BIOGRAPHY

Diane Kessel is the Flute Professor at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia. An experienced performer, educator, and clinician, Diane presents frequent recitals, workshops, and masterclass at Georgia Southern University and has been a featured artist and presenter at several regional flute festivals across the U.S. She is an active freelancer and chamber musician and enjoys a versatile and exciting musical career in addition to her teaching at Georgia Southern. Diane is also an active member of the National Flute Association.

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Diane served as principal flute with the Contemporary Youth Orchestra for several years, performing with Jon Anderson (of Yes fame), Pat Benetar and Neil Giraldo, Graham Nash (of Crosby, Stills, and Nash fame) and Styx. She has since been invited to perform at several notable music festivals throughout the U.S., including the National Music Festival, the Madeline Island Chamber Music Festival, the Interlochen Arts Festival, and others. Diane has performed at home and abroad, appearing with the Greenville Symphony Orchestra, the Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra, the Illinois Sinfonia da Camera, and the Sichuan Conservatory Orchestra and Chorus (of China) in addition to several highly regarded opera companies like the Ohio Light Opera, the Palmetto Opera, and the Theatro Lirico D'Europa (of Romania). Diane has competed and received awards at regional and national competitions across the U.S. at the Anatomy of Sound Festival, the Central Ohio Flute Festival, the Kentucky Flute Festival, the Western Michigan Flute Festival, the South Carolina Flute Festival, the Northeast Ohio Flute Association Festival, and others. She has won masterclass competitions with such world-renowned flutists as Joshua Smith, Alexa Still, Amy Porter, Jeff Zook, Rhonda Larson, Philip Dikeman, Molly Barth, Katherine Borst-Jones, Tadeu Coehlo, Tom Robertello, Michel Debost, Mimi Stillman, Goran Marcusson, Jerry Schwiebert, Conor Nelson, Kim Risinger, Nina Assimakopoulis, Lisa Jelle, and Jill Felber.

After completing her undergraduate studies in Flute Performance at the University of Illinois with Dr. Jonathan Keeble, Diane went on to receive her M.M. in Flute Performance and served as a graduate assistant at Western Michigan University under the instruction of Dr. Martha Councell-Vargas. She received her doctorate in Flute Performance from the University of South Carolina, where she studied with Dr. Jennifer Parker-Harley. Diane has also studied with several other highly respected pedagogues and orchestral principals, including Bill Hebert, Heidi Ruby Kushious, Katherine DeJongh, Joshua Smith, Mary Kay Fink, and Greg Patillo.

In addition to her collegiate studio at GSU, Diane has held teaching positions at various organizations and community music schools throughout the U.S. and has maintained a large private studio for years. Her students have gone on to successfully audition for undergraduate and graduate college music programs, summer music programs and festivals, and high school All State festivals and district bands. A dedicated and versatile teacher, Diane is committed to all of her students and their personal and musical growth. Diane offers private flute instruction in Statesboro and can be hired for run-out workshops, masterclasses, and group classes at K-12 schools and colleges. She can also be hired to perform solo or chamber music at private events such as weddings, church services, etc. If you are interested in hiring Diane to present or perform at your school, festival, or event, contact her here. If you would like more information about the GSU Flute Studio, learn more about us here. ​​

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