David DiChiera

David DiChiera (/diːkaɪˈɛrə/ dee-ky-ERR-ə; born 8 April 1935 in McKeesport, Pennsylvania) is an American composer and founding general director of Michigan Opera Theatre.

DiChiera, son of Italian immigrants, was raised in Los Angeles, California, and graduated with highest honors from UCLA in 1956. When he received a Master's degree in Composition at UCLA, he was selected to be a Fulbright scholar for studies in Italy where he conducted extensive research on unpublished manuscripts of eighteenth century opera. This led to a series of articles for the world's leading music encyclopedias including Ricordi's Enciclopedia Della Musica, Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians and Bärenreiter's Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart.

Returning to UCLA, DiChiera worked there as an instructor and received his Ph.D. in Musicology. In 1962, DiChiera joined the faculty of music of the newly established Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. From 1963 to 1965, he also held the post of Assistant Dean for Continuing Education in the Arts at Oakland University and was thereafter elected Chairman of the Department of Music.

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