Norman Dello Joio

Norman Dello Joio (January 24, 1913 – July 24, 2008) was an American composer active for over half a century.

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.

In his teens, Norman began studying organ with his godfather, Pietro Yon, who was the organist at Saint Patrick's Cathedral.

In 1941, he began studying with Paul Hindemith, who encouraged him to follow his own lyrical bent, rather than sacrificing it to atonal systems.

In 1948, he became associated with the dancer Martha Graham, for whom he wrote several works, including Diversion of Angels and Seraphic Dialogue, a recomposition for chamber orchestra of his Symphony: The Triumph of Saint Joan.

He donated his personal archive of manuscripts and papers Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine to the Music Division of The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Despite infirmities, Dello Joio remained active as a composer until his final years, continuing to produce chamber, choral, and even orchestral music.