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Past City Voices Columnist; Classical and Vocal Contributor
R. Douglas Helvering (b. 1977) is a highly active composer of music, specializing in the choral genre. Already an accomplished composer at age 31, he has had his music performed across America and the world. Over the past few years Dr. Helvering's music has been featured at the national convention of the American Choral Directors Association, at various MENC Conferences, at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC, at ACDA regional conventions, and at the historic Carnegie Hall in New York. Dr. Helvering has earned music composition degrees from the University of Kansas, Westminster Choir College, and the University of Nebraska.
As an undergraduate, Dr. Helvering had the honor of arranging new school alma mater for symphonic band, was appointed by teachers and fellow students to "Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities", was named to the Golden Key National Honor Society, and for three years served as personal copyist and editor to Dr. Z. Randall Stroope. As a graduate student, Dr. Helvering performed with the Westminster Symphonic Choir, performing under such conductors as Riccardo Muti, Colin Davis, Kurt Masur, Wolfgang Sawallisch, and Joseph Flummerfelt. Academically, he served as graduate assistant in the music theory department, assisting in labs, lectures, and research capacities.
As a composition student, he has studied primarily with Dr. Z. Randall Stroope, Dr. Stefan Young (a student of Nadia Boulanger), Dr. James Barnes, and Dr. W. Kenton Bales. He also has studied with notable choral composers Morten Lauridsen and Stephen Paulus in masterclass settings. He currently works as a music professor at the Kansas City Metropolitan Community College's Penn Valley Campus and at the Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Helvering is the music director of the Sunflower Brass, a community brass choir based in Kansas City. He is also music director at Countryside Christian Church in Mission, KS, where he directs the Chancel Choir, Bell Choir, and Celebration Singers (youth choir.) Dr. Helvering's music has been widely acclaimed by performers, scholars, and audiences around the world for its artistry and emotional appeal. His music is published by Hal Leonard Music, Colla Voce, Chorister's Guild, Imagine Music, Alliance Music, and RDH Music (his own label).
Doug and his wife, Megan, currently reside in New Jersey.
Sun, Mar 15, 2009
Vocal Preview: Capping one of Kansas City’s busiest months of choral music performances in recent history, the William Baker Festival Singers, along with distinguished guest soloists and members of the Kansas City Symphony, will present one of the most respected and cherished choral works in western music history, the Mass in B Minor of Johann Sebastian Bach.
Mon, Mar 16, 2009
La Traviata, Kansas City Chorale, Madama Butterfly, Heartland Men's Chorus and more!
Mon, Mar 02, 2009
Bruffy, Kansas City Chorale, Right at Home in Kansas City: Part 1 Interview: Later this month, the KC Chorale will present a concert of music for double chorus. Looking ahead to that concert, Artistic Director Charles Bruffy gave a rare interview to our choral/vocal writer R. Douglas Helvering.
Wed, Mar 04, 2009
UMKC/Village Church Continues Collaboration with Excellence
Mon, Dec 15, 2008
Kansas City Chorale, St. Joseph Community Chorus and more!
Mon, Apr 27, 2009
The main feature of the concert was a performance of Handel's "Funeral Anthem for Queen Caroline." Among Handel's choral repertoire, it is largely overlooked. However, in the composer's own time the piece was highly regarded for its expression and harmonic interest.
Mon, Dec 08, 2008
...the men of Lionheart represent not only the best of music-making, but also a microcosm of America – striking a delicate balance between cherished individuality and the responsibility to a shared ideal.
Wed, Dec 10, 2008
Regular attendees of Heartland Men’s Chorus concerts knew just what to expect at the group’s annual holiday concert this weekend…the unexpected.
Wed, Feb 04, 2009
Sandi and the Kansas City Symphony, led by Assistant Conductor Steven Jarvi, presented an eclectic evening of hits and classic songs from Broadway musicals.
Tue, Feb 17, 2009
The Kansas City Wind Symphony is one of several local concert wind ensembles, but in the past year they have cemented themselves as one of the city’s leaders in the genre.
Wed, Feb 18, 2009
The concert’s repertoire was a wonderful selection of songs that centered on the many aspects of love.
