Joan Diener - Director of the LJCDS String Orchestra

Joan Diener received her Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Music Education Degrees from the Philadelphia College of the Performing Arts.  She studied violin with Robert de Pasquale and chamber music with William de Pasquale, both principal violinists in the Philadelphia Orchestra.  She taught violin at the Academy of Children’s Music in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania from 1982-1987.  She managed the Music Department office of the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts during the summers of 1983-1988 at Bucknell University.  In 1987, she moved to San Diego, to pursue a Master of the Arts Degree in violin pedagogy at SDSU under the tutelage of Dr. Theodore Brunson. 

 

Ms. Diener started the string program at La Jolla Country Day School in 1990 and she is proud of an instrumental program that has demonstrated 26 years of success.  She played with the San Diego Lyric Opera Orchestra for 15 years, and regularly performs music for special occasions.  She was a board member of the Young Artists Symphony for 3 years.  She coaches student chamber music ensembles, and has adjudicated Solo and Ensemble Festivals.   Joan’s second passion is dancing.  Her favorite styles include Ballroom, Latin, West Coast Swing and Salsa.  She has competed throughout the United States and won World Championship titles in couples dancing in 2005 and 2007.