Born in Ithaca, New York to German parents Helene Pohl spent her childhood on both sides of the Atlantic, beginning her musical studies at age four. At 17 she was accepted for tertiary study at the Musikhochschule Cologne. She continued her studies with members of the Cleveland Quartet at the Eastman School of Music and at Indiana University with Josef Gingold.
As first violinist of the San Francisco based Fidelio String Quartet (1988-1993) Helene performed extensively in the USA, Germany and in England, Italy and South America. The Quartet was prizewinner at the 1991 London International String Quartet Competition as well as Quartet-in-Residence at both the Tanglewood and Aspen Music Festivals.

Helene joined the New Zealand String Quartet as first violinist in February 1994. She became a New Zealand citizen in 1997.

In 2001 she became Artistic Director, with fellow Quartet member Gillian Ansell, of the Adam New Zealand Festival of Chamber Music.