David DiChiera facts for kids

David DiChiera (born April 8, 1935 – died September 18, 2018) was an important American composer and a leader in the world of opera. He is best known for starting the Michigan Opera Theatre. He helped bring opera to many people and made it more popular.

David DiChiera's Life and Work

Early Life and Education

David DiChiera was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. His parents were immigrants from Italy. He grew up in Los Angeles, California. He went to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and graduated with top honors in 1956.

He earned a Master's degree in composition at UCLA. After that, he became a Fulbright scholar. This allowed him to study in Italy. He researched old opera music that had not been published yet. His research led to him writing articles for major music encyclopedias. These included Enciclopedia della musica and The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians.

DiChiera later returned to UCLA. He worked there as a teacher. He also earned his PhD in Musicology, which is the study of music history and theory. In 1962, he joined the music staff at Oakland University in Michigan. He also helped lead the arts education program there.

Leading Opera Companies

In 1971, David DiChiera started the Michigan Opera Theatre. He became its first General Director. This meant he was in charge of running the entire opera company. At the same time, he also became the Artistic Director of the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts.

From 1979 to 1983, DiChiera was the president of Opera America. This is a group that supports opera companies across the United States. In this role, he created a program to help opera reach more people. It encouraged companies to include different groups in America's diverse population.

He also served as Artistic Director for the Dayton Opera Association from 1981 to 1993. In 1986, he helped start Opera Pacific in Orange County, California. He led that company until 1996. He left to focus on opening the Detroit Opera House.

In April 1996, the famous opera singer Joan Sutherland helped open the restored Detroit Opera House. This was a big achievement for DiChiera. He had worked hard to make it happen.

Throughout his career, DiChiera was a leader in the arts. He served on many boards and panels. He was a panel member for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). This is a U.S. government agency that supports the arts. He also led several national music conferences.

David DiChiera had two daughters with Karen VanderKloot DiChiera. Karen is also a composer and educator. She helped start and direct community programs for the Michigan Opera Theatre.

In February 2016, DiChiera announced he would retire in July 2017. In April 2017, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He passed away at his home in Detroit on September 18, 2018.

Musical Compositions

David DiChiera was also a composer. He wrote several musical pieces.

• His Four Sonnets (1965) were written for a soprano singer and piano. They used poems by Edna St. Vincent Millay. This work was first performed in 1978 at the Kennedy Center in Washington.
• He also wrote a children's opera called Rumpelstiltskin (1973). He wrote this with Karen VanderKloot DiChiera. It has been performed in many places across the country.
• In 2007, his opera Cyrano premiered at the Detroit Opera House. This opera was also performed by the Opera Company of Philadelphia and Florida Grand Opera.

Awards and Honors

David DiChiera received many awards for his work.

• He won the Atwater Kent (UCLA) and Gershwin Awards.
• The Detroit News newspaper named him "Michiganian of the Year" in 1979.
• In 2000, he received the Bridge Builder's Award. This award recognizes leaders who help communities.
• The National Association of Negro Musicians honored him in 2005. They recognized his support for African American artists.
• In 2016, the President of Italy gave him the title of Commander in the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. This is a high honor from Italy.
• He gave the commencement speech at the University of Michigan in 1998. He also received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from them. He received other honorary doctorates from Wayne State University, Oakland University, and Marygrove College.
• In 2010, DiChiera received the NEA Opera Honors. This award celebrates people who have made great contributions to opera in the United States.

See also

In Spanish: David DiChiera para niños