Dina Koston facts for kids
Dina Koston (born around 1929, died in 2009 in Washington, D.C.) was an American pianist, music teacher, and composer. She was known for her amazing musical skills and for helping new music grow.
Life and Music Journey
Dina Koston started learning music when she was only two years old, with her mother as her first teacher. She later studied at the American Conservatory of Music. She learned from famous musicians like Gavin Williamson for harpsichord, and Mieczysław Horszowski and Leon Fleisher for piano. She also studied composing with Luciano Berio and Nadia Boulanger.
Koston shared her knowledge by teaching music at places like the Peabody Conservatory and Tanglewood Music Center. She also wrote music for plays shown at Café La Mama and the Arena Stage.
A big part of her career was co-founding the Theater Chamber Players in 1968 with Leon Fleisher. This group performed chamber music, which is music for a small group of instruments. They were the first resident chamber group at the Smithsonian Institution and The Kennedy Center. They performed together for many years, until 2003.
Dina Koston was married to Dr. Roger L. Shapiro. After her death, a special fund was created in her and her husband's names. This fund, called the Dina Koston and Roger Shapiro Fund for New Music, helps new musical pieces be written and performed at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. This way, her love for music continues to inspire new artists.
Her Compositions
Dina Koston wrote music for many different instruments. Here are some of her well-known works:
- In Memory of Jeannette Walters
- Trio Brasso
- Flourishes
- Reflections
- Messages
- Solo for clarinet
- Wordplay
- Distant Intervals
You can find her music on recordings, including:
- Leon Fleisher: All the Things You Are (2014)
