Diane Sawyers – Southland Sings’ Teaching Artist

Diane Sawyers, Soprano, has been performing professionally in the Southern California area for over 20 years. She has performed in many genres including Opera, Oratorio, Operetta and Theater. Diane’s favorite roles performed include Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro, Despina in Cosi Fan Tutte, Musetta in La Boheme and Peep Bo in The Mikado. She has toured nationally with Opera a la Carte, the renowned Gilbert and Sullivan repertory company. Diane has performed at the Ambassador Auditorium, the San Antonio Opera House, the Lied Center at University of Nebraska, the Cohan Center in San Luis Obispo and the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.

Diane has also performed with Southland Sings in five different school outreach productions for over 15 years. This has allowed her to perform for and interact with thousands of students throughout the Southern California area. This opportunity has given her invaluable experience in connecting with young people of diverse ages and backgrounds.

Diane is just as passionate about teaching as she is performing. She has been teaching privately as well as in group settings since 1991. Her educational experience includes directing children’s musicals and youth choirs. She feels strongly that Arts Education is essential for young people. “Participating in the performing arts is so important for students, to discover their own ability to create and to recognize the importance of what the Arts contribute to a flourishing culture. To me, a really good teacher is one who provides their students with the tools and guidance to be able to think for themselves, trust their own creative ideas and make their own discoveries. Whether I’m teaching them acting, singing, musical interpretation, or how to create a story, my biggest goal is to instill in them a sense that they have something important to contribute, hoping they will find great joy in creative expression.”

Diane has a Master’s degree in Vocal Performance from the University of California, Irvine and she maintains a private voice studio in the city of Orange.