Jack Benny used to joke that the violin was the only instrument that you had to practice to sound bad at! My poor parents... all those years of listening to bad violin playing. And to think that they didn't want me to practice when the news was on!

In high school I was lucky enough to land a music job with the help of George Nagy, the personnel director for the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra. Getting paid for doing something I enjoyed motivated me to keep doing it.

 

 

 

When I moved to Durango, Mexico, I played with the local symphony, but when I moved to Tucson I started playing in a mariachi. I love playing mariachi music!

 

For years I played at El Mariachi Restaurant. I even started writing my own songs, some of which I collected in a CD called "Diana canta la venganza."

 

My newest musical venture is playing Italian and Greek folk songs with fellow violinist Cookie. We called ourselves Bella Notte Tucson. It's great fun to sing in Italian for a change! We play a variety of folk songs and are slowly but surely adding to our repertoire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I also play with the Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra, led by Linus Lerner. Check our website to find out about upcoming concerts.

 

 

Since I had some extra time this year, I decided I should go back and take some violin lessons. David has been terribly patient. He keeps telling me to "practice slowly." This is extremely painful!