About Me
Vince di Mura is a veteran Jazz musician and musical director; appearing on concert stages and theatres throughout North America, Canada, and Latin America. He has conducted Musical Theatre seasons at The Nederlander Bethesda Theatre, Laguna Playhouse in California, Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre, the Augusta Barn Theatre in Michigan, Bucks County Playhouse, Artpark and Company in Lewiston N.Y., Tennessee Repertory in Nashville, The Asolo Theatre Company, Florida Studio Theatre and American Stage in Florida, Passage Theatre, Act II Playhouse, The Arden Theatre Company in Philadelphia, The Muhlenburg Summer Theatre Festival, and The Little Theatre in the Rockies.He holds fellowships from the William Goldman Foundation, Temple University, Meet the Composer, CEPAC, the Union County Foundation, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, and the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation.Vince has fulfilled compositional commissions for Rutgers and Princeton Universities, Rider University, the Pingry Foundation, the University of Colorado, The Scioto Society, Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre, and a host of scores for People's Light and Theatre Company including his 1999 Barrymore Award nominated score for "More Grimm's Tales," as well as three comic pantos in the British Style. In 2008, Vince rewrote the famous Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, "The Pirates of Penzance." This new version was commissioned by American Stage in St Petersburg Florida and its musical styles ran from Iron Maiden to the Allman Brothers. The critics hated him for it, but the audiences had a blast.Best known for his arrangements of "My Way: A Sinatra Cabaret," (with over 300 productions nationally), Vince has musical directed a slew of productions of the show included runs at the Blowing Rock Stage Company and Flat Rock Playhouse in North Carolina, Western Michigan’s Cherry County Playhouse, The Barter Theatre in Virginia, and Arkansas Repertory Company in Little Rock. In 2005, Vince created full arrangements for American Stage’s production of "I Left My Heart"; A Tribute to Tony Bennett: Licensed by Summerwind Productions; and musical directed the premier production at American Stage in St. Petersburg Florida. There has been 13 productions of "I Left My Heart" since its premier in 2005, including successful runs the Welk Resort Theatre in San Diego CA, and Phoenix Theatre in Arizona.In February 2004, Vince premiered a concert version of his first spoken word/jazz opera, "A Poet In Harlem:" with text by Nuyorican poet, Willie Perdomo. Performances at the Puffin Cultural Forum, The Arts Guild of Rahway, 12 Miles West Theatre and The Bowery Poetry Club followed. On March 4th, 2007, Vince premiered "For Lost Words"; a second spoken word/jazz rock opera based on the Vietnam poetry of Yusef Komunyakaa at the Passage Theatre in Trenton; with an encore hearing on March 24th. Since then, the music has had hearings in colleges and cultural centers throughout the tri-state area. The New York premiere and CD release party took place on September 29th 2008, at the Cornelia Street Cafe' in the west village. The CD, on the BackGarden Label, is now available on the internet at CDBaby.com. and Digstation.com; as well as itunes and any number of internet music outlets.No stranger to the recording studio, Vince di Mura and the George Street Project have two early CDs out: the 2000 release, "Imperfect Balance" can be purchased from any number of internet outlets. The 2007 release, "A Darker Shade of Romance" is available at CDBABY.COM.Here is a little praise from a trusted and accomplished colleague:Dear Sirs,I am currently musical directing your show, 'I Left My heart' at the Stage Door Theatre in Coral Springs, Florida.Something I have rarely done in my career is to write to acknowledge and pay homage to the incredibly tasteful, intricate and imaginative work of the arranger. This is truly a work of art. Quality like this is hard to find in the world of musical theatre these days, especially when writing for smaller ensembles, a very different skill to writing for larger orchestras.From one arranger to another, please pass on my congratulations and thanks to Mr di Mura. I haven't enjoyed myself musically so much in years.Sincerely,
Phil Hinton - Production Music Director
Phil was, for many years, a pianist, arranger and conductor for the BBC in London, UK. He has also arranged and conducted more than 250 albums for artists such as Anthony Newley, Shirley Bassey, Howard Keel, Elton John, Vince Hill, Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Paul McCartney to name just a few. He was Shirley Bassey's personal music director for three years and Vince Hill's for nine years. Since permanently relocating to the USA in 1994, he has directed countless theatre shows all over the USA as well as having toured with Aretha Franklin and Jim Baily. He has also given many classical and jazz piano recitals around the USA and on several cruise ships, including the world-famous QE2. Phil was also conductor of the Florida Pops Concert orchestra for three years.Here is a note of praise from Michael Redmond. Music critic for the Newark Star Ledger and the Princeton Packet:
Vince, last night I was enjoying "darker shade" again and remembered that I'd forgotten to tell you I have another use for this CD besides my listening pleasure. Kudos to Glenn Taylor, I'm guessing, for one of the best-sounding piano recordings I know. The piano sounds like it's right across the room; the sound has wo...nderful body and presence. So I've used it now and then to demo what I think is really good piano recording ... other than that, a couple of times some classical cats have looked at me, startled, where the hell did he learn to play like that? Chops is chops, my maqn, no matter what style is at issue ... ..
