|
The American soprano, Diane Denson Tobola, graduated from Spring Branch High School. While a senior there she was chosen to appear on Ted Mack's The Original Amateur Hour in New York. She sang Won't You Come Home, Bill Bailey and Up a Lazy River. She then studied at the University of Texas at Austin, and Sam Houston State University.
Diane Tobola began her career in Houston as a classically trained singer. Her work ranged from opera stage to cabaret. She performed numerous roles with Houston Grand Opera. She also appeared there opposite Plácido Domingo, and shared the stage with other opera greats, such as Beverly Sills. Diane also appeared as a regular leading lady with the Gilbert & Sullivan Society, most notably as Mabel in Pirates of Penzance and Yum Yum in The Mikado. At Theatre Under the Stars, Diane starred as Julie Jordan in Carousel, Rosabella in Most Happy Fella, Marian in The Music Man, Lily in Carnival, and Marinah in Kismet. She both performed and was Musical Director at Country Playhouse, Stages, Theatre Lab and Children's Theatre Festival.
Diane Tobola also was a widely respected music educator. Her academic career spanned over 25 years. She was Associate Professor of Music at University of St. Thomas for 20 years, where she taught voice and directed choruses; vocal instructor at the University of Houston and Houston Baptist University, and musical director for various area high schools. She maintained a full-time private vocal studio for many of Houston's top vocalists. When not on stage with TUTs productions, she was often in the orchestra pit playing the piano.
Diane Tobola sang in choruses, was a rehearsal pianist and served as music director for community productions, For the last ten years, she was Musical Director for the Houston Press Club show and Musical Director for Houston's nationally acclaimed "Christmas Revels". She recently attended the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Cabaret Symposium, where, as a Cabaret Fellow, she worked with the legendary Margaret Whiting. Her one-woman cabaret show, "Spice! Sizzle! And Sheen! The Many Moods of Diane Tobola", opened in 2000, played to sold out houses at Theatre Lab. most recently the Houston Press Club show and Christmas Revels.
Diane Tobola was an active member of Christ Church Cathedral for almost 40 years, and a soloist there for 18 years. She sang in the Cathedral choir, served on the Altar Guild and as a Lector, and was a founding member of The Living Well. She also served as Music Director of St. Philip Presbyterian Church and St. John's Presbyterian Church. A well-known Houston musician, she received the 2004 Kim Hupp Award for Outstanding Contribution to Musical Theater in Houston.
Diane Tobola died of cancer on April 5, 2004. Preceded in death by her father Carl T. Denson, Jr., she was survived by her mother, Hazell Iris Denson; daughters Kimberly Lee Tobola and her friend Caroline Oeben, D.V.M., and Erin Tobola McMillin and husband Toby McMillin; sisters Susan Ellen Denson, M.D., and Carleen Denson Klