Helena Daffern

Professor in Music Technology

Email: helena.daffern@york.ac.uk
Website: www.york.ac.uk/babbleplay/
ORCID: 0000-0001-5838-0120

Interests

• Voice science and acoustics
• Health and wellbeing
• Virtual reality

Biography

Helena Daffern is currently a Professor in Music Technology in the Department of Electronic Engineering at the University of York. She received a BA (Hons.) degree in music, an M.A. degree in music, and the PhD in music technology, all from the University of York, UK, in 2004, 2005, and 2009. She went on to complete training as a classical singer at Trinity College of Music and worked in London as a singer and teacher before returning to York. Her research utilises interdisciplinary approaches to investigate voice science and acoustics, particularly singing performance, vocal pedagogy, choral singing and singing for health and wellbeing. Recent projects explore the potential of virtual reality to improve access to group singing activities and as a tool for singing performance research.

Associated Active Projects

• Architexture
• Optimising blend in close harmony unaccompanied singing
• Sing from Your Seat
• Gender Diversity in Audio

Highlighted Publications

“Exploring the potential of virtual reality technology to investigate the health and well being benefits of group singing” – Helena Daffern, Dave Camlin, Hauke Egermann, Amelia Jane Gully, Gavin Kearney, Chris Neale and Joseph Rees-Jones

“A Longitudinal Study of Intonation in an a cappella Singing Quintet” – Sara D’Amario, David M. Howard, Helena Daffern and Nicola Pennill

“A new method of onset and offset detection in ensemble singing” – Sara D’Amario, Helena Daffern and Freya Bailes