It started with a toy violin, and moved on to Sibelius

After she got out of hospital it was the only toy she wanted to play with. It didn’t have strings, but played a tune when she ran the bow over it, and “after a while I got sick of the same melody being played over and over again, and I wanted to get a real violin,” says Diane. 

Diane grew up surrounded by classical music; her grandfather listened to it frequently, as did her parents, who were classical choral singers — the sounds of classical music were part and parcel of life.

She began learning the violin aged seven, and continued to do so once she and her family moved to Christchurch when she was 12 years old.

When her violin teacher at Christchurch Girls’ High, Stephen Larsen, took up a teaching position at the School of Music she followed him soon after.

For her performance in the Soloist Competition, Diane played Sibelius Violin Concerto in d minor, 1st and 2nd movement, Sibelius’ only concerto and symphonic in scope.

She began learning the concerto last year, although she'd been wanting to learn the piece since high school.

“It’s technically hard, but it’s not just about the technicality; it’s about understanding the nature of the piece, the environment it evokes,” says Diane. “Sibelius was from Finland, and his music creates an image of big mountains, the ice, the cold, a stormy image. I try to portray that when I play.”

“It’s a great piece, and a great piece to play with an orchestra. All the movements are so incredible. I like every bit of the concerto.”

Diane also played a winning performance of the concerto on stage the week before the Soloist’s Competition, when she won the Christchurch Concerto Competition. It was there that she played with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, the first time she played with a complete orchestra.

“Which was a bit scary at the first rehearsal, but on the concert day, I enjoyed it so much.”

Naturally she was nervous before going on stage, but enjoyed performing in front of an audience immensely. “It feels like I’ve been preparing for this for a long time, to be able to gift something to the audience. I can feel how the audience reacts to the music. It’s like a communication with the audience, with music.”

The adjudicators of the Soloist Competition were Associate Professor James Tibbles of the School of Music, Mr. Peter Scholes, conductor of the University of Auckland Symphony Orchestra and Mr. Ronan Tighe, Director of Artistic Planning, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.

Second place went to Phoebe (Modi) Deng, and third place to Siyu Sun. The prizes will be awarded at the School of Music’s Grad Gala at the Town Hall, 2 May.

The Gala will include a performance of Sibelius by Diane, the University of Auckland Chamber Choir and Massed Ensemble conducted by Robert Wiremu, performances by the University of Auckland Symphony Orchestra (including Gershwin’s "An American in Paris" conducted by Peter Scholes), the Jazz Big Band and Pop Music students.

Register to reserve your seat (admission is free) through Eventbrite.