STAGES Episode 549: LUKE DI SOMMA

STAGES with Peter Eyers

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Luke Di Somma is one of New Zealand’s leading composers, writers and theatre educators, whose work spans musical theatre, opera and television. He is currently based in Melbourne, Australia.

A Fulbright scholar, Luke studied at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, graduating with a Master of Fine Arts from the Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Programme. He completed his Bachelor of Music at the University of Canterbury, and gained First Class Honours from the New Zealand School of Music where he studied conducting and composition.

Luke is the co-writer of hit musical That Bloody Woman, and the composer of The Unruly Tourists. Current projects include several projects with Australian collaborators and a new television show. In the United Kingdom, his work has been seen at Andrew Lloyd Weber’s The Other Palace theatre, and he co-wrote the opening number for the last three West End Bares charity concerts in various theatres in London’s West End. His music has been sung by Broadway’s Andréa Burns, Olivier winners David Bedella and Rebecca Trehearn, and Tony nominees Andy Karl and Eva Noblezada.

His music direction credits are numerous. Highlights include Les Miserables, Chicago, Rent, The Mikado, My Fair Lady, Sweeney Todd and Spamalot. He musically directed the European premiere of Lin-Manuel Miranda's 21 Chump Street in London. A regular guest conductor with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, he has conducted performances of Berlin To Broadway, Mad Men and Dangerous Women, The Golden Age of Broadway and The Golden Age of Hollywood as well as four seasons of CSO Kids. He has also worked with New Zealand Opera, the Christchurch Youth Orchestra and founded the Christchurch Pops Choir.

Luke is also the founder and director of Christchurch International Musical Theatre Summer School - a biennial programme with a school of both secondary school students and emerging professionals. He has taught with some of Broadway’s finest including Andréa Burns, Sutton Foster, Jonathan Groff, Peter Flynn and Julia Murney. He is currently a Sessional Lecturer at Federation University of Australia in Victoria.

During the Sydney Festival in January, Luke premiered a new work (co-written with Constantine Costi) - Siegfried and Roy: The Unauthorised Opera, to huge acclaim.

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