About

Diane Phoenix-Neal combines vitality of spirit with innovative exploration

of sound. She specializes in performing new and rare music,  and mesmerizes with depth of tone, character and expression in her performances on the viola.

Collaboration

Diane collaborates with composers and performers providing rich performance experiences to audiences as a top recitalist/lecturer in her field. She commissions and champions works for  viola solo and for viola in concert with other instruments.

 "Phoenix-Neal's viola was

            rich and sumptuous"

                    -Classical Voice of North Carolina

Modern Music  News  

2020

June- American Viola Festival, performing J. Kornowicz

March- Soloist with Pro Musica Denver, performing Earth and Sky

February- Recital with Paulo Steinberg, piano, James Madison University, February 20, 8pm Forbes Center fo the Performing Arts. Performing Libby Larsen and Brazilian 20th Century works.

January- Monticello Chamber Ensemble, James Madison University, January 24, 8pm at Forbes Center for the Performing Arts

Performing Missy Mazzoli and Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, with guest Sarah Plum, violin.

2019

Shadowings for viola and live electronics by Krzysztof Wołek

New Commission and Premiere

October- Contemporary Music Festival, James Madison University   

September- 46th International Viola Congress, Poznan, Poland

July-  at Eastern Music Festival, performing Osvaldo Golijov "Last Round" and Christofer Theofanidis' piano quintet "O Vis Aeternitatis." 

2018

October- Wyoming Chamber Orchestra, Earth and Sky by Gwyneth Walker for String Trio and Orchestra

-Premiere

June- Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival, From the Depths of the Soul  by Gwyneth Walker

March -  Music by Women Conference, Mississippi University for Women, From the Depths of the Soul  by Gwyneth Walker, Violin and Viola duo version

- Premiere

2017

October-  Contemporary Music Festival, James Madison University

performances of music by Kelly Marie Murphy and Richard A. Clark

February- Contemporary Music Festival, James Madison University

​featuring the music of Augusta Read Thomas

2016

October-Decolonizing Music Conference, San Juan, Puerto Rico

June- When the Sprit Sings CD Release with Musica Harmonia

Music by Gwyneth Walker

March - Recital Tour, Grinnell College, Drake University-

Music by Keebaugh, Kornowicz, Lutoslawski

2015

March 22 -Faculty Artist Recital-Augustana College-

Deborah Dakin, viola with Diane performing Kenji Bunch. 4 p.m.

January 30-Drake Trio Project- Sheslow Auditorium, Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa

music by Gideon Klein, Georges Migot, Jerzy Kornowicz, Tania Leon 7:30 p.m.

January 28 - Drake Trio Project -

midweek music - St John's Lutheran Church, Des Moines, 12 noon.

January 28 - Drake Trio Project-Central College Chapel, Pella, Iowa, 

with Sarah Plum, violin and Ashley Sidon, cello. Music from Gideon Klein, Jerzy Kornowicz, Tania Leon, Christian Wolff and others. 7:30 p.m. 

2014

November 17-Faculty Artist Recital-Central College Cox-Snow Trio. 

Music for clarinet, viola and piano from Edward Knight, Paquito D'Rivera.

Central College Chapel, 7:30 p.m.  

November 1- St. Mark Lutheran Fine Arts-

music from Edward Knight -Beneath a Cinnamon Moon for clarinet, viola and piano -Central College Cox-Snow Trio, Des Moines, 7 p.m.

October 18-19 Residency, Augustana College

"The art of collaboration," Prayer - Tania Leon

October 7-8  New Frontiers Artist in Residence, University of Wyoming,

with Musica Harmonia -the music of Anne M. Guzzo

Projects

Bringing the gift of music from creation to connection...

Diane Phoenix-Neal