Conservatory Choir
Mark Helms, director
The Conservatory Choir (MUEN 311) is Shenandoah University’s premier chamber choral ensemble, specializing in vocal music encompassing everything from historical repertoire to the most cutting-edge contemporary choral compositions. Emphasis is placed on programming music inspired by a wide variety of world cultures and from a broad spectrum of composers. Ensemble members have the opportunity to refine their aural and sight-reading skills, apply their knowledge of music theory and history, and develop their voices in pedagogically sound ways.
The Conservatory Choir performs frequently on Shenandoah’s main campus as well as throughout the region and abroad. The ensemble regularly collaborates with other areas in the conservatory including composition, opera, theatre, dance and more. As ambassadors of the university, the ensemble is regularly asked to perform on campus at school-wide cultural and religious events as well as off-campus where the ensemble has forged relationships with local high schools, churches and communities. Additionally, the Conservatory Choir was featured on the Grammy award-winning recording for Best Choral Performance of the Year, given in the year 2000.
Membership in this choir is open by audition to both music majors and non-majors. By focusing attention on historically and culturally informed performance practice, advanced musicianship, diction, stage deportment and ensemble cohesion, the Conservatory Choir prepares singers for careers in vocal performance, choral music education, church music and the professional choral job market.
Meet the Director
Mark Helms is the newly-appointed visiting choral artist-in-residence and director of choral activities at Shenandoah Conservatory, where he conducts the Conservatory Choir, leads the graduate program in choral conducting, serves as chorusmaster for operas and teaches other courses in conducting and choral music. Prior to his appointment at Shenandoah, Dr. Helms served for two years as interim director of choirs at William & Mary, where he conducted the William & Mary Choir, led the Ebony Expressions Gospel Choir, taught academic courses in music and led the William & Mary Choir on their first international tour in nearly ten years.
Helms is a recent graduate of the University of Maryland (UMD), College Park, where he received his Doctor of Musical Arts in choral conducting. At Maryland, he served as primary conductor of the University Chorale, assistant conductor of the UMD Chamber Singers, chorus master for the Maryland Opera Studio, instructor of undergraduate conducting courses and assisted in the preparation of choruses for the Baltimore and National Symphony Orchestras. His dissertation research at Maryland focused on shifting choral repertoire programming trends following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Helms previously conducted church, community and collegiate ensembles in Pennsylvania for six years, where he served as director of choral activities and liturgical music at DeSales University and as director of music and the arts at Doylestown Presbyterian Church. In 2021, he received the Outstanding Young Conductor Award from the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Choral Directors Association in recognition of his work in the state. Helms is also a graduate of the Eastman School of Music, where he earned a Master of Music degree in choral conducting, and of Furman University, where he graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Music in church music. He has studied conducting with Jason Max Ferdinand, Edward Maclary, David Neely, William Weinert, Brad Lubman and Hugh Ferguson Floyd.
Shenandoah Conservatory Invites
Experience the excitement of Shenandoah Conservatory’s music programs!
SHENANDOAH CONSERVATORY INVITES provides instrumental high school students multiple opportunities each year to make music with Shenandoah faculty, students and ensembles. Musicians playing string, brass, woodwind and percussion instruments will find events enabling intensive study with Shenandoah’s world-class faculty and the opportunity to make music alongside current conservatory students. Each of these events take place on Shenandoah’s beautiful Winchester campus.
Audition Information
Shenandoah Conservatory is committed to providing exceptional opportunities for our students aligned with preparation for 21st century careers in the arts. Visit the Ensemble & Production Auditions webpage for the most up-to-date information about auditioning for our music, theatre and dance ensembles and productions.