A native
Californian, Diana was educated in California and received a B.A. in Music
(Piano Performance) from Azusa Pacific University and an M.A. in Music
(Piano Performance) from California State University, Sacramento. Her
master’s thesis received the President’s Citation for the Best Project in
the Field in Humanities. Diana’s primary teachers have been Dorothy Hwang
and Dr. Gene Savage. She currently studies with University of the Pacific
Professor Frank Wiens.
As a
Sacramento area pianist, Diana has accompanied various performing groups
including the CSUS Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, University Choir and
Master’s Chorus under the direction of Dr. Donald Kendrick. She also
accompanied the Sacramento Master Singers and American River College Choir
under the direction of Dr. Ralph Hughes, as well as the Sacramento Youth
Chorus and Sierra College Concert Choir directed by Dorla Menmuir. Diana
performed with CSUS voice professor Claudia Kitka in Nevada City for “A
Program of Compositions” written by retired CSUS composer Dr. Daniel
Kingman. Diana was invited to accompany the California state winners at the
annual Music Teachers Association of California (MTAC) Concerto
Competition. She performed with the Sacramento Opera Association’s
production of “Hansel and Gretel.” Diana has been a guest pianist for the
Sierra Nevada Winds, directed by Bill Hill. As a graduate student at CSUS,
Diana performed twice for the Festival of New American Music, once as a
student scholarship winner for her performance of “Translucences” by
composer/percussionist William Kraft. Diana has made appearances at the
Sacramento Community Center and the Mondavi Center as principal pianist in
the orchestra for the Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra’s performances
of “Carmina Burana.”
Diana’s
passion is music education. As an educator, Diana has taught piano, band,
choir and general music to elementary, junior and senior high students. She
has taught piano classes at Azusa Pacific University, CSU Sacramento and
American River College. She recently performed a solo piano recital
entitled "Contemporary Music from Around the World" as a fundraiser for the
MTAC Placer Branch's Jean Dunning Memorial Scholarship Fund. This fund is
in memory of the branch's past president and is awarded to deserving
graduating seniors who plan to major or minor in music in college.
Diana
operates a private piano studio and her students participate in the MTAC
Certificate of Merit evaluations each year. Diana performs as the
accompanist for the Sierra Community Chorus directed by Lorin Miller.
