DOMINICAN INSTITUTE
FOR THE ARTS
Anita Smisek OP
Anita Smisek, OP received the DIA's highest award for her outstanding accomplishments in every aspect of professional musicianship: vocalist, composer, choral director, educator, and instrumental performer on piano, organ, guitar and harp. Anita has relaeased many of her performances and compositions on CDs. A graduate of Rosary College with an M.A. in Musis History and Liturgy from the University of Minnesota.
Anita is recognized nationally for her work with the US Pastoral Musicians Association. A founder and past board member of the DIA, this Sinsinawa Dominican has promoted other Dominican musicians by publishing their works through Alliance Publications. Under a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Anita researched music published in the Dominican Institute for the Arts.
Under a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Anita researched music published in the Czech Republic and worked with Dominican Sisters there to retreive Czech music hidden during the Communist regime. In 1995, The Czech community honored Anita with that nation's highest award. The Order of Knights of Comenius. Anita was knighted for her contributions as teacher, translator, researcher, and restorer of long forgotten music. The Fra Angelico Award, Anita insists, means as much to her as her knighthood.