Diana Rowan facts for kids

Diana Rowan is an amazing Irish musician. She was born in Dublin, Ireland, on January 26, 1971. Diana plays both the harp and the piano. She is especially good at playing the lever harp. She travels all over the world to perform, teach, and record music. Today, she lives in California, USA. Her parents were students at Trinity College, Dublin, when she was born. Her father, John Rowan, later became a diplomat for Ireland.

Diana's Musical Journey

Diana's mother, Phyllis Rowan, is a pianist and music teacher. She helped Diana start her musical journey. When Diana was young, she went to a music school in Brussels, Belgium. The head of the school, Robert Redaelli, noticed her talent. He sometimes taught her himself.

Learning from Great Teachers

Later, Diana had many wonderful teachers. Roy Bogas, a famous piano player, taught her piano. Diana earned a special degree in piano performance from Holy Names University in California. Alice Giles, a top harp player from Australia, became her harp teacher. Bon (Brown) Singer, a master of Balkan singing, taught Diana about Eastern European music. Bon Singer also inspired Diana to see how amazing the harp could be.

Studying World Music

Diana loved learning about different types of music. She earned a PhD in Music Theory from the National Academy of Music in Bulgaria. Her studies focused on how harps are played around the world. This helped her learn many unique harp techniques.

What Inspires Her Music

Diana's music is influenced by many famous composers. These include Bach, Debussy, Poulenc, and Bartók. She also loves music from different cultures. These include Celtic, Balkan, Middle Eastern, and Hindustani styles.

Her own songs are inspired by poets like Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill and Odysseas Elytis. She also finds ideas in old Celtic and Greek stories.

Helping Others with Music

Diana uses music to help people feel better. She started a group called Sage Harpists. This group uses music to bring comfort and healing.

Teaching Music Online

Diana also founded Bright Knowledge Academy. This is an online music school. It teaches a special method to help people be creative with music. It also helps them reach their musical goals.

Bright Knowledge Academy hosts the Virtual Harp Summit. This is an online festival and conference. It happens every six months. Many musicians from all over the world share their knowledge there.

Diana's Albums

Diana has recorded several albums of her music.

• Panta Rhei (2004)
• The Bright Knowledge (2008)
• As Above, so Below (expected 2018)

What People Say About Diana

People who listen to Diana's music are often very impressed.

• Mark S. Tucker said that Diana "takes the harp to a serious space." He believes anyone serious about the harp should listen to her.
• Bon (Brown) Singer, a music director, said Diana's music comes from her "shining soul." She believes Diana can make any song special and moving.