Carvalho, Dinora de (1905—)
Carvalho, Dinora de (1905—)
Brazilian composer, conductor, pianist, and professor who founded the Women's Orchestra of São Paulo and wrote many pieces for orchestra. Name variations: Dinora Gontijo de Carvalho Murici. Born in Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil, on June 1, 1905; daughter of Vincente Gontijo (a musician); studied with Maria Machado, Carlino Crescenzo, Francesco Franceshini, Martin Braunwieser.
Dinora de Carvalho was admitted to the São Paulo Conservatory at age six to study piano under Maria Machado and Carlino Crescenzo. At age seven, she gave her first piano recital and wrote her first composition, a valse entitled Serenata ão Luar, as well as a piano nocturne. Her success as a concert pianist won her a scholarship in Europe where she studied with Isidor Philipp. Returning to Brazil in 1929, she studied with Lamberto Baldi and Martin Braunwieser. In 1939, Carvalho was nominated federal inspector for advanced music education at the São Paulo Conservatory. That same year, she established the Women's Orchestra of São Paulo, the first of its kind in South America. She also directed this orchestra. Throughout her career, Carvalho continued to compose and in 1960 the Municipal Theater of São Paulo sponsored the Dinora de Carvalho Festival in which many of her compositions were played. She was the first woman to be nominated to the Brazilian Academy of Music.
John Haag , Athens, Georgia