Diana Rowan

Musical mentors

Her mother Phyllis (McCrory) Rowan is a pianist and childhood music educator, and arranged piano lessons for her daughter. Rowan was noticed by Robert Redaelli, the head of the music conservatory she attended in Brussels, Belgium, and he would occasionally teach Rowan himself in addition to her regular teacher Greek-born Mina Papamanolis. Later, Tchaikovsky prizewinner Roy Bogas would be her piano teacher at Holy Names University in Oakland, California, where she gained an MM in Piano Performance; Israeli Harp Competition winner Alice Giles of Australia would become her harp mentor; andalkan singing maestra Bon (Brown) Singer of Kitka would become her Eastern European and Sephardic music mentor, as well as the instigator of the concert where Rowan discovered the potential of the harp.

Influences

Rowan's work is influenced primarily by Bach, Debussy, Poulenc, Bartok, and Celtic, Balkan, Middle Eastern and Hindustani styles. Her compositions are inspired by Irish poet Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill, Greek poet Odysseas Elytis, and English/US poet W.H. Auden, among others, as well as Celtic and Greek myths. Recent travels in Southeast Asia have made an impact on her latest compositions.

Collaborations

Healing music

Rowan is involved in healing music as a member of Healing Muses, which sends four harpists to hospitals throughout Northern California multiple times per week. She is active in taking this program to other countries, including Cyprus and Bulgaria.

Teaching

Rowan has taught private and group lessons in harp, piano, Kodaly musicianship and Kindermusik since 1993. In addition, she offers Skype harp lessons. Many of her students have become professional musicians, and several are teachers themselves. She is currently co-authoring a beginning piano method for both adults and children with Rebecca Trujillo, which focuses on her approach to teaching and includes much improvisation, composition, and technique.

Solo discography

Quotes about Rowan