Obituary of Diane Durand

Durand, Diane Adele, 61 of Waldwick, NJ, passed away Wednesday, March 19, 2008, after a brief but intense battle with cancer. Born in New York City, she was raised in Hackensack, NJ, where she graduated from Hackensack HS and then received Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Music from Indiana University at Bloomington. She then received a Master's in Vocal Performance from Montclair University and completed all but her dissertation at Teacher's College, Columbia University in NYC. A musical force in Ridgewood, NJ, Diane had much to offer. She sang and recorded with The New York Choral Artists, Musica Sacra, New York Philharmonic in NYC and was a soloist with many choral and orchestral ensembles in the metropolitan area. She served as Assistant Conductor of the Pro Arte Chorale under both John Nelson and Roger Nierenberg. For over 20 years she was the Director of Music and soprano soloist at the Community Church at Upper Ridgewood, Ridgewood, NJ where she was well known for her organizing of benefit concerts combining local talent and musicians from the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic. Her productions of PDQ Bach concerts were always sell outs. Perhaps Diane's greatest achievements were reflected by the students from her private voice studio. Many of her students are performing with distinction in Musical Theater and Opera across the country. She was beloved by them all for her professionalism, warmth, sense of humor and innate musicality. Diane instilled a realistic confidence in all who studied with her. Diane is survived by her loving husband, Forrest B. Munger of Waldwick, NJ, her adoring mother, Enes Pons Durand, of Valdese, NC and her devoted sister, Denise Holmes of Asheville, NC, and two nephews. A memorial service for family, friends and students will be held at a time and place yet to be determined. Arrangements are entrusted to the Vander Plaat Funeral Home of Wyckoff (www.vpfh.com).