A Different Kind of Company

Creating the Music of Tomorrow

The Eric Daniel Helms New Music Program

109 New Commissions

23 Nationalities from 5 Continents

2/3 by Women or People of Color

Discover All The Works We Have Commissioned HERE!

At Classical Movements, we don’t just move music around the world—we help create it.

Since 2005, through our Eric Daniel Helms New Music Program

we have commissioned 109 new works for orchestra, chorus and chamber ensembles, supporting composers across generations, cultures, and musical traditions with a commitment to create a more representative, international repertoire.

International Storytelling

New voices, new stories, & new connections

We’ve partnered with composers of varied backgrounds and styles, including:

innovators of color, global voices, cultural storytellers, emerging and boundary-pushing artists shaping the next generation of repertoire.

We are proud to have worked with visionary international artists such as

Billy Childs – Grammy-winning composer blending jazz, classical, and contemporary influences into richly expressive works

Victoria Poleva – acclaimed Ukrainian composer known for her deeply spiritual and meditative choral and orchestral works

Paquito D’Rivera – Grammy-winning innovator blending classical and jazz traditions

Bright Sheng – internationally acclaimed composer bridging East and West traditions

Tania León – Pulitzer Prize-winning composer redefining orchestral sound

Melissa Dunphy – Grammy nominated composer known for her bold, socially conscious works that bring historical and political narratives to life

Manjula Ponnapalli – Indian composer and vocalist whose work draws on classical traditions to create expressive and culturally rich choral music

Caroline Shaw – Pulitzer Prize-winning composer known for her innovative, genre-defying choral and instrumental music

Reena Esmail – celebrated for fusing Western and Indian classical traditions

Mokale Koapeng – champion of South African choral music and education

Kinan Azmeh – Syrian clarinetist and composer bringing powerful cultural narratives to the stage

Adolphus Hailstork – leading voice in American symphonic and choral music

Barbara Croall – Canadian composer of Odawa heritage whose music reflects Indigenous traditions, storytelling, and a deep connection to nature

Sydney Guillaume – vibrant choral composer rooted in Haitian musical traditions

And so many more!

UPCOMING PREMIERES

For the Children’s Chorus of Washington Young Men's Ensemble, in honor of Donald Cotton, and his 30 years of extraordinary leadership, artistry and dedicated service with the Children's Chorus of Washington and his work with the Young Men's Ensemble.

Untitled

By Ben Rowarth