Diane Thome facts for kids

Diane Thome (born 1942) was an American composer. She created music for many different instruments and groups. She also taught music at a university.

Diane Thome studied piano with Dorothy Taubman and Orazio Frugoni. She learned composition from famous composers like Milton Babbitt and Darius Milhaud.

Diane Thome's Life and Career

Diane Thome went to several top universities for her music education. She earned two degrees from the Eastman School of Music. These degrees were in piano and composition.

She then earned a Master of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Later, she received two more advanced degrees from Princeton University. She made history at Princeton. Diane Thome was the first woman to earn a Ph.D. in music from that university.

Teaching and Composing Music

After finishing her studies, Thome became a professor. She taught at the University of Washington School of Music. She even became the head of the Composition Program there.

Diane Thome's music has been played all over the world. Her compositions have been heard in places like Europe, China, Australia, Canada, Israel, and the United States. She also spent time as a "composer-in-residence." This means she was invited to create music at places like the University of Sussex. Her music was even played on French radio.

Special Music Projects

Many groups asked Diane Thome to create new music for them. This is called receiving a commission. Some of these groups include the Seattle Symphony and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. She also worked with The Eleusis Consortium and The Esoterics.

Awards and Recognitions

Diane Thome received several honors for her work in music.

• 1994: She was named Washington Composer of the Year.
• 1995-1996: She was the Solomon Katz Distinguished Professor in the Humanities.
• 1998: She received a commission from the International Computer Music Conference.

Diane Thome's Musical Works

Diane Thome composed music for many different types of performers. She wrote pieces for:

• Solo instruments (like a single piano)
• Chamber ensembles (small groups of musicians)
• Choral ensembles (singing groups)
• Orchestras (large groups of musicians)
• Electronic media (music made with computers and technology)

Selected Compositions

Here are some of her well-known musical pieces:

• Pianismus (for solo piano)
• Unseen Buds (1996)
• Bright Air/Brilliant Fire (1997)
• UnfoldEntwine (1998)
• Like A Seated Swan (1999)

Recorded Music

Many of Diane Thome's works have been recorded and released on CDs.

• Bright Air/Brilliant Fire Audio CD (2001), Centaur
• Palaces of Memory Audio CD (1995), Centaur
• Composers in the Computer Age (1993), Centaur
• America Sings Audio CD (1998), Leonarda Productions, Inc.
• Sunbursts (1992), Capstone, Society of Composers, Inc.