Diane Birr

Diane Birr, associate professor, piano. D.M.A., Eastman School of Music; M.M., Indiana University Bloomington; B.S., University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point. Studies with Jean Barr, Marion Hall, Brooks Smith, Gwendolyn Koldofsky. Formerly, faculty, University of Northern Iowa. Collaborative performances with Doriot Anthony Dwyer, François Rabbath, Christian Lindberg, Meir Rimon, Joseph Alessi, M. Dee Stewart, and flute duo ZAWA! Faculty, International Workshops; official accompanist, International Trombone Festival, Music Teachers National Association national competitions, International Brass Congress, International Horn Society Workshop. Recordings for Liscio, Crystal Records, Houston Publishing. President, New York State Music Teachers Association, 2004–6.

In Spring 2008, Dr. Birr taught a course entitled "The Keyboard in London and its Role in Society" at the Ithaca College London Center.   One project of the students in the class was to create a blog of their experiences.  Please click on the following to see what we did while there:  http://ickeyboards.blogspot.com/

Diane Birr is a member of "Troica", a trio that includes faculty colleagues Steve Mauk (saxophone) and Kim Dunnick (trumpet).  The trio draws on existing repertoire and has helped create a body of new works for this combination, including pieces by Marc Satterwhite, Peter Lawrence, Mikhail Bronner, Efrem Podgaits, and Dominick DiOrio. 

Dr. Birr currently serves as Immediate Past-President of the New York State Music Teachers Association and Director-elect of MTNA's Eastern Division.