LUKE DI SOMMA, MFA (), BMus (Hons.) Master Teacher/Vocal Coach/MD/Composer/Lyricist

CURRICULUM VITAE

CONTACT DETAILS

Email: [email protected]

Phone: AUS +61 423 666 643 NZ +64 22 675 2758

EDUCATION

Master of Fine Arts – Graduate Writing Programme New York University, Tisch School of the Arts: 2008 – 2010 (Fulbright Scholarship)

Bachelor of Music (first class honours) – composition/conducting New Zealand School of Music, Victoria University , NZ: 2006

Bachelor of Music – composition/conducting University of Canterbury, , NZ: 2003 – 2005

MUSICAL THEATRE TEACHING EXPERIENCE

August 2018 – present: Sessional Tutor Federation University Ballarat – Arts Academy - Currently contracted to vocally coach with the third year students.

March 2018: Guest Lecturer ED5 International – Full-time performing arts, Sydney - Was invited by ED5 Principal William Forsythe to give a lecture to the second year musical theatre class. The lecture was about how actors can better understand song structure.

2014 – present: Director/Tutor CIMTSS (Christchurch International Musical Theatre Summer School), New Zealand - Founded and direct a biennial musical theatre holiday programme. In this capacity have worked with Sutton Foster, Jonathan Groff, Andrea Burns, Leslie Bell, Tyran Parke and Siobhan Ginty.

June 2017: Guest Lecturer Stella Adler Musical Theatre Intensive, - Invited to do a lecture at the Stella Adler MT Intensive in New York, by its director Peter Flynn.

July 2015: Guest Lecturer University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand - Invited to lecture at the music department at the University of Canterbury. Spoke to the composition students, discussed composing for the stage. February 2013 – August 2015: Singing tutor/Choir Director Ara, Institute of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand - Vocal tutor in the Bachelor of Music Arts programme as the conductor of the choir. Mentored students on various personal projects, including a student who was doing an a cappella vocal arranging module.

April – August 2017: Singing Teacher Stagecoach Performing Arts School, - Taught singing to students from the age of 5 – 18 in various Stagecoach Performing Arts Schools around London. This involved teaching basic technique, ensemble singing and performance skills.

January – March 2017: Composition Tutor Mousetrap Theatre Projects, Park High School, London - Engaged as a ‘teaching composer’ to work with talented eleven and twelve years olds as they started to write their own musicals; coaching them on song structure, composition, story-telling and collaboration.

RECENT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE - Composition/Musical Direction/Conducting

August 2015 – October 2017: Co-Writer/Musical Supervisor “That Bloody Woman” - rock musical about - The show started at the Christchurch Arts Festival in 2015 and was then picked up for two seasons at the Theatre Company and Court Theatre in 2016. In 2017 underwent a national tour of New Zealand. The show has been seen by 27,000 people across New Zealand and there are plans for an Australian tour in 2019.

August 2017: Composer/lyricist “The Things Between Us” – a new musical - A new commission from the Christchurch Arts Festival. Starring Helpmann winner Kerri-Anne Greenland.

October 2017: Composer “West End Bares” – opening number: ‘Ruby Strippers’ - Co-wrote (with Mark Anderson) the opening number to the ‘West End Bares’ charity concert in the Novello theatre in London’s West End. The song was sung by Olivier Award winning actress Rebecca Trehearn. The show was MCed by Graham Norton.

May 2017: Assistant to “” (with Alfie Boe and , directed by .) - , London. Assisted the conductor with preparation, in rehearsals and worked with the covers/understudies.

April 2017: Composer “Crossing Over” - Re:Act; 48 hour musical theatre project - The Other Palace (formerly the St James Theatre) London. A project to write a mini musical in 48 hours, directed by the then Assistant Director of the Donmar Warehouse.

October 2016: Musical Director “21 Chump St” – by Lin-Manuel Miranda - Tristan Bates Theatre, London. Musically directed the European premiere of this mini musical written by the composer and lyricist behind IN THE HEIGHTS and HAMILTON. Worked with Broadway director Amy Corcoran.

April 2016: Conductor “Mad Men and Dangerous Women” – CSO Presents Concert - Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. Conceived and conducted this concert at the Isaac Theatre Royal.

OTHER PROFESSIONAL CREDITS

Musical Theatre/Opera musical direction/conducting One Man, Two Guvnors; (Court Theatre) Spamalot; Sweeney Todd; The Hot Shoe Shuffe; The Full Monty (Showbiz Christchurch) Chicago (Variety Theatre Ashburton) Noye’s Fludde; Don Giovanni (New Zealand Opera) The Golden Age of Broadway (Christchurch Symphony Orchestra)

Organisations worked with London Repertoire Orchestra, English National Opera (observational role), Aria Entertainment, New Zealand Opera, The Court Theatre, Auckland Theatre Company, Showbiz Christchurch, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, Nelson Symphony Orchestra, Christchurch Youth Orchestra, Christchurch City Choir, Christchurch Pops Choir (also the founder)

REVIEWS:

“Luke Di Somma…enthralled our students at Stella Adler Wednesday night. Happy, compelled, eager - and more is what occurred in our young actors because of Luke’s masterful work.” – Peter Flynn, Director, Musical Theatre Summer Intensive, Stella Adler Studio of Acting

“That Bloody Woman is an easy cause to sign up for. Like Hamilton for the US, it’s the show New Zealand didn’t know it needed. Kate’s back: a kick-ass role model for equality and people power.” – Metro Magazine

PUBLISHED WORK: “Sing Out Dave” – the search for the New Zealand musical theatre voice http://www.pantograph-punch.com/post/sing-out-dave-search-for-the-new-zealand-musical