Helen Roessing
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Helen Elizabeth Roessing Aiton (22 August 1891 – 27 May 1957) was an American composer of piano music[1][2] whose composition won first prize at the Conservatoire Americain de Fountainebleau in France. She published her music under the name Helen Roessing.[3][4]
Roessing was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Laura Orr and George Roessing. She married Oliver Aiton in 1945.[4]
Roessing studied composition with Leo Sowerby at the Conservatoire Americain, where she won the Prix Tremaine First Prize in 1927 for her piano composition Au Fil de l’Eau Drifting.[3][5] She also studied with Louise Robyn at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago.[6] In 1933 while presenting a recital in Pittsburgh, Marcel Dupre improvised on themes submitted by local composers, including one composed by Roessing.[7] In addition to composing, Roessing was the music director at the Ellis School for Girls and worked as an accompanist and organist at several Presbyterian churches.[8]
Roessing’s works were published by Durand et Cie[9] and J. Fischer & Bro.[5] She composed unspecified music for organ, as well as: