Helene Zindarsian, soprano
A native San Franciscan born into a very musical family, Helene’s earliest memories include falling asleep each night to either the sounds of her father composing at the piano, or her mother singing beautiful Armenian lullabies. By the time Helene was five years old, she was already a regular in the church choir. Her well-rounded performing arts background includes thirteen years of formal training at the San Francisco Ballet School, studies at the American Conservatory Theatre, and a degree in Dramatic Art from U.C. Berkeley.
An impromptu performance in an Italian palazzo led to her professional debut in San Francisco, where she was chosen to be the soprano soloist in a world premier production set to Mahler’s "Des Knaben Wunderhorn" with the San Francisco Ballet Company. Of that performance, the San Francisco Chronicle wrote, “The brief stunned silence at the curtain, and the roars of approval that followed were proof of the powerful feelings elicited in the audience.” Following this local triumph, Helene received many invitations to sing as a guest artist, both locally and in Europe, where she eventually relocated for an extended engagement. An invitation to perform Strauss’s "Four Last Songs" in Chicago enticed her to return to the United States, where she now maintains an active concert schedule.
Helene is often featured as a soloist with the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, which was recently hailed as Musical America’s “Ensemble of the Year”. Her solo appearances there include Campra’s "Requiem", Purcell’s "Birthday Ode to Queen Mary", Rameau’s "Grand Motet", Handel’s "Samson", and Bach’s "Christmas Oratorio", all with maestro Nicholas McGegan conducting.
Helene performs regularly throughout the Bay Area as a professional member of several distinguished ensembles including Philharmonia Baroque, American Bach Soloists, the San Francisco Symphony Chorus, San Francisco Opera Chorus, AVE Artists’ Vocal Ensemble, the Sanford Dole Ensemble, San Francisco Renaissance Voices, the Throckmorton Chamber Players, and the Carmel Bach Festival.
Her first CD, entitled “A Mother’s Love”, is a collection of Armenian lullabies and night songs. This tribute to her Armenian heritage won “ Best Classical Voice/Opera Solo Album of the Year” at the 2006 Just Plain Folks Music Awards, and was nominated by the Armenian Music Awards for “Best Classical Vocal Album".
In 2007, Helene released her second album, "In My Father's Garden", which features songs composed by her father, Earl Zindars, as well as songs by Roger Quilter, Richard Strauss, Alexander Spendiarian, Romanos Melikian, and Carlos Guastavino.
Recent orchestral soloist engagements include Vivaldi’s “Gloria” (Bruce Lamott, conducting) and Rosenmüller's "Magnificat" (Konrad Junghänel, conducting) with Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, as well as a return to the Chicago area to perform Berlioz’s "Les nuits d’été" with members of the Chicago Symphony and the Park Ridge Civic Orchestra. Closer to home, she has been featured in each of the last two concert seasons with Alasdair Neale and the Marin Symphony as the soprano soloist in Vaughan Williams's "Dona Nobis Pacem" and Mozart’s “Requiem”.
Helene is a member of the American Guild of Musical Artists and Early Music America.