“Art and life are not two different things”
-felix mendelssohn
b.1998
Charleston, WV
Degrees:
MA, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
Arts Administration, Summa Cum Laude
MBA, University of Cincinnati
Strategic Communications, Summa Cum Laude
BFA, Western Kentucky University
Opera Performance, Magna Cum Laude
Languages
English, German, French
Instruments
Classical Voice, Piano, Violin
Dance Training
18 years
DiDi Turley has spent her life in the theatre — on stage, behind the scenes, and anywhere else you can imagine. One of the foremost experts in social media strategy for classical arts organizations, DiDi currently holds the role of Social Media Manager at the Metropolitan Opera. Her expertise lies specifically in utilizing social media in all forms to rekindle and revitalize dwindling opera audiences as generational shifts in patron behaviors come to a head for the industry. DiDi previously served as the Social Media Consultant for Cincinnati Opera, and has worked as a media and content consultant with arts organizations including the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Beth Morrison Projects’ PROTOTYPE Festival, and more. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music with her MA in Arts Administration and her MBA in Strategic Communications.
DiDi prides herself on bringing humor and levity into arts marketing. Her belief is that people in this age of constant information influx want to see things come to life - not just a glimpse at the final product. Affectionately dubbed the “gen-z correspondent” for multiple classical arts organizations, DiDi seeks to show people what magic, artistry, and hard work go into making the spectacles we see on stage come to be. Paired with excellent communications skills, strategic planning abilities, and a bit of graphic design know-how, DiDi has enjoyed seamlessly stepping into roles with marketing teams across the Midwest and East Coast to create meaningful, engaging content that spikes both ticket sales and awareness for the arts.
When she isn’t shaking up the world of arts marketing, she’s still in the theater, but performing instead! DiDi has been training as a dancer since the age of two, and has studied everything from ballet to hip hop at Arts in Motion in Knoxville, Tennessee and the Cumberland County Playhouse in Crossville, Tennessee. Beyond dancing, DiDi is also a classically trained singer, having received her BFA in opera performance from Western Kentucky University. She has also spent time studying under Dr. Yvonne Douthat-Hartinger of the Orff Institut at the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg, in Austria. This time spent training as a musician has fueled her desire to work on making the field of opera more equitable, accessible, and relevant to younger patrons from every background.
She is a recipient of the esteemed Cochran Award for pursuits in Arts Administration, a twice recipient of the Edward J. Pease award, a recipient of the Nelle Gooch Travelstead award, and a four-time recipient of the Potter College Creative Arts Award. DiDi is also a recipient of a full-tuition scholarship for both of her masters’ degrees at the University of Cincinnati. She is also a proud alumna of the Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts.
When she isn’t in rehearsal or “plotting to take over the arts world” (her mother’s words), she spends her time practicing yoga and boxing, taking care of her jungle of house plants, and playing with her cat, Ziva, in their Upper West Side apartment.
Currently,
DiDi’s current engagements, positions, and projects
The Metropolitan Opera
FANFARE Magazine
Public Speaking: How Can We Connect?
DiDi serves as the Social Media Manager for the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. Her work combines her love of data-based content strategy and creative storytelling, while focusing on centering the voices of historically excluded groups that are finally being spotlit on the Met stage. She also makes very silly little videos, when they let her.
DiDi works as a contributing writer for FANFARE Magazine, the quarterly publication produced by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Check out her latest piece here.
A gifted public speaker, DiDi has appeared as a guest speaker for a number of organizations including Road Scholar and The Juilliard School. Topics have included the changing face of opera, data visualization for nonprofit organizations, and her signature presentation, “How Can We Connect? Connecting classical arts to larger audiences through algorithmic optimization.” Reach out through her contact page to inquire about availability and speaking rates.
