Isaac Van Grove

American conductor, pianist, music director and bandleader. Born September 5, 1892 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Died 1979 age of 86 in Los Angeles, California, USA. Van Grove was artistic director of the Opera of the Ozarks from 1955-78. He composed six operas on biblical themes suited to the voices of the younger singers. A history on the Opera of the Ozarks website says of Van Grove: "His accomplishments as an opera composer, conductor of leading opera companies, vocal coach and accompanist for several world-famous singers qualified him as an opera director of the highest order." He wrote the music and the vocal score for the one act opera "The Other Wise Man" (words by Henry van Dyke) (1959). He was the music director for the Chicago Civic Opera Company for six years, the Zoo Opera in Cincinatti, Ohio for eight, and the New Opera Company in New York.