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Douglas Helvering– Composer, Music Theory and Composition Professor, and Church Music Director

June 14, 2015 By barnardc Leave a Comment

Caitlin Scharar interviews Dr. Douglas Helvering, professor of music theory and composition at Westminster Choir College. Dr. Helvering reflects on the unconventional origins of his interest in music, his teaching philosophy, and the risks of working as a composer.

  • 0:37: Introduction to music via science
  • 2:47: Undergraduate study and decision to finally pursue music
  • 4:35: Graduate study in music theory and composition
  • 7:47: Masters degree at Westminster Choir College, appointment to Westminster faculty
  • 10:47: Composers who have inspired him; influence of working as engraver for Randall Stroope
  • 14:02: Favorite work he has written
  • 17:49: Works for solo performers
  • 21:01: Commissions from Princeton-area musical ensembles, recent commission from Westminster Choir
  • 27:13: Work as church musician
  • 30:32: Adjunct versus fulltime faculty appointment, teaching style
  • 34:03: Desire to return to undergraduate alma mater
  • 35:30: Favorite Princeton restaurant
  • 36:29: Attending Westminster performances
  • 39:29: Love of choral singing
  • 40:25: Defining his composition style
  • 42:54: Closing thoughts: unique challenges of being a composer

You can read Caitlin’s reflections on this interview here.

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Filed Under: Classical Music, Music in Princeton Blog, Oral Histories

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Upcoming Ecomusicology Conference

Locations and Dislocations: An Ecomusicological Conversation

April 8-10, 2016 Westminster Choir College of Rider University Princeton, NJ "Locations and Dislocations: An Ecomusicological Conversation" seeks to bring together scholars, performers, and composers to further explore the relationships between music, culture, and the environment. The conference will tune to sounds as they fit or belong in the place they are heard, as they fit or belong in some other place, or as they have no ecological home, either built or natural. Among the questions at

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  • Myles Glancy– Tour Manager for the American Boychoir
  • Rebecca Pennington– Administrative Director of the The New School for Music Study

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