Ms. Diana Tang is a Kirkwood High School alumna and a proud product of the Kirkwood string program. She began studying piano at age seven and violin at age ten, learning from Mr. Patrick Jackson, Ms. Kelly Judge, and Mr. Joe Kaminsky. She earned her Bachelor of Music Education with Specialized Studies in Violin Performance from Florida State University, graduating Magna Cum Laude. Her musical mentors have included Corinne Stillwell of Florida State University, Xiaoxiao Qiang of the St. Louis Symphony, Dr. Kent Perry of the St. Louis Philharmonic, and Carolbeth True of Webster University.

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Ms. Tang brings more than six years of experience teaching orchestra and strings at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, with a particular teaching emphasis in performing arts medicine — helping students build healthy, sustainable playing habits alongside their musical skills. She spent five years as the Orchestra Director at Timber Creek High School in Orlando, Florida. During her final year, the program achieved its highest participation rate in Solo and Ensemble in the county, earned a straight-Superior rating at the state Concert MPA, received the Morning Glow Grant from the Phoenix Foundation, and participated in the inaugural UCF Orchestra Invitational. Her program also frequently collaborated with the UCF orchestra program and Dr. Robert Hasty on concerts and other musical opportunities.

Deepening her focus on musician health and injury prevention, Ms. Tang earned a Certificate in Essentials of Performing Arts Medicine in 2024 and served as a Committee Member on the ASTACAP & Wellness Committee of the American String Teachers Association from 2023 to 2024. This specialized training informs her approach in the classroom, where she prioritizes proper technique, body awareness, and injury prevention as foundational elements of string education.

 

In addition to her classroom teaching, Ms. Tang has served as a violin sectional instructor with the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras and as an Florida Orchestra Association approved adjudicator for Solo and Ensemble, Concert MPA, All-State, and All-County auditions and assessments. She has performed regularly with the Mudita Orchestra, chamber ensembles, and solo throughout the Orlando area. Most recently, she has been active as an ambassador for Keys for Harmony, a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access to music education. Through this role, she has performed in community events and provided music lessons, combining her passion for performance with her commitment to making music education accessible to students of all backgrounds.

 

Ms. Tang is excited to return to the Kirkwood School District and assist Ms. Drayton-Conway with 5th grade orchestra. Having begun her own musical journey in the Kirkwood schools, she looks forward to helping young students develop confidence, creativity, and a lifelong appreciation for music — built on a healthy, sustainable foundation.