Wed, Mar 11, 2009
This orchestra was reconstituted from a fractured assortment of professional ensembles in Dublin in 1997. Their roots date all the way back to the mid 1800s, when Dublin was considered a close second to London as the most vibrant metropolis in the British Isles.
Mon, Mar 09, 2009
...continuation and culmination of an article published last week, presented in two installments. Later this month, the KC Chorale will present a concert of music for double chorus. Looking forward to that concert, Artistic Director Charles Bruffy gave a rare interview to our choral/vocal writer R. Douglas Helvering.
Mon, Mar 23, 2009
...a continuation and culmination of an article published in last week’s edition. Capping one of Kansas City’s busiest months of choral music performances in recent history, the William Baker Festival Singers will present one of the most respected and cherished choral works in western music history, the Mass in B Minor of Johann Sebastian Bach
Mon, Mar 30, 2009
After a frantic March for choral music in our area, we end the month with one of the great masterworks in the genre. Then we cool off as area ensembles begin preparing for end-of-the-season events. The offerings here are relatively few, but highly interesting and exciting.
Fri, Apr 24, 2009
Many exciting end-of-the-season concert offerings from a wide variety of local ensembles and vocalists.
Wed, Apr 01, 2009
Music From The New York Tour, performed by the Kansas City Chorale.
Mon, Jan 19, 2009
Joyce Didonato, Civic Opera of Kansas City, Orfeo ed Euridice.
Mon, Feb 02, 2009
KC Symphony Valentine's concert, The Met Live in HD, Fine Arts Chorale, William Baker Singers, Danielle de Niese and more!
Mon, Feb 16, 2009
Lucia di Lammermoor, Mozart's Cosi fan tutte, Musica Sacra, Musica Vocale Chamber Ensemble, St. Paul (Paulus)
Mon, Mar 02, 2009
Nordic Choir, Topeka Festival Singers, Madama Butterfly, La Traviata.
Sat, Apr 25, 2009
Longtime music director Dr. Terri Teal has actively sought over the past few seasons to carve a niche for the Fine Arts Chorale amid the exciting choral renaissance taking place in the Kansas City area.
Mon, May 04, 2009
Musica Vocale is one of a handful of new choral ensembles to join the ranks of an already impressive stable of choruses in the Kansas City area within the last few years. This coming weekend, Arnold Epley's ensemble will present the exquisite oratorio "Elijah" by Felix Mendelssohn.
Thu, May 07, 2009
Concerts by Octarium, Village Church and Grace & Holy Trinity Cathedral, William Jewell Music Department and Kansas City Kansas Community College Music Department
Sun, May 10, 2009
"Should Have Been Choral" is a collection of a cappella arrangements of secular songs originally composed as orchestral symphonies, operatic overtures, music from Broadway shows and popular songs.
Tue, May 19, 2009
Last night, the 16-voice Collegium Vocale presented their Piccolo Spoleto program for a Kansas City audience. They were in top form in a program that was very carefully crafted, using texts that sought to uplift the human experience.
Mon, May 25, 2009
As we move into the summer, moving past Memorial Day, many of our favorite performers are beginning to take a well-deserved hiatus from this past wonderful season.
Tue, May 26, 2009
All of us have at some point in our lives come across a person who has made an everlasting impact on us. The name we typically give to such a person is a mentor. Webster defines a mentor as a 'wise and trusted counselor or teacher' or as an 'influential senior sponsor or supporter.' This weekend in Kansas City and Lawrence, a group of musicians will join together to celebrate not only their art but their mentor, Simon Carrington.
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
Surprise! Opera Diva Teresa Berganza is making an under-the-radar stop in Lawrence, Kansas Thursday night for the inaugural Festival Internacional de Musica Espanola y Latinoamericana. (pssst. and it's free)
Sun, Jun 21, 2009
July is a perfect time to relax into the lush sounds of Summerfest.
Mon, Jun 29, 2009
The Choir sang traditional hymns, choral masterpieces, and folk music from America and around the world. They even included popular songs from musical theater.
Sun, Aug 16, 2009
On the weekend of August 7-9, William Jewell College hosted the first annual JEMS (Jewell Early Music Summer) Festival. A Festival like JEMS is difficult to pull off in any year. In this, their first attempt, the organizers were able to overcome a difficult economy and a very hot weekend to put on a highly respectable and artistically satisfying festival of early music.
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