W.E.D.Wallace De Pue was born on October 1, 1932, in Columbus, Ohio, to Oscar and Lillian De Pue. Because he was musically gifted, his cousin, Johnny Murphy, taught him to tap dance. Since Wallace possessed an extraordinary singing voice, he was featured in dance reviews and amateur shows as a boy soprano. In the fifth grade, he attended the Columbus Boy Choir School, now known as the American Boy Choir School. Concurrently, Eldon Howells and Frank Murphy taught him to become a concert pianist. In the 1950s, he won contests to appear on the Arthur Godfrey and Horace Heidt shows.
In Ohio State University High School, Wallace studied oil painting. He also learned about script writing and wrote a series of radio shows that were broadcast. In addition, he wrote his first operetta libretto and the music for his classes' graduation ceremonies.
Capital University accepted Wallace De Pue. He completed two bachelor degrees within five years, one in music education (BME) and another in music composition (BM). At Ohio State University, he completed a Master of Arts degree (MA). He earned a Ph.D. in music composition and theory at Michigan State University. Dr. H. Owen Reed was his major professor.
High school vocal music positions in Leetonia, and Dover, Ohio, provided Wallace De Pue with teaching experience. His next position was at The Toledo Museum of Art as curator of music.
In 1965, Wallace De Pue was married to Linda Kallman. In 1966, he joined the faculty of Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. More than fifty of his works (for nearly all media) have been published by other publishers besides Picardie Court Publications. Three of his operas have been produced: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, (recorded on cassette by Oceans Records, Los Gatos, CA.), Something Special (televised several times), and The True Story of the Three Little Pigs (published by MMB, St. Louis, and performed countless times). The Wonderful Witch of Oz, his new musical, is aimed at pre-school children and is written on the subject of ecology. Dr. De Pue has won 21 consecutive ASCAP awards for the creation and performances of his music. His works have won awards at both the state and national levels.
Wallace and Linda De Pue had four sons. All were taught music by their parents. Dr. De Pue began each son's career as a violinist. All were blessed with extraordinary talent for playing and singing. Mrs. De Pue was killed in an accident in 1986, so Dr. De Pue raised the family until he remarried in 1990. His second wife was formerly, Elaine Markopoulos. Their sons are known as The De Pue Brothers when they concertize as an ensemble; however, Wallace Jr., is nearly finished with his DMA degree at the University of Texas at Austin; Alexander is an international champion "fiddler" who plays for Cris Cagle, a famous country music singer on Grand Old Opry; while Jason and Zachary are members of the first violin section of the Philadelphia Orchestra.
In 2006, Dr. De Pue's compositions were selected to be featured on The American Masters Concert Series, hosted by Maestro Paul Stanbery and the Hamilton/Fairfield Symphony Orchestra and Chorale. On March 5, in Hamilton, Ohio, world premieres of Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra II (duration: 21:00) and commissioned work, The Bird, Frog and Tree Club (duration: 35:00), were performed with great success causing a standing ovation. Composers honored in previous years were H. Owen Reed (La Fiesta Mexicana, classic band work), Robert Ward (The Crucible, opera), Thomas Benjamin (Little Red Riding Hood, children's opera), Thomas Benjamin (The Alien Corn, opera), and James Niblock (Ruth, opera). On January 18, Maestro Stanbery and the HMSO Board of Directors nominated their commissed work for the Pulitzer Prize, 2007.
Since 1998, Wallace De Pue is a Professor Emeritus from Bowling Green State University. Currently, he is directing his own licensed publishing company, Picardie Court Publications. Works for sale are for the following media: Choral works (all vocal combinations, a cappella and accompanied); orchestral works; pieces for multiple violins (2-4, some accompanied by piano); songs (for all voice qualities, with piano accompaniment); keyboard works (piano, organ and harpsichord pieces); percussion works; instrumental solos and ensembles, and the aforementioned operas.
Dr. De Pue
completed Creative Music
Theory Skills, a book concerning beginning
music theory for potential
composers. His textbook was used successfully at Bowling Green
State University. It is also for sale. Samples of Picardie Court
Publications may be obtained by calling (419) 352-4372, by using
e-mail: wdepue@woh.rr.com or
writing to Picardie Court Publications, 5 Picardie Court, Bowling
Green, Ohio 43402.