Diana Reed began as a child prodigy winning the Reading Symphony Youth Auditions at age 14 and performing on National Television at age 16. Educated under full scholarship at the Philadelphia Musical Academy (now the University of the Arts) she earned her Bachelors of Music degree. She then did her graduate work at the famed Academy of Vocal Arts.
Beginning as a coloratura soprano, she made her debut with the Philadelphia Lyric Opera Company as Frasquita in “Carmen” with Franco Corelli and Regina Resnik. Lisette in “La Rondine” starring Anna Moffo followed with the same company. Her international debut was made at Liceo di Barcelona, in Spain as Musetta in “La Boheme“ with Giuseppe Giacomini and Montserrat Caballe. Another Musetta in “La Boheme” followed at the Philadelphia Lyric with Luciano Pavarotti and Sherrill Milnes.
Diana Reed has performed over 40 roles, beginning as a coloratura, then lyric, and finally distinguishing herself as a leading dramatic soprano in such roles as Tosca, Aida, Il Trovatore, and Un Ballo in Maschera..
Ms. Reed performed with leading companies all over the world from Covent Garden to Tokyo, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Germany, Austria, Spain, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Poland, Italy and at most major opera companies and symphonies throughout the United States.
She had the privilege to collaborate with some of the world’s great performers, such as Luciano Pavarotti, Franco Corelli, Giuseppe Giacomini, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Anna Moffo, Sherrill Milnes, Gilda Cruz-Romo, and Montserrat Caballe to name a few.
After a near fatal car accident in 1990 she was forced to lessen her demanding career and founded The International School of Performing Arts: one of the first two week non-profit vocal seminars, located in Bucks County, PA.
Ms. Reed has been a judge for the Enrico Caruso Competitions, the Licia Albanese Puccini Competition, and judged the Miss TeenUSA Pagent.