Helena Hettema, established cabaret artist, actress, voice over artist and songwriter received the top achiever 2007 Laureate Award from her alma mater, the University of Pretoria (where she received her BA in drama). She was chosen from students throughout the country to join the PACT drama company and then went freelance performing in musicals such as Pirates of Penzance , appeared in some TV dramas and wrote and sang the theme song for “Sonkring” TV series.  Helena then became more involved in music performing at all the arts festivals countrywide.

In 2006 Helena was nominated for the Checkers/Shoprite SA Woman of the Year Awards, Arts and Culture category.

Helena has released nine CDs and a bonus tenth CD included with her first DVD – Helena Hettema Alive (2010) for which she was nominated for a SAMA( SA Music Award ) in 2011 in the category best popular, jazz, classical and instrumental category. She has been nominated for other awards ranging from a first SAMA (Helena Hettema Highlights - 1999) and three FNB Vita Theatre Awards for The Legends and a Touch of Me (Category- Best Musical Revue Production and Best Costume -2001) and the live performance of the CD The Bridge (Category: Best Peformance -2002).

She received the SABC 2 Geraas (GMT) Award for the best solo female vocalist 2005 for the CD “Divided Heart” and was second to Laurika Rauch in the Vonk Magazine album of the year award (female) for Divided Heart. She also won The Herald newspaper, Port Elizabeth, Showtime Award for the best cabaret in The Barn, Opera House, PE for the show “Divided Heart” based on the CD.

 In 2005 she was nominated among the ten most popular female SA artists for the “Huisgenoot” Skouspel Tempo Award. In July 2006, Helena was voted by viewers of KykNet among the top ten South African “divas” with others such as Sibongile Khumalo and Laurika Rauch. She has performed in places such as London, Holland, Belgium, Italy and New Zealand singing in English, Afrikaans, French, Italian and Flemish.

Helena has performed the music of Piaf and Brel with the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra and at the Huisgenoot Skouspel at Sun City.

Some Press comment:

Her interpretations of the music of  Brel and Piaf are almost legendary. She is one of South Africa’s glossy by-products of the cabaret circuit- Rooi Rose

“She has mastered Brel – made it (the music) her own – Noord-Transvaler Metro

“Powerful voice that touches the heart strings” – Business Day

“Her music is impressive, mostly because of her remarkably deep and resonant voice.” – Cape Argus

“ Een van ons beste sangeresse” – Rapport

“Sy sny dieperas die vel” – Martjie Roos, Beeld

“ The Pretoria News (22 November 2006) – said of the live show at the Liberty Theatre of the Square – Jhb: “And boy can she sing, Hettema has a voice that ranges from crushed silk to wet gravel and she uses it with sensitivity and skill. It was a stirring performance…great opportunity to see one of South Africa’s finest performers in action.” Peter van der Merwe.