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. Diane is also known for teaching conducting. She often holds special classes in the Czech Republic and the United States.

Wittry has been an artistic director for a cultural exchange program. This program involved 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 for the Norwalk Symphony. This orchestra is in Norwalk, Connecticut. From 2018 to 2023, she was the music director for the Garden State Philharmonic. This group is located 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, she was honored as an "Outstanding Alumnus" by the USC Thornton School of Music. Wittry learned conducting from Daniel Lewis. She also worked with famous conductors like Michael Tilson Thomas and Gustav Meier.

Career Highlights

Wittry has conducted concerts around the world. She has performed 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 led many famous groups. These include the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Buffalo Philharmonic. She has also conducted the Milwaukee and San Diego symphony orchestras. Internationally, she has worked with the Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra. She also conducted the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine. Other international groups include Russia's Sochi Symphony and Japan's Orchestra Osaka Symphony. She has also performed at music festivals like the Ojai Music Festival.

Allentown Symphony Orchestra

Diane Wittry joined the Allentown Symphony Orchestra in 1995. She became their music director and conductor. This orchestra was founded in 1951. It performs at the 1,100-seat Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The Allentown Symphony Orchestra is one of the few American orchestras that owns its own concert hall. In 2020, Wittry celebrated 25 years leading the orchestra.

From 2018 to 2023, Wittry also led the Garden State Philharmonic. This orchestra is made up of professional musicians from New York City. They perform 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 features professional musicians and teachers.

Compositions

Besides conducting, Diane Wittry also writes her own music. Some of her pieces include Mist, Lamentoso, and After The Rain. She also composed 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 published by Oxford University Press.

Wittry teaches conducting workshops based on her book Beyond the Baton. She has taught these workshops in Connecticut, Ukraine, and Bulgaria. She has also given guest lectures at top music schools. These include the Juilliard School and the Curtis Institute of Music. She has taught conducting students at Rutgers University. Wittry is also a speaker for national music conferences.

Awards and Recognition

Diane 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. This award is from the American Symphony Orchestra League.

She was also honored as the Outstanding Alumna for Thornton School of Music at USC in 2013. The city of Beaumont, Texas gave her the "Women of Excellence" Award. The City of Allentown honored her with an "Arts Ovation Award" and "Woman of Distinction Award." Wittry is one of only three Americans to receive the Fiorino Doro Award from Vinci, Italy. Her work has also been featured in The New York Times and Newsweek. She was also on PBS NewsHour.

In 2011, Wittry became the artistic director for the United States. This was for an international cultural exchange program. It involved classical musicians from the Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra. Her book Beyond the Baton was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 2007. It was also nominated for an ASCAP Deems Taylor Award. In 2019, she received another Arts Ovation Award. This was for her achievements in literary arts, recognizing her two books.