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Capping a season dedicated to celebrating the environment and all of the emotions that are connected to an organic source, the Fine Arts Chorale is making final preparations to present "The Green Concert." The program will be performed on Friday, May 1, at 8:00 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Lawrence, and again on Saturday, May 2, at 7:30 p.m. at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral in downtown Kansas City.

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. With her eclectic educational background (degrees in voice performance, musicology and choral conducting), Dr. Teal is using her knowledge and flair for programming to her advantage. Building a concept performance is not easy to execute, but she has already shown this season that her choices of repertoire provide an enlightening audience experience without drawing upon too many clichés.

Fresh off its successful Valentine's Day weekend concerts ("The Birds and the Bees"), the Fine Arts Chorale now turns its sights to Mother Nature. The program features music by such well-known composers as Dvorak ("Come Let Us Dance and Sing Together"), Mendelssohn ("Auf Dem See"), John Rutter ("For the Beauty of the Earth") and Lloyd Pfautsch ("I Thank You God"). Also on the program is music by Gwyneth Walker ("Quiet Wonder"), Alberto Grau ("Kasar Mie la Gaji"), Frank Ticheli ("Earth Song") and local composer Geoffrey Wilcken ("To See the Earth"). In describing this concert, Dr. Teal says the Chorale seeks to be an advocate for the environment without being overtly political.

A variety of nature's aspects and ecological concerns will be explored through this well-conceived and inspirational collection of poetry and music, from the exuberant reveling in nature's beauty to a heightened realization that the Earth is tired and needs to rest.

Already looking ahead, Dr. Teal is planning another concept season, this time focusing on the topic of "Prophetic Voices." The fall concert will feature prophetic Biblical texts as well as forward-thinking leaders such as Martin Luther King, Langston Hughes and Gandhi. Subsequent concerts next season are titled "In the Company of Angels and Snowmen" (the Christmas concert), "Heartfelt Voices" (the Valentine's Day concert) and "Ancient Voices" (the season-ending concert, featuring music of Native American heritage).

 The Fine Arts Chorale
The Green Concert
with Terri Teal, Music Director and Conductor

Friday, May 1 at 8 p.m.
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Lawrence, KS

Saturday, May 2 at 7:30 p.m.
Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral
14th and Broadway, Downtown Kansas City, MO

For tickets call 816-235-6222 or visit www.fineartschoralekc.org

Artwork:
Returning to Herself
by Jenny Hahn

By R. Douglas Helvering

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.

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