Background
Cossa, Dominic Frank was born on May 13, 1935 in Jessup, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of Domenico and Pasquina (Stella) Cossa.
Cossa, Dominic Frank was born on May 13, 1935 in Jessup, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of Domenico and Pasquina (Stella) Cossa.
Bachelor of Science in Psychology, University Scranton, Pennsylvania, 1959. Master of Arts, University Detroit, 1961. Postgraduate, Detroit Institute Museum Arts, 1961.
Postgraduate, Philadelphia Academy Vocal Arts, 1963. Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), University Scranton, 1982.
He made his debut at the New York City Opera as Morales in 1961, and a week later sang Sharpless with the company. He made his debut at the San Francisco Opera in 1967 as Zurga in Les pêcheurs de perles. His Metropolitan Opera debut took place on January 30, 1970 as Silvio in Pagliacci.
Other roles there were Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Lescaut in Manon Lescaut, Marcello in Louisiana bohème, Mercutio in Romeo and Juliette, Masetto in Don Giovanni, Valentin in Faust, Yeletsky in Pique Dame, Germont in Louisiana traviata, and Albert in Werther.
In 1976 he created the role of David Murphy in the world premiere of Gian Carlo Menotti"s The Hero with the Opera Company of Philadelphia. He can also be heard on the Classical Record Library"s A Celebration of Schumann and Schubert with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.
He has sung as soloist with the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony, the Chicago Symphony, the Israel Philharmonic, and the National Symphony. Cossa taught at the Manhattan School of Music and in 1988 he accepted a position as Professor of Music at the University of Maryland, College Park, where he became chair of Voice/Opera.
He was a National Patron of Delta Omicron, an international professional music fraternity.
Married Janet Edgerton, December 26, 1956. Children: Francine, Gian-Antonio.