Dianna Heldman

For over thirty years, Mezzo Soprano, Dianna Heldman performed extensively throughout the United States singing principal roles with opera companies, as a soloist with orchestras, choral companies, and in recital. In 1995, she made her New York debut at Weill Hall premiering Summer’s End, songs by Carlton Clay, and that same year joined the New York City Opera Company. With NYCO she completed three national tours: Il barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina/Berta), La Bohéme (Musetta) and Madama Butterfly (Suzuki). In the house, she was featured in Der Rosenkavalier, Carmen, La Traviata, The Magic Flute, Madama Butterfly, Kinkakuji, Mikado, Rigoletto, and La Cenerentola as well as representing the company in concert in Manaus, Brazil, and in productions at SPAC Saratoga and Wolf Trap. Joining the NYU adjunct music education and vocal performance faculty in 1996 and the full time faculty in 2002, Dianna became the Associate Director of the Program in Vocal Performance in 2005. A recipient of the New York University, Teaching Excellence Award, Dianna was recruited in 2011 by the Shanghai Conservatory as an authority on integrated teaching practices in music theatre. She returned annually as a visiting clinician working with the faculty and students until 2019. In 2015 she joined the faculty at NYU Shanghai tasked with introducing music into the curriculum and taught there as an Affiliate Associate Professor of Arts until 2020. Prof. Heldman continues to enjoy working with students and teachers on two continents, writing innovative curriculum and exploring how music impacts the individual and the world.

Education:

Bachelor of Music: The Crane School of Music, State University of New York at Potsdam.

Master of Music Education.: University of North Texas

Performance Certificate: Mozarteum, Salzburg, Austria

Artist Diploma in Opera Performance: Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati.