Diane Zola
2008 Finals Judge
Diane Zola began her career as a singer. She attended the University of Michigan where she received her Bachelor and Masters' degrees in Vocal Performance and pursued Doctoral studies at the University of Texas at Austin. Ms. Zola also attended the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, the Aspen Music Festival and the Music Academy of the West .
As a dramatic soprano, Ms. Zola performed the roles of Lady Macbeth in Macbeth, Donna Anna and Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, Georgette in Il Tabarro and Fiordiligi in Cosi fan tutte with opera companies in Texas, Michigan, California and in Europe.
Ms. Zola became the Director of the Houston Grand Opera Studio, the internationally acclaimed training program for singers, pianists/coaches in August, 2000. She began her career in Arts Management at Columbia Artists Management as a managerial associate, she then started her own Artists Management Company and in June, 1995 joined Trawick Artists Management as an Artists Manager, managing the international careers of singers, conductors and stage managers.
Ms. Zola has given master classes and consultations for singers in Moscow , New York City, and at major opera houses and music festivals including Houston Grand Opera, Minnesota Opera, Austin Lyric Opera, Baltimore Opera, San Francisco Merola Program and Utah Opera. Additionally she has presented classes at Curtis Institute of Music, University of Houston, Rice University - Shepherd School of Music, University of Michigan, Academy of Vocal Arts, Manhattan School of Music and Yale University School of Music. Ms. Zola has served as an adjudicator for a numerous vocal competitions including the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. As a member of Opera America, she has written articles, moderated panel discussions and been a member of various panels regarding young artist and career decisions, she has also served as co-chair for the Vocal Caucus of National Association of Performing Artists Managers and Agents.
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