Born: 1948 (Chester, PA)

Clamma Dale, soprano, received her early music training from her father, who was a jazz musician, later studying at Philadelphia's Settlement Music School. She went on to Juilliard where she received a bachelor of music degree in 1970 and a master of music degree in 1975.

Dale portrayed Bess in the highly successful 1976 Houston Grand Opera production of Porgy and Bess. The show was transferred from Houston to Broadway and Dale was awarded a 1977 Drama Desk Award for Best Actress in a musical and received a Tony Award nomination. She won a Grammy in 1978 for Best Opera Recording of the Porgy and Bess soundtrack.

Dale was a winner in the 1975-76 Walter W. Naumburg Competition, celebrating the Naumburg Foundation's 50th Anniversary.

She made her first professional opera debut on February 20, 1973 as St. Teresa I in Virgil Thomson's Four Saints in Three Acts at Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Theater in a production mounted by the Metropolitan Opera. During the late 1970s she performed numerous times at the New York City Opera signing a 3-year NYCO contract in 1975.

In 1980, she sang at a gala concert celebrating the 35th anniversary of the United Nations. Later that year, she sang the roles of Giulietta and Antonia in Les Contes d'Hoffmann for her debut at the Opera national du Rhin. In 1983, Dale made her first performance at the Opera National de Paris as Fata Morgana in The Love for Three Oranges.

Excerpt from The New York Times review, May 7, 1977

Clamma Dale at Best in Falla

"Clamma Dale is a singer of such talents and graces it is no wonder that her career has blossomed so unusually in the last two years. The soprano made a successful debut with the New York City Opera; she earned great praise for her performance as Bess in the Broadway revivial of "Porgy and Bess," and she won the Naumburg Award.

Ms. Dale turned many a phrase exquisitely. There would be soft floating tones, often ravishing in sound, and breathtaking portamentos...She gave a superb gospel version of "Amazing Grace," not flamboyant, but very touching in its detail." Raymond Ericson