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Diane Monroe, violin

Diane Monroe is a violinist whose versatility and expressive artistry consistently bring both classical and jazz audiences to their feet. Critics here and abroad warmly praise her ability to interpret and communicate varying styles and periods in both European classical and American jazz traditions.

Her solo debut recital, enthused Bernard Holland of the New York Times, "had at its center a heart of gold". Her jazz work, Jim Ferguson proclaimed in a Jazz Times Magazine CD review, displayed "stunning musicianship and bright creative spark."

Ms. Monroe had the honor of appearing at the very first Fiddle Fest, at Carnegie Hall, where she shared the stage with such legendary performers as Arnold Steinhardt, Isaac Stern, Itzhak Perlman, Midori, Ani and Ida Kavafian and Mark O'Connor. Her rich rendering of Stravinsky's Fairy's Kiss and her amazing unaccompanied version of Amazing Grace won her instant acclaim.

And more. Her initial Fiddle Fest success led to appearances in Alan Miller's documentary film Small Wonders and the recent Meryl Streep film Music of the Heart. (She performed for the film previews at the Ziegfeld and Apollo Theatres in NYC.) Concurrently, she was invited back for Fiddle Fests at Alice Tully Hall, the Montreux Jazz Festival in Central Park, and Switzerland's Tonhalle.

Diane Monroe is frequently heard at such renowned venues as the Marlboro, Caramoor, Sitka, Verbier, North Sea Jazz, and Mellon Jazz festivals. She has appeared in concert with Yo-Yo Ma, performing the string quartets of Henry Cowell at BAM, Ethos Percussion Ensemble in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie, and as guest soloist in both Wall to Wall presentations of Kurt Weil and Irving Berlin at Symphony Space in New York City. Her debut recitals throughout the u.S. include Town Hall and Merkin Hall of New York City, Schoenberg Hall of Los Angeles, Renwick Gallery of Washington D.C., and Pickman Hall in Boston.

An advocate of new music, Ms. Monroe is frequently called upon by composers to premiere their works. David Baker, Anthony Davis, Julia Wolfe, Steven Dembsky, Joseph Nocella, Leslie Burrs, and Robert Moran have aU had their solo works premiered and repeated by her. "She has a direct line to the soul of music..." NY Amsterdam News. Monroe performs these new works, in addition to the standard classical and jazz repertoire, with a spectrum of respected orchestras and ensembles that includes the Delaware Symphony, Orchestra 2001, Brooklyn Philharmonic Contemporary Ensemble, Concerto Soloists of Philadelphia, Network for New Music, Relache Ensemble, New York Chamber Symphony, US. Air Force Symphony, Jupiter Symphony, String Currents Orchestra, Central Iowa Symphony, and the Atmos and Ethos Percussion Ensembles.
Before devoting all her time to solo engagements, Ms. Monroe was first violinist of the Uptown String Quartet and the Max Roach Double Quartet. She made appearances with these critically acclaimed jazz ensembles on The Cosby Show, CBS News Sunday Morning and Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, and recorded with them on the Philips, Soul Note, and Mesa/Bluemoon labels. Her four seasons with the String Trio of New York were highlighted by appearances with saxophonist Joe Lovano, Bang On A Can All-Stars, and by a CD release on Black Saint Records.

A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, and student at Oberlin Conservatory, University of the Arts, and Michigan State University, Ms. Monroe studied under distinguished pedagogues Ivan Galamian, David Cerone, Charles Castleman, Richard Young, Walter Verdehr, and Joyce Robbins. She has worked intimately with great chamber music masters such as Karen Tuttle, Josef Gingold, Felix Galimir, Mischa Schneider, Julius Levine, and members of the Guarneri and Cleveland Quartets.

Monroe taught on the faculty of Oberlin Conservatory, and is currently at Temple University and Swarthmore College. Her distinguished awards include the 2002 Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of the Arts, the Pro Musicis Foundation Recitalist Award, The Alan and Wendy Pesky Award, and two Grants from Meet-the-Composer.

Her compelling performances this season, which range from classical repertoire to traditional jazz and her own original music, include a duo concert with Arnold Steinhardt, a residency at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a featured performance in Fiddlefest at the Apollo Theater, and a collaborative jazz concert with Regina Carter, John Blake and Kenny Barron.

Jazz
Diane Monroe is a violinist whose versatility and expressive artistry consisIently bring both classical and jazz audiences to their feet. Her training is clearly classical, as a resume studded with orchestral appearances, chamber ensembles, new music groups and renowned summer festivals attests. But the improvisation she brings to her musicianship makes her equally at home performing the classical repertoire, traditional jazz and her own original music.

Diane's visibility as a jazz artist began with her long-standing membership as first violinist of the Uptown String Quartet and the Max Roach Double Quartet. These critically acclaimed groups have appeared on The Cosby Show, CBS News Sunday Morning, and Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. Monroe is more, however, than simply a fine performer. Her original compositions and arrangements were highlighted on the TV shows and in performances with the two ensembles at major concert halls and festivals throughout the world.

The Uptown String Quartet and the Max Roach Double Quartet, featuring Diane Monroe on first violin, have recorded on the Soul Note, Philips/Polygram, and Mesa/ Bluemoon labels.

In a recent benefit performance hosted by distinguished news commentator Peter Jennings, Diane shared the spotlight with such jazz greats as Percy Heath, Jimmy Cobb, John Faddis, Renee Rosnes and Wycliff Gordon. She has also graced the silver screen in the documentary film Small Wonders and the recent Meryl Streep movie Music of the Heart.
During her four-year run with the String Trio of New York, she toured in concert with Joe Lovano, Oliver Lake, and literary artist, Quincy Troupe. She has also performed with Reggie Workman, Bill Dobbins, Anthony Davis, just to name a few respected artists. Diane loves jazz festivals and they love Diane. She's played the Mellon, Peco, Cool, North Sea, and Barcelona festivals, as well as the Montreux Jazz Festival in Central Park. She was also a soloist in the original Fiddlefests at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Switzerland's Tonhalle, and the Apollo Theater.

Philadelphia native Diane Monroe is a Curtis Institute of Music and University of the Arts graduate, and has taught at Oberlin Conservatory, Swarthmore College, and Temple University. She received the 2002 Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, and is currently a Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour roster artist.