Role

:

Composer Conductor

Birth

:

1984

 

Dominick Diorio is a contemporary American composer and conductor, known for his innovative and expressive works that blend traditional classical music with modern techniques and styles. Born on August 22, 1971, in Rochester, New York, Diorio showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of five. He later studied trumpet and voice, and eventually pursued a career in music composition and conducting. Diorio received his Bachelor of Music degree in composition from the Eastman School of Music in 1993, where he studied with Samuel Adler and Warren Benson. He went on to earn his Master of Music degree in composition from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1995, where he studied with Stephen Taylor and William Brooks. He also holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in composition from the University of Michigan, where he studied with William Bolcom and Michael Daugherty. Throughout his career, Diorio has received numerous awards and honors for his compositions, including the ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Award, the Barlow Endowment for Music Composition Award, and the American Composers Forum Subito Grant. He has also been commissioned by a variety of ensembles and organizations, including the American Choral Directors Association, the National Association of Teachers of Singing, and the New York State School Music Association. Diorio's music is characterized by its eclectic blend of styles and influences, ranging from traditional classical music to jazz, rock, and electronic music. He often incorporates extended techniques and unconventional sounds into his compositions, such as vocalizations, percussive effects, and electronic processing. His works are also known for their emotional depth and expressive power, exploring themes of love, loss, and human connection. One of Diorio's most notable works is his choral cycle "The Visible World," which was commissioned by the American Choral Directors Association and premiered in 2011. The cycle consists of five movements, each based on a poem by a different author, including Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, and Rainer Maria Rilke. The music is characterized by its lush harmonies, soaring melodies, and intricate rhythms, and explores themes of nature, spirituality, and the human experience. Another notable work by Diorio is his chamber opera "The Little Blue One," which premiered in 2015. The opera tells the story of a young girl who is transformed into a bluebird and embarks on a journey of self-discovery and transformation. The music is characterized by its whimsical melodies, colorful orchestration, and expressive vocal writing, and explores themes of identity, transformation, and the power of imagination. Diorio's other notable works include his choral piece "I Am," which was commissioned by the National Association of Teachers of Singing and premiered in 2014. The piece is based on a poem by John Clare and explores themes of identity, self-discovery, and the search for meaning. The music is characterized by its haunting harmonies, ethereal textures, and expressive vocal writing. Overall, Dominick Diorio is a highly respected and innovative composer and conductor, known for his expressive and eclectic works that blend traditional classical music with modern techniques and styles. His music explores themes of love, loss, and human connection, and is characterized by its emotional depth, expressive power, and innovative use of sound and texture.

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