2007-2008 Opera and Dance Season Preview, 2007

The David DiChiera Papers have been arranged in eleven series: Biography, Education, Correspondence, Research, Events, Press Files, Works, Composing ideas, Photographs, Audiovisual, and Realia. The papers came largely unorganized except for specific works and composing ideas. Whenever possible, original folder labels have been kept. Occasional notes written by the daughters of DiChiera, explaining the context or significance of specific items, have been preserved.

The Biographical Files contain curriculum vitaes, drafts of biographical notes about David Dichiera at various points in his career, award and honors documentation, as well as his employment record at Oakland University.

The Education series documents David DiChiera's high school and university education. It includes class notes, letters and official documents, graded assignments, and scores. A folder for concerts and performances includes early recitals for Miss Price before college.

The Correspondence series includes letters to and by David and Karen DiChiera organized by period and sender. The letters document the DiChiera’s activities at OU, including Overture to Opera and the Meadow Brook Music Festival. Letters sent by David and Karen DiChiera to friends and colleagues in 1969, during DiChiera’s sabbatical from OU, shed some light onto their personal and professional lives during that time. Letters by Valerie Archibald, a friend and violinist from California who he brought to OU to perform in June 1963, are included. They contain comments about what DiChiera told her in letters (that are not included) from 1959 to 1964, including his move to OU in 1962.

The Research files consist of manuscript notes, typescripts, photocopies, and miscellaneous materials used by DiChiera to research various topics for lectures, events, or publications.

The Events series contains programs and mailings about Overture to Opera and other programs DiChiera was involved in while at OU. One exception is a folder of materials pertaining to OU's Division of Continuing Education, which belonged to Karen Vanderkloot and contains brochures an documents about events organized by the division.

The Press Files include a selection of newspaper and magazine articles about DiChiera.

The Works series contains numerous scores of all of David DiChiera’s compositions, including original manuscripts, revisions, and different orchestrations. Occasionally, letters, programs, reviews, and other documents accompany the scores.

The Composing Ideas series groups folders of musical fragments, drafts, and other creative notes.

The Photograph series includes a portrait of David DiChiera and several high school graduation photos. The Audiovisual series has recordings of performances of DiChiera's compositions and opera events.

The Realia series includes a plaque, posters and oversize photographs.