Described by Kim Hill as the “wunderkind of the Christchurch musical scene,” composer, lyricist, musical director and educator Luke Di Somma is one of New Zealand’s leading musical theatre artists and is based in Melbourne, Australia.
A Fulbright scholar, Luke studied at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, graduating with a Master of Fine Arts from the Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Programme. He completed his Bachelor of Music at the University of Canterbury, and gained First Class Honours from the New Zealand School of Music where he studied conducting and composition.
Luke is the co-writer of hit musical THAT BLOODY WOMAN, which toured New Zealand, playing to over 30,000 people. Current projects include an opera about former New Zealand Prime Minister David Lange, a commission for the Auckland Theatre Company and several projects with Australian collaborators. In the United Kingdom, his work has been seen at Andrew Lloyd Weber’s The Other Palace theatre, and he co-wrote the opening number for the last three WEST END BARES charity concerts in various theatres in London’s West End. His music has been sung by Broadway’s Andréa Burns, Olivier winners David Bedella and Rebecca Trehearn, and Tony nominees Andy Karl and Eva Noblezada.
His music direction credits are numerous. Highlights include LES MISÉRABLES, CHICAGO, RENT, THE MIKADO, MY FAIR LADY, SWEENEY TODD and SPAMALOT. He musically directed the European premiere of Lin-Manuel Miranda's 21 CHUMP ST. A regular guest conductor with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, he has conducted performances of BERLIN TO BROADWAY, MAD MEN AND DANGEROUS WOMEN, THE GOLDEN AGE OF BROADWAY and THE GOLDEN AGE OF HOLLYWOOD as well as four seasons of CSO KIDS. He has also worked with New Zealand Opera, the Christchurch Youth Orchestra and started the Christchurch Pops Choir.
Luke is also the founder and director of CIMTSS (Christchurch Int’l Musical Theatre Summer School) - a biennial programme with a school of both secondary school students and emerging professionals. He has taught with some of Broadway’s finest including Andréa Burns, Sutton Foster, Jonathan Groff, Peter Flynn and Julia Murney. He is currently a Sessional Lecturer at Federation University of Australia in Victoria.