Our Director, Dr. Diane Clark
In August 2006, the Grand Traverse Chorus welcomed its new director, Dr. Diane M. Clark, a native of Memphis, TN. Diane holds the Bachelor of Music degree from Rhodes College, the Master of Music degree from Indiana University, and the Doctor of Arts degree in music from the University of Mississippi. After a distinguished teaching career, having served on the faculty of Texas Tech University for three years and at Rhodes College in Memphis for thirty-two years, Diane retired to move north. Her teaching specialties are vocal music and public speaking. She has been a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing since 1968, was founding president of the Memphis NATS Chapter, and served two terms as Tennessee Governor of the organization. She is also a member of the Music Educators National Conference and has been a member of the Mid-South Composers Forum.
As a vocalist, Diane has performed in recital, opera, oratorio, church music, and music theatre, as well as in the barbershop venue. Her most recent faculty voice recital was entitled "From Bach to Barbershop." She has performed with regional orchestras and opera companies and was Artist-in-Residence for the city of Germantown, TN. In music theatre she has performed such roles as Bloody Mary in "South Pacific" and Ernestine von Liebedich in "Little Mary Sunshine."
Diane brings to the Grand Traverse Chorus a rich barbershop background. She joined Sweet Adelines International in 1992, singing for ten years with the Memphis City Sound Chorus and serving for five years as their Associate Director. After four years as a member of the Chapter-At-Large, she joined the Metro Nashville Chorus and helped them earn honors as First Place Small Chorus at the 2005 Buckeye Invitational Barbershop Competition in Columbus, Ohio, as well as Division A (small chorus) champions at the 2006 International Harmony Clasic competition.
Diane is an international faculty member of Sweet Adelines and is in demand as a chorus and quartet coach, teacher of private voice lessons, and instructor for international and regional education events. She has also participated in the Sweet Adelines International Music Arrangers Program. In Region 23, Diane served as Education Coordinator, Coordinator of the Director Certification Program, and as a member of the regional music faculty.
In addition to her musical interests, Diane is a former Poet Laureate of the Poetry Society of Tennessee and served for fifteen years as a volunteer tutor with the Memphis Literacy Council.
You can contact Diane by clicking here.
