Mary Alice Rich facts for kids

Mary Alice Rich is an American composer who writes music. She grew up in Fairmont, Minnesota, and loved music from a young age. She studied the violin at the University of Illinois with famous teachers like Paul Rolland and Sergiu Luca.

Mary Alice Rich started her career as a performing artist, playing music for audiences. However, due to a serious illness, she changed her path. With her strong spirit, deep love for music, and support from her friends and family, she became a composer instead. This means she now writes her own music.

Her First Opera: Wading Home

Mary Alice Rich's first big musical work was an opera called Wading Home. An opera is a play where the story is told mostly through singing, often with an orchestra.

What is Wading Home About?

The opera Wading Home is based on a book with the same name. Her friend, Rosalyn Story, wrote the novel. It's common for composers to get ideas for their music from books or other stories.

When and Where Was It First Performed?

Wading Home had its very first performance on April 2, 2015. It was shown at the Dallas City Performance Hall, a special place for concerts and shows in Dallas. This was a big moment for Mary Alice Rich as a composer.