BIOGRAPHY: DR. DIANA L. ELLIS

Diana Ellis holds the Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from the University of North Texas, the Master of Music degree from Mississippi College, and the Bachelor of Music Education degree from Louisiana College. Dr. Ellis is Professor of Music at McMurry University in Abilene, Texas.  At McMurry she teaches applied voice, vocal diction, vocal pedagogy, directs McMurry Sounds and the McMurry Opera.

Before coming to Abilene, Texas in 2001, Dr. Ellis served as Assistant Professor of Music at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas from 1990-2001.  In addition to her numerous faculty recitals, she has also performed many other public concerts including those presented at The University of Arkansas, Louisiana College, and East Texas Baptist University, and Texas Women's University.  In July 2005, Dr. Ellis performed Maurice Ravel's Chansons madécasses, a vocal chamber  work in three movements for voice, piano, cello, and flute and Respighi's Il Tramonto; poemetto lirico, a vocal chamber work for voice and string quartet, while touring in Italy with the Casalmaggiore International Music Festival, Casalmaggiore, Italy.  Dr. Ellis' guest soloist appearances include the Southwest Arkansas Symphony and Arts Council Production of Messiah and the Little Rock Pulaski Heights artist series.  In November 2004, she presented two concerts of American Music at Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.  As opera director of McMurry University.

Other professional appearances include roles in productions of La Traviata, La Bohéme, La fanciulla del West, and Trial By Jury.  Dr. ellis most recently performed the role of Marmee in the McMurry Theater production of Little Women the Musical summer 2008.  She currently performs with Fantasy Opera of Abilene in conjunction with Abilene Young Audiences.  As opera director of McMurry University, Dr. Ellis is also co-director of the Abilene Tri-Collegiate Opera: Sprint 2008 ATCO produced Mozart's The Magic Flute.