Diane Alcorn
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Diane Alcorn

Band Jazz Cabaret

Calendar

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This band has not uploaded any videos

Music

The best kept secret in music

Press


"Ted O'Reilly"

This is not the voice of a young diva, but the voice of a lifetime of experience, with a great appreciation for lyrics. - CJRT


"The Jazz Report"

"an eloquent outing" - The Jazz Report


"Geoff Chapman"

"Cool and classy renditions" - The Toronto Star


"The Globe and Mail"

...successfully "reinvented herself as a jazz artiste" - The Globe and Mail


Discography

2000 - The Second Time Around
2004 - I Wish You Love

Photos

Feeling a bit camera shy

Bio

Born in 1931 and raised in Berwick, Nova Scotia, Diane Alcorn began studying and performing at the age of 13, singing in churches, community halls, music festivals, and any other venues that would allow her to sing. Upon hearing her perform at the Nova Scotia Music Festival in 1947, English adjudicator Howe said, "Your voice is a magnificent instrument," well-needed encouragement which pointed Diane firmly in the direction of her chosen field. in 1948 she enrolled in the Music Diploma Course at Dalhousie University, and the Halifax Conservatory. And during the next three and a half years she became a soloist with the newly formed Nova Scotia Opera Association, a regular recitalist on CBC Radio Halifax, a much in-demand church soloist, and winner of the Nova Scotia Talent Trust and Halifax Music Festival "Star of the Festival" awards.

In 1952 Diane, again a scholarship winner, enrolled in the Artist Diploma Course at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. During this time she continued her work as a prominent church soloist, and appeared in concert at Hart House and the Royal Conservatory. For the next 40 years, Diane continued concertizing, accepting guest soloist appearances, studying and teaching, all the while raising six children, who have all gone on to theri own careers in the arts. She often took advantage of opportunities to study and coach with world-class professionals both privately and in master classes. Alcorn's list of mentors and teachers includes such important figures as Maris Vetra, former head of the Latvian State Opera, Madame Emmy Heim, Maureen Forrester and Bernard Diamant in Toronto, and Madame Iride Pilla in Boston.

After a veritable lifetime of studying, performing and teaching classical music, Diane turned to popular music, and in 1992 made the first of a series of concert appearances at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish. This marked the beginning of an exploration of the American Popular Song, delivering the "new classic" rerpertoire of Gershwin, Porter, Berlin, and Kern, and working with notable jazz musicians, including guitarist Roddy Elias, and pianist Tony Genge. Alcorn relocated to Toronto in 1996, a daring move that signified the start of an exciting new phase of her career. Always open to new challenges and gifted with an innate musicality and remarkable voice, Diane became an important voice on the Toronto jazz and cabaret scene, performing regularly with many of Canada's top side-men and soloists, and appearing at this country's most imporant venues, the Top o' the Senator and the Montreal Bistro.

Today, Diane continues to sing, and shares with people her great love of music and life through live performances, and her ever-growing catalogue of Standards-Cds.