A native of Chicago, Illinois, USA, Ms. Deborah Dietz had been active in music education and conducting since her arrival in Sydney in 1975. She holds Bachelor of Science (Hons) and Master of Science (Hons) with emphasis in Instrumental Music education and Conducting from the University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA. There she studied with the renowned band conductor, Dr. Harry Begian and Mr. Paul Vermel of the Aspen Music Festival. As a member of the large Symphonic Band at the University of Illinois, she was privileged to play on the acclaimed recordings of the wind band works of Percy Grainger conducted by Dr. Begian.
She has served as a Music Performance Examiner for the Higher School Certificate and has adjudicated many eisteddfods and festivals, being the first woman to be invited to adjudicate the NSW School Band Festival. She has conducted several NSW State Music Camps, has organised camps for the National Music Camp Association in Sydney, and was the founding conductor of the Northside Youth Orchestra in the 1980s. Her school bands and orchestras have been chosen on several occasions to play at the Festivals of Instrumental Music for the NSW Department of Education. In 1989, she was invited to guest conduct the University of Chicago Chamber Orchestra.
As an expert player of the French horn, she has played Principal French horn with the Ku Ring Gai Philharmonic Orchestra (27 years) and has played professionally with several organisations, including the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra. She iwas also a member of the professional woodwind quintet Camerata Winds.
Ms. Dietz has studied French horn with Mr. Tom Holden at the University of Illinois, Ms. Gail Williams, Associate Principal Horn of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Mr. Robert Johnson, Principal horn of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
for 19 years, she was the conductor of instrumental music at Hornsby Girls’ Selective High School, where she was in charge of two concert bands, an orchestra and a jazz band .
She has served as a Music Performance Examiner for the Higher School Certificate and has adjudicated many eisteddfods and festivals, being the first woman to be invited to adjudicate the NSW School Band Festival. She has conducted several NSW State Music Camps, has organised camps for the National Music Camp Association in Sydney, and was the founding conductor of the Northside Youth Orchestra in the 1980s. Her school bands and orchestras have been chosen on several occasions to play at the Festivals of Instrumental Music for the NSW Department of Education. In 1989, she was invited to guest conduct the University of Chicago Chamber Orchestra.
As an expert player of the French horn, she has played Principal French horn with the Ku Ring Gai Philharmonic Orchestra (27 years) and has played professionally with several organisations, including the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra. She iwas also a member of the professional woodwind quintet Camerata Winds.
Ms. Dietz has studied French horn with Mr. Tom Holden at the University of Illinois, Ms. Gail Williams, Associate Principal Horn of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Mr. Robert Johnson, Principal horn of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
for 19 years, she was the conductor of instrumental music at Hornsby Girls’ Selective High School, where she was in charge of two concert bands, an orchestra and a jazz band .