Dr. R. Douglas Helvering

Composer - Conductor - Educator

R. Douglas Helvering is an active composer, arranger, conductor, and educator. His music has been featured at major national, regional, and state conventions
as well as at prestigious venues worldwide including the historic Carnegie Hall
in New York. He is currently serving as adjunct associate professor at the famed Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ and as Music Minister at Prince
of Peace Lutheran Church in Princeton Junction, NJ. His music has been
widely acclaimed by performers, scholars, and audiences around the world
for its artistry and emotional appeal.

Latest News

Love Is Not All
This new work for soprano soloist and piano was written for soprano Betsy Podsiadlo, using poetry by Edna St. Vincent Millay. It is available here, along with computer demo and embedded score.

Principa Rerum
new work in the time of Covid-19
As restrictions on ensemble singing ebb, this brand new work is built to allow small numbers of singers (4-8) to meet and rehearse. There are 4 quartets included in a Gabrieli-inspired multiple choir modular format, singing on themes of cohesion and interdepenence. The text focuses on the four elements: earth, air, fire, and water. Medium-Moderate difficulty. This could be performed live or via virtual quartets. Score available here!

Where Charity and Love Prevail
New in the Spring of 2019 is this new setting of the Ubi Caritas text, set both in Latin and English. It is for Mixed Voices and Piano and has an easy level of difficulty. The work is available for purchase from this website!

A Jubilant Song
Brand new in the spring of 2019 is Dr. Helvering's setting of Psalm 98, titled A Jubilant Song. Commissioned by Northway Christian Church in Dallas, TX, the work for mixed chorus and organ with optional obbligato instrument is an exuberant and lush work.
Medium Difficulty. No divisii. Many options are
available for the obbligato instrument.
Available for purchase now!

But Seek Thy Sheep
Brand new for Holy Week, especially Good Friday, in 2019 is But Seek Thy Sheep, an anthem for SATB voices and piano, using a moving poem by Christina Rossetti.
Available for purchase now!

We Call This Place Our Home
(new hymn and anthem)

Dr. Helvering has written 'We Call This Place Our Home', based on the Emmaus story in Luke 24 for SATB choir and piano. An accompanying congregational hymn version is also available. It was premiered at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Princeton Junction, NJ on April 29, 2018 as part of the congregation's 50th anniversary.

OPEN THE WORLD now available

In the same tradition as his earlier Christmas motets Ave Maria and All My Heart Again Rejoices, Dr. Helvering has penned Open the World with poet Adam Tice for Dr. James Jordan and his Westminster Schola Cantorum. The work will be premiered in December 2017. It is scored for SSAATTBB voices and is now available from GIA Music.

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photo credit - David Ross Lawn