Norman dello joio biography

Norman Dello Joio (January 24, 1913 – July 24, 2008) was an American composer.

Life

He was born Nicodemo DeGioio in New York City to Italian immigrants.

He began his musical career as organist and choir director at the Star of the Sea Church on City Island in New York at age 14.

Norman dello joio biography

His father was an organist, pianist, and vocal coach and coached many opera stars from the Metropolitan Opera. He taught Norman piano starting at the age of four. In his teens, Norman began studying organ with his godfather, Pietro Yon, who was the organist at Saint Patrick's Cathedral.

In 1939, he received a scholarship to the Juilliard School of Music, where he studied composition with Bernard Wagenaar. He was the father of American Olympic medalist (equestrian), Norman Dello Joio.

While he was a student, he worked as organist at St.

Anne's Church, but he soon decided that he didn't want to make his living as an organist. In 1941, he began studying with Paul Hindemit