Diane Willis Stahl, MM

Biography

Professor Stahl received her B.A. in Music from Florida Southern College. She also holds M.M. degrees in Voice Performance from Indiana University and Yale University. Upon graduation from Yale, Professor Stahl moved to New York where she began her professional career. She has appeared with the Wolf Trap Opera Company, Texas Opera Theatre, Chautauqua Opera, Santa Fe Opera Company and Augusta Opera Theatre, to name but a few. She has also sung with such orchestras as the Virginia Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, Florida Orchestra, and Opera Orchestra of New York. She made her Carnegie Hall debut in the role of Alkmene in the Strauss opera Die Liebe derDanae and her European debut with the Pittsburg Opera Theatre as Hansel in Hansel and Gretel, receiving high acclaim for her performance as Hansel. She has performed at summer festivals around the country including those at Tanglewood and Norfolk. She was a finalist in the Pavarotti International Voice Competition and has been the recipient of numerous awards, including those from the Sullivan Foundation and the National Federation of Music Clubs. She is an active recitalist and has performed on the Festival of Fine Arts at Florida Southern.

Music has always been an integral part of Diane's life and one of her greatest joys. Although she has had a successful opera career, in which she has been very happy, she has found teaching to be even more rewarding. Whether in Italian Diction class, Voice Performance class, or one-on-one voice lessons, whether teaching voice technique or analyzing and interpreting a piece of vocal music, her goal is always to teach enthusiastically and energetically, communicating her commitment and love of the subject in a way that engages her students and inspires them toward musical excellence. Because music performance is such a personal art, Diane always demonstrates respect for each individual student, teaching with a seriousness of purpose but also with humor, as together they strive to become knowledgeable and sensitive musicians. With the other members of the Music Department, Diane is committed to the mission of helping prepare students for a lifetime of enjoyment of and engagement in music.

Education

• M.M., Voice Performance, Yale University
• M.M., Voice Performance, Indiana University
• B.A., Music Education

Awards

• Director of Voice Studies - 2002 to present
• Co-chair of Chorale Search Committee - 2007/2008
• Curriculum Committee - 2007/2008
• Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment Committee - 2005/2006, 2006/2007