Helen Graham is a musician, arts administrator, and retired senior civil servant whose career bridges community music-making and public policy. A dedicated oboist, plays oboe, English horn and oboe d’amore with several Ontario ensembles, including York Chamber Ensemble, Orpheus Symphonietta, Corktown Chamber Orchestra, Oakville Chamber Orchestra, the Encore Symphonic Concert Band, the Brampton Concert Band, and the Fanfarones wind dectet. She has previously served as principal oboe with the Rose Orchestra (Brampton) and with Kindred Spirits Orchestra. She has appeared as a soloist with numerous ensembles and leads several wind quintets. Helen studied oboe performance with Richard Woodhams, long-time Principal Oboe of the Philadelphia Orchestra and Professor at the Curtis Institute of Music.

On the administrative side, Helen has served as President of the Board for both the Canadian Band Association (Ontario Chapter) and the Rose Orchestra, and has held board positions with several other organizations, bringing hands-on governance experience to the community music sector.

Prior to her retirement in 2021, Helen spent several decades as a senior civil servant in the Ontario Public Service, where she worked closely with industry associations on policy development, grant and loan decisions, and matters of institutional governance and structure, advising Cabinet on key issues related to business and economic development.