Dika Newlin(1923-2006)

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.