Diane H. Robertson, coloratura lyric soprano, has had a varied career and certainly interesting life this far. After many years as a children's wear representative at the Kansas City Apparel Mart, and a Showroom Coordinator at the Kansas City Gift Mart, she was asked to become the Director of the Single Adult Ministries at one of the largest churches in the United States, the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, in Leawood, KS.

Ironically, during this exciting time of employment, Diane felt God was slowly, yet insistently, nudging her toward a life long passion, opera. "I sang all the time while growing up in church choirs, school productions, concerts and even state contests although I never had an opera sound. I was the big-sound belter singer. It never dawned on me to consider opera as a choice for myself, much less study opera in college".

Diane's challenges started in 4th grade when she was finally diagnosed as 'highly dyslexic. Unfortunately at that time, any kind of 'slower learning' was immediately diagnosed as 'stupid.' "After years of teachers and tutors pushing me to think harder and pay more attention in class, I gave up. It was so obvious, that I was not like the other students; it certainly didn't help that my mother was in Mensa". Fortunately, Diane did find her own way in school, albeit with many essay style tests and much less multiple choice and true/false tests. Diane succeeded in college and now coaches students with dyslexia. She rarely sang after college though because reading music was too frustrating and fed into the 'stupid' world she worked so hard to walk away from.

Fast forward to 1993, Diane underwent emergency open heart surgery to remove a deadly tumor from her left ventricle.. "The doctors told me they would do everything they could to save me but if any of the tumor broke off during the surgery, I would surely die". After signing a will and then saying good-bye to family and friends in the pre-op room, Diane felt Jesus standing at the top of the gurney, by her head. "I knew right then, I would live through it". After a year and a half recovery with physical and mental therapy, Diane was up and going! But life had changed, "This surgery affected me so deeply; I knew Jesus would continue to guide me in my life, if I let Him. I did".

Diane started singing again, in various choirs all the while, trying to find her vocal place. Seven years went by and on a Holy Land trip with her husband, she found it. "We were in St. Ann's Cathedral in Jerusalem with our tour group and many other groups and were standing near the altar. Our director suggested we sing How Great Thou Art as we worshipped. I started singing this very familiar hymn and a sound came out of my mouth that was not familiar to me. It was very high and as pure a sound as I had ever heard, I wasn't even sure it was me. I started shaking and could not stop the sound from coming out! The sound kept coming and coming and getting stronger as each moment passed. I started walking toward the outer aisle of the cathedral and found myself walking the perimeter of the cathedral. The sound kept coming. The priests and other church employees came out of their offices which were near-by and looked around urgently. The whole room became still and quiet, while I kept singing (and shaking). It was the most beautifully private, yet public encounter with Jesus I had ever experienced and I will never forget it. "

As the hours went by and we were well onto another historical site, it became clear that only the director of our trip knew it was me... The other travelers guessed it was the lovely Asian woman who was on the other side of the aisle or perhaps a young girl behind the big columns. But later that night, back at the hotel an older man on our tour pulled out his Smithsonian-aged tape recorder and brought the incredible moment back to us.

As the high soaring sound filled the stuffy conference room, the director of our tour looked at me and I smiled knowing I had this wonderful secret! I was stunned with what I heard on that tape and knew God had gifted me beyond anything I could imagine. A mezzo soprano on our tour came up to me later and told me to get a voice teacher as soon as we returned home. I did.

Diane debuted with the Kansas City Metro Opera as Mrs. Partlet in Gilbert and Sullivan's, "The Sorcerer" in 2006. Diane also debuted with the Civic Opera of Kansas City with Kurt Weill's "Street Scene" as Nursemaid #2 and Salvation Army girl. She returned as Mrs. Gobineau in Menotti's "The Medium" with the Civic Opera in Aug of '07 and debuted in "Jekyll and Hyde" as Lady Beaconsfield with the Just off Broadway Theatre in Oct of '07.

She often sings the National Anthem at Kauffman Stadium for the Kansas City Royals and when in Texas, at Ameriquest Field for the Texas Rangers baseball team. Another outdoor delight was being cast in Theatre in the Parks." Fiddler on the RooF" June of '07.

Diane traveled with a select choir to Austria and Prague in 2006 for the celebrations honoring Mozart's' 250th birthday anniversary with Dr. Eph Ehly, Professor Emeritus, Conservatory of Music, University of Missouri-Kansas City and Kevin Bogan, Director of Blended Worship Arts at The Church of the Resurrection. Diane was a member of the 'Coronation Mass' quartet in Prague. She also traveled to Russia (Moscow), Siberia (Tyumen), and The Ukraine (Kiev) as 'the singer' on a 14 day mission trip with the Church of the Resurrection.

Diane was also thrilled to be a part of The Church of the Resurrections' Outreach Ministry as 'Kaye' in the hilarious Broadway musical, 'The Taffetas" at Johnson County Community College in Sept. of '06

In Texas, (2002-5) Diane studied opera with 25 year veteran of the New York City Opera and the Dallas Lyric Opera, Nancy Elledge. She is currently studying with one of the top vocal coaches in Kansas City, Un Chong Christopher, at the Conservatory of Music,/ University of Missouri- Kansas City.

Diane is a graduate of Stephens College with a double major in Business Administration and Apparel Marketing/Merchandising, specializing in wardrobe consulting. She is writing a book about surviving the heart surgery and thoroughly enjoys singing all the time! Halleluiah!