Dika Newlin(1923-2006)
- Actress
- Composer
- Soundtrack
A child prodigy, Dika Newlin graduated from the University of Michigan
at the age of sixteen and earned her doctorate in Music from Columbia
University at the age of twenty-two. She studied piano with Rudolf
Serkin, Artur Schnabel and, most famously, with Arnold Schoenberg. She
taught at a number of institutions of higher learning, the last being
Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virgina, where she spent
over a quarter century. Known in global musical circles as an authority
on the life, career and teachings of Arnold Schoenberg, as well as
being known as the composer of a number of musical works, including
three operas, Dika Newlin was best known for her later career as a punk
rocker ("Richmond's oldest rock singer"), playing keyboards in
alternative bands in and around the Richmond area and producing several
albums.