About

Dianna Nixon has over 40 years of practical experience as a multi-disciplinary performer and educator. Training has included a degree in music from the Victorian College of the Arts, as well as A.Mus.A (piano), A.Dip. A (drama and music), and short courses in music education, arts pedagogy, choral direction, drama and languages, and Dianna holds the international recognised voice accreditation, Estill Figure Proficiency.

Has conducted intensive voice and performance workshops for professional theatre companies, community choirs, schools and been employed in education programs of state opera companies. Extensive experience as accompanist includes classical and contemporary repertoire, with a special focus on vocal and choral work, and ballet accompaniment. Many years of voice, drama and dance training, research and private study contribute to integrated methodology.

Awarded 2012 Churchill Fellowship in 2012 for overseas voice practice research, including attending the Pan-European Voice Conference (PEVOC) in Prague. Has since attended PEVOC in Ghent, Belgium, as well as Florence, Italy, and the Estill International Symposium in London, and has presented at conferences including the 2015 International Music Theatre Educators Alliance Conference in Perth. Recent professional development includes singing voice rehabilitation training with Dr Jenevora Williams (2024) and participation in the VASTA (Voice and Speech Trainers Association) Symposium in Melbourne (2024).

Extensive and varied CV of work across many sectors of the arts. Amongst these credits is a growing list of work as accent and voice coach for theatre, film and TV. This is an area of Dianna hopes to expand over the next few years.

Piano, voice (speech and singing), performance skills and musicianship. Recognition from the AMEB in 2020 and 2021 as one of the top private voice teachers in NSW/ACT. Students are working on: AMEB exams, school assessments, Eisteddfods, tertiary auditions, tertiary music degrees, voice transition, professional auditions & role preparation, wedding songs, & public speaking. Students range from children to retirees and include young people training for careers in music theatre, dance, acting and music.

Past students of WVMT have gone on to further performance study including at NIDA, WAAPA, VCA, ANU School of Music, Queensland Conservatorium, Federation Uni, Brent St, Transit Dance, ED5 as well as overseas institutions, and into professional careers. Through Dianna Nixon’s creative work, students have gained valuable performance experience on a range of unique projects.

Under the governance umbrella of Music Theatre Projects, Dianna is collaborating with Ballet Canberra and Music Theatre Projects to present PATH (Performing After Training Hard), a music theatre performance program for young triple and quadruple threat performers-in-training from our region. We are presenting our inaugural stage production Newsies Jnr at The Street Theatre, Canberra, in October.