Warren Helms

Acting Music Director and  Conductor

  Warren Helms served on the faculty of The Manhattan School of Music for eleven years where he was coach/accompanist for the opera department assisting in the preparation of opera productions. During his years at MSM he helped prepare numerous world, North American and United States premieres. While there, Warren worked with American composers such as Ned Rorem, Ronald Perrera and Scott Eyerly. Warren served as Musical Director and conductor of the the American Musical Theatre Ensemble in residence at MSM. At Manhattan School Mr. Helms accompanied many of the vocal studios including those of Betty Allen, Mignon Dunn, Adelle Addison, Theodor Uppman, Cynthia Hoffman, Maitland Peters and Marlena Malas. He holds a Masters degree in Accompanying having studied with Donal Nold.

Warren presently is a faculty member of The Juilliard School at Lincoln Center, NYC where he teaches a vocal class for the Dance Division. Mr. Helms also teaches at William Paterson University and Caldwell College in NJ where he coaches and accompanies singers and instrumentalists. At William Paterson Mr. Helms conducts the Mens Ensemble Singers. He has served as Associate Conductor/pianist for the Pro Arte Chorale and has accompanied Ars Musica and most recently, Schola Cantorum on the Hudson.

  On Broadway Mr. Helms was assistant conductor/pianist for the production of “Showboat” at the Gershwin Theatre. Off Broadway he conducted the World Premiere production, “Little Kit” for The Vineyard Theater. He has conducted numerous Regional musical theater productions and presently is Musical Director for The Women's Theater of New Jersey in Parsippany, a NJ Equity theater. During the summer he can be found conducting at his favorite outdoor theater, Plays In The Park in Edison NJ.

  Warren was seen on prime time TV accompanying the world famous singer, Susan Boyle. He recently accompanied Miss Boyle on The View and The Today Show and also played for her in a NBC special event. Mr. Helms was also seen on The Huckabee Show accompanying actress Ann Jillian. Warren has and continues to work with Aretha Franklin, The Irish Tenors and has also played for Clay Aiken in concert. He recently collaborated with Bill Whelan, the composer of “Riverdance” with the Atelier project at Princeton University. He has collaborated for over twenty years with Dances Patrelle in NYC.

Mr. Helms was the Musical Director of the World Premier of “Anyone Can…” a ballet choreographed to the music of Stephen Sondheim and most recently musical directed “Gilbert and Sullivan the Ballet!” which played to such great success, it is being repeated this May at The DiCapo Opera house. He was also the vocal coach and supplied musical preparation for the world premiere of the operatic comedy “How To Make Love”, by Lawrence and C.C. Widdoes, produced by Chevy Chase.

 Cabaret experience includes The Rainbow Room, The Russian Tea Room, Le Belle Epoque, Eighty-Eight’s, Danny’s Skylight, as well as The Garrick. He has performed at Weill Recital Hall and Carnegie Hall, as well as appearing in recitals across the United States. He has collaborated with Drew University, Kean University and Westminster Choir College and is also the Director of Music at The Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Wayne, New Jersey.