CONTACTS: Cynthia Shaw, The Kresge Foundation 248.643.9630 Phone
[email protected] Mira Burack, College for Creative Studies 313.664.7939 Phone
[email protected] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MICHIGAN OPERA THEATRE’S DAVID DICHIERA NAMED 2013 KRESGE EMINENT ARTIST DETROIT, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 9, 2013 - Composer and operatic impresario David DiChiera – a champion of Detroit’s renaissance – has been named the 2013 Kresge Eminent Artist. The Kresge Eminent Artist award and $50,000 prize recognize DiChiera’s contributions as founder, music director, and general director of the Michigan Opera Theatre; his creativity and commitment to the community; and his efforts to build cultural bridges through the arts. A composer whose works include “Four Sonnets” (1965), “Cyrano” (2007) and the children’s opera “Rumpelstiltskin” (1973), DiChiera has presented opera, dance, and musical theater productions in Detroit and throughout Michigan for more than four decades. He has encouraged an appreciation for music and libretto in young people and adults, enriched the operatic repertoire by commissioning and premiering new productions and advanced the proposition that opera should reflect the community in which it is performed. DiChiera has opened the doors to new audiences and been a tirelessly effective force for community vitality, says Rip Rapson, president and CEO of The Kresge Foundation. “David is one of our community's most visionary leaders. He has nurtured an art form that combines music, dance, visual arts, and literature to tell stories of inspiration, power, and relevance – stories that bridge across eras and generations. He has contributed to the physical revitalization of our downtown cultural and entertainment district, re-energizing the landmark Music Hall theater and marshaling support for the opera house.