Diane DeMont Is a Lifelong Performer

Singing came first at the age of three. Diane loved singing for strangers and being on stage. "My mother would have to pull me away from strangers because I would sing to them anywhere and anytime," said DeMont. Her three-octave range developed from singing Georgian chant, starting at the age of five through the grade school years. Her voice developed quickly and kept her busy singing in high school and at many weekend weddings. She also performed in local theater and summer stock productions. Her studies and training were 11 years of piano, seven years of clarinet and guitar, and intense vocal training and performing. She is still singing today as a soloist in this area.

She studied at Michigan State University, where she majored in voice and minored in piano and was the first one to give a vocal recital as a freshman. Her studies were limited after the first year because of a move to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she was hired by the St. Paul Civic Opera Company to sing as a chorus member in La Traviata. (All leads came from New York.) She was then asked to audition at the number one musical dinner theater, where she worked for three years singing songs from musicals with a sextet, performing two shows every night and three on Saturday. She also was booked by two major agents to sing with orchestras and dance bands throughout the city.

After a move to Ohio and Florida, she became a music director in local churches. Florida needed a director of music for a choir, and in Ohio she was the music director of a 50-member folk group, producing and directing two albums with them.

She loved fashion and received a certificate for modeling in the Ohio area. This included runway and tearoom modeling, working for a modeling agency and as a runway model for major department stores. Her highlight in this career was eight years in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Fashion Show, which was attended by 2000 women.

While living in Florida, DeMont discovered a love for the camera. After receiving a digital camera as a Christmas gift, she joined a camera club, started winning photography contests and embraced this new interest with the same passion that she has directed her in so many pursuits. She is the founder of the Seneca Photography Club and just recently, after six years as president, handed her gavel over to someone else, but she is still an active member of both the Seneca and Clemson photography clubs. Her motto is "Never be afraid to throw your hat in the ring."

For more information about Diane DeMont, visit https://www.photosbydianedemont.com.