Diane Abrahamian is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music where she received her BM and MM in Music Education with a focus on Voice, Piano, and Choral Conducting. Diane is a five-time nominee for the GRAMMY Music Educator Award and was recognized as one of the top 25 music educators in the United States. The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra recognized Diane’s teaching with the Outstanding Music Educator Award.
Diane is a Sr. Associate Voice Instructor at the Eastman Community Music School where she teaches all styles of music including jazz, classical, musical theatre, and contemporary commercial music. Diane was previously an adjunct Professor at Nazareth College in the Musical Theatre Department and the Vocal Music Director at Penfield High School where she taught for thirty-five years. At Penfield High School, Diane directed the PHS Chorale, Concert Choir, Jazz Choir, Jazz Factory and Uptown Express (men’s choir), taught four levels of Voice Classes and was the Music Director for the musical theatre productions. Diane was also the K-12 Vocal/Classroom Music Coordinator for the Penfield Central School District.
Diane has prepared Josh Groban’s back-up singers on several of his upstate and western New York tours. Diane and her students have performed with some of the world’s leading jazz artists including Jon Hendricks, Regina Carter, Eddie Daniels, Darmon Meader, Tia Fuller, Sean Jones, Terell Stafford, Russell Malone, Kevin Mahogany, Jeff Tyzik, Jake Shimabukuro, Stefon Harris, Claudia Acuna, James Carter, Clark Terry, Randy Brecker, Tamir Hendelman, and Wycliffe Gordon. Many of Diane’s former students are performing professionally in the field of musical theatre, opera, jazz, and contemporary commercial music, including shows on Broadway (earning Tony and Drama Desk nominations), in Broadway touring companies, and professional regional theatre productions.
Diane’s choirs have been invited to perform at local, state, and national music conferences. She has been a guest conductor for All-State, Area All-State and All-County choirs (traditional and jazz) and has presented workshops on vocal jazz, vocal technique, choral rehearsal techniques and sight-singing at state and national music conferences.
Several of Diane’s students and PHS Jazz Choir received Downbeat magazine’s prestigious Downbeat Awards for outstanding performances. Diane’s voice students have been award-winners in the American Songbook Competition, Classical Singer Competition (in the Musical Theatre and Classical categories), American Protégé Competition (in the Classical, Musical Theatre and Jazz categories) Jimmy Awards for Musical Theatre, Rochester Music Hall of Fame Student Awards, and the Rochester Philharmonic Young Artist Awards. Diane’s students have been selected for All-National, All-Eastern, All-State (traditional and jazz), and Area-All-State Choirs.
Diane is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA).