’s leading orchestras including London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia, the Hallé, BBC Philharmonic, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia and is a regular performer with Birmingham Contemporary Music Group.

From 2014 to 2022 Helen held the 2nd Flute position of the Oslo Philharmonic and whilst living in Norway also had the opportunity to perform with Bergen Philharmonic, the Norwegian Radio, Opera and Chamber Orchestras, Oslo Kammerakademi and the contemporary music group Ensemble Temporum.

Helen studied flute at Chetham’s School of Music with Gitte Marcusson and Guildhall School of Music & Drama with Sarah Newbold, Sam Coles, Philippa Davies, Ian Clarke and Averil Williams. She subsequently graduated with a Master of Fine Arts degree in symphonic performance from the Swedish National Orchestra Academy in Gothenburg where she began to specialise in piccolo under the tuition of Andrew Cunningham. During her time in Sweden, she was a regular guest with both the Gothenburg and Helsingborg Symphony Orchestras.

Helen is a piccolo tutor at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and has been a visiting teacher at both Guildhall School of Music & Drama and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music. She is a passionate advocate for the piccolo in both performance and education and loves converting flute-players into equally skilled and confident piccolo-players!

 

About Jenny Hutchinson

JENNY HUTCHINSON, was appointed to the position of Principal Piccolo with the BBC Philharmonic in 2005. After gaining a 1st Class Honours Degree at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, she completed her studies in 1998 on the Postgraduate Diploma of Orchestral Playing course at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London. She was taught under the tuition of Paul Edmund-Davies, Philippa Davies and Sarah Newbold. A successful and varied musical life ensued with a busy schedule of concert and recording work with groups such as The Royal Opera House, BBC Symphony Orchestra, London Chamber Orchestra, The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Jenny continues to enjoy the rigours of international touring, recordings, live television and Radio 3 broadcasts with the BBC Philharmonic.

 

We look forward to seeing you there!

If you need any more information, please contact us at events@bfs.org.uk.

More about the BFS Flute Day Series 2025-26

BFS Flute Days give you the chance to connect with like-minded people, enjoy listening to great flute players, and make music together. Each day will focus on ensemble and flute choir playing, technique and a masterclass, as well as a short concert to celebrate what we have achieved across the day, and will feature a guest artist with strong links to your particular area.

Other events in the series include: