Dr. Diana Allan, soprano, has appeared in operatic and concert performances throughout the Mid- and Southwest. She has also performed in Germany, the Czech Republic, Italy, and Brazil. Dr. Allan has sung such leading operatic roles as Violetta in Verdi’s La Traviata, Rosalinda in Johann Strauss’s Die Fledermaus, Despina in Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte, Leatitia in Gian Carlo Menotti’s The Old Maid and the Thief and has extensi
ve oratorio experience. In addition to operatic and oratorio performances, Dr. Allan created the role of Eeba Streeba, a character in the children’s television program, Cat Paws in Motion, which has aired on Public Broadcasting Stations throughout the United States.
In addition to her own public performing, Dr. Allan has over 30 years university level teaching experience and recently retired as Associate Professor Emerita from the faculty of The University of Texas at San Antonio. She currently serves on the Voice Faculty of Missouri Southern State University and continues her work on peak performance, mindfulness, mindful learning, cognitive strategies for performers and incorporating the teaching of those strategies.
With over three decades of teaching experience Dr. Allan has worked with performers of all ages and all performance levels who have achieved success, however, many have struggled with performance issues such as confidence, trust, limiting beliefs, focus, motivation, fear, and anxiety. In her experience, it became increasingly apparent that technical skill was not the only kind of skill development that was necessary for performers to enjoy strong and successful performances. Dr. Allan has done extensive study in counseling, cognitive-behavioral strategies, sport psychology, and is a certified Mental Game Coaching Professional (MGCP).
Using her MGCP training, Dr. Allan, Peak Performance Coach, works with musicians to help them identify and assess their performance strengths and challenges, to formulate customized peak performance plans, and to learn and improve the mental skills that can lead to peak performances. She also presents to teachers to help them empower performers.
Dr. Allan is the author of The Mindful Musician: Physical and Mental Strategies for Optimal Performance (2022) co-author of The Relaxed Musician: Mental Preparation for Confident Performances (2011). Peak Performance for Musicians has a readership of performers from over 188 countries and she has coached or worked with performers throughout the United States, Ireland, Australia, Nigeria, and Iran.
