Awards

Distinguished Professor (Emeritus) - 2001

Titled Professor - 1998 - 2006

Henry A. Upper Chair in Music

About Giorgio Tozzi

Professor Giorgio Tozzi was the Henry A. Upper Chair in music. He joined the music faculty of Indiana University in 1991. Professor Tozzi was a leading Bass-Baritone with the Metropolitan Opera of New York for twenty years, spanning the period from 1953 through 1973. During that time he sang 400 performances in Italian, French, German and English. In the forty five years he was active as a singing actor he performed in Italy, Germany, France, England, Israel, and South America at leading opera houses. He also performed as soloist with many major symphony orchestras under the direction of many renowned conductors such as Bruno Walter, Fritz Reiner, Tulio Serafin, Carl Boehm, Dimitri Mitropoulos, and Carlo Giulini, to mention a few. He did not limit himself to the classical repertoire and performed in many American Musical Theater works. While at the Metropolitan Opera, he taught voice at the Juillard School of Music. Later on in his career he taught briefly at Brigham Young University. "Life is a learning experience from the cradle to the grave," was his philosophy. "I consider my professional career as a liberal arts university, wherein I was able to learn from the masters of musical interpretation and the arts of singing and acting." He received three Grammy Awards from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Professor Tozzi was nominated for the Antoinette Perry Award (Tony Award), N.Y. as outstanding actor in a musical. He was awarded a gold record by RCA Victor for the sound track of "South Pacific." Professor Tozzi was named Professor Emeritus in 1992. He was awarded the rank of Distinguished Professor in 2001.