Diane Reich to Speak on Spiritual Guidance in the Life of a Performer in Faith + Works Lecture

In March’s Faith + Works lecture, students in the College of Fine Arts and Communications will hear from School of Music professor Diane Reich, professor of voice and division coordinator for classical voice at BYU. She will speak on the role of spiritual guidance in the life of a performer. “Whether we are on a stage, presenting our work or on display, we are in the spotlight or performing in some way,” said Reich.

A decorated soprano, Reich has performed with the Utah Festival Opera Company, Opera West and Indiana University Opera Theater, and as a soloist in Vietnam, China, Russia and Italy. Her past roles include Marguerite in Faust, Mimì in La Bohème, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, Valencienne in The Merry Widow, Antonia in The Tales of Hoffman and many others. Reich’s lecture — “Schooled by Performance: Tales from an Opera Diva” — will draw from her experiences and insights as a performer and engage with the idea of consecrating performance to the Lord. “How will Heavenly Father consecrate my performance for my welfare? How might that be manifest? What is my responsibility in this pact of consecration?” asked Reich. “I think He schools us through life experiences, and in this case, performance.” In 2017, Reich gave a university devotional titled “Change and Becoming: Thoughts from a Reluctant Grower.” Prior to teaching at BYU, she was the director of opera at Central Washington University.