Helen L. Weiss

Helen L. Weiss (January 29, 1920 – February 20, 1948) was an American composer, pianist, and choir director.

Biography Helen Weiss was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Samuel and Sadie (Friedman) Weiss. She had two brothers. The family moved to Philadelphia, where Weiss attended the Philadelphia High School for Girls. She earned a B.A. degree in music at the University of Pennsylvania in 1941; an M.A. in music at the University of Oklahoma in 1942; and a Ph.D. in music composition from the Eastman School of Music in 1944. She also studied music at the Philadelphia Conservatory (today the University of the Arts).

After getting her Ph.D., Weiss taught, composed, and performed as a piano soloist, accompanist, and choir director. Jennifer Margaret Barker, Boaz Ben-Moshe, Kai-Young Chan, Sharon Hershey, Myoung-jun Lee, Cerulean Payne Passmore, Hasan Uçarsu, James Ure, Ania Vu, and Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon.

Selected works Chorale and Variations (piano) Declaration (orchestra and piano) I am the People (cantata for mixed chorus) Plaint Sonata in a minor Suite for Piano Three Poems for Voice and Orchestra (text by Walt Whitman)