Helder Oliveira holds a PhD in Music Composition from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, was a 2019–2020 Fulbright Visiting Researcher at Louisiana State University, and was a 2023–2024 postdoctoral fellow at University of São Paulo.

Dr. Oliveira has received several composition awards, such as the 2017–18 Emerging Composers Competition (Canada), 1st place in the A Hymn for Mercy Competition 2019 (Ireland), Internationalen Eisenacher Bach Kompositionspreis 2020 (Germany), the 2021 Dolphy Prize (USA), and 1st prize in the Stellar Composer competition 2021 (Denmark).

He has collaborated with several groups, such as Mivos Quartet, Chorus Austin Chamber Ensemble, KC Vitas Chamber Choir, C4 Choir Ensemble, Nebula Ensemble, Thüringen Philharmonie Gotha-Eisenach, and Goiás Phillharmonic Orchestra.

Dr. Oliveira has works published by Edition Svitzer, Scherzo Editions, Alea Publishing & Recording, T.U.X. People’s Music, Sociedad Siero Musical, and Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro.

His music was played in the Twin Cities New Music Festival, International Clarinet Association New Music Weekend, the Northwest Horn Symposium, New Music on the Bayou, Viola da Gamba Society of America Conclave, Academia de Flauta de Verão (Portugal), Festival Internacional de Música Contemporánea del Conservatorio Ástor Piazzolla (Argentina) and other festivals.

Currently, Dr. Oliveira is a music educator at Pedro II School, a federal institution in Brazil, professor at Rio Grande do Norte State University, and is a member of the International Millennium Composers Initiative (USA).