Diane Wittry facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Diane Wittry
Wittry in 2014
Alma mater	University of Southern California
Occupation	Conductor, composer
Employer	Allentown Symphony Orchestra

Diane Wittry is an American conductor and composer. She leads the Allentown Symphony Orchestra in Allentown, Pennsylvania. She is also a well-known teacher who helps others learn how to conduct music. She often teaches special classes in the Czech Republic and the United States.

Wittry has led many orchestras around the world. She was the artistic director for a cultural exchange program with the Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra in Sarajevo. She also led the Symphony of Southeast Texas in Beaumont, Texas. From 2001 to 2010, she was the artistic director and conductor of the Norwalk Symphony in Norwalk, Connecticut. From 2018 to 2023, she was the music director for the Garden State Philharmonic in Toms River, New Jersey.

Early Life and Education

Diane Wittry studied at the University of Southern California. She earned a degree in violin and a master's degree in conducting. In 2013, the USC Thornton School of Music honored her as an "Outstanding Alumnus." Wittry learned from famous conductors like Daniel Lewis and Michael Tilson Thomas.

A Global Conducting Career

Wittry has conducted concerts all over the world. She has led orchestras in Japan, China, Canada, and many cities across the United States. She focuses on helping orchestras connect with their local communities. In 2015, Musical America Worldwide named her one of the "Top-30 Professional Musicians."

In the United States, Wittry has worked with many major orchestras. These include the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Buffalo Philharmonic. She has also conducted for the Milwaukee, San Diego, and Houston symphony orchestras. Internationally, she has led the Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine. She has also conducted in Russia, Slovakia, Italy, and Japan.

Leading the Allentown Symphony Orchestra

Wittry joined the Allentown Symphony Orchestra in 1995. At that time, she was also leading the Symphony of Southeast Texas. She was also an assistant conductor for the Pasadena Symphony in Pasadena, California.

From 2018 to 2023, Diane Wittry was the music director for the Garden State Philharmonic. This orchestra performs concerts at the Jersey Shore. The Garden State Philharmonic also supports a community chorus and youth music programs.

Wittry is also the artistic director of Pizazz Music. This group is made up of professional musicians and music teachers. They are chosen through a special selection process.

Composing Music

Besides conducting, Wittry also writes her own music. Some of her compositions include Mist, Lamentoso, and After The Rain. She has also written Concerto for Homemade Instruments and Holiday Greetings. Her music is published by well-known companies like Theodore Presser Company.

Books and Teaching

Wittry has written two books about conducting. Her first book, Beyond The Baton: What Every Conductor Needs to Know, came out in 2007. Her second book, Baton Basics: Communicating Music Through Gestures, was published in 2014. Both books are from Oxford University Press.

Wittry teaches conducting workshops based on her books. She has taught these workshops in Connecticut, Ukraine, and Bulgaria. She has also given guest lectures at famous music schools. These include the Juilliard School and the Curtis Institute of Music. She has taught advanced conducting students at Rutgers University.

Awards and Recognition

Wittry has received many awards for her work. Musical America Worldwide named her among the "30 Top Professionals 2015." She won the Helen M. Thompson Award for her leadership of a regional orchestra. She also received the "Women of Excellence" Award from Beaumont, Texas.

The city of Allentown, Pennsylvania has given her an "Arts Ovation Award" and the "Woman of Distinction Award." Wittry is also one of only three Americans to receive the Fiorino Doro Award from Vinci, Italy. She has been featured in The New York Times and on PBS NewsHour.

In 2011, Wittry became the artistic director for a cultural exchange program. This program connects classical musicians in the United States with the Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2020, Wittry celebrated 25 years as the music director of the Allentown Symphony Orchestra. This orchestra performs at the 1,100-seat Miller Symphony Hall.

Her book Beyond the Baton helps young conductors learn about artistic leadership. It is used in an international conducting workshop in Norwalk, Connecticut. The book was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 2007. In 2019, she received another Arts Ovation Award for her books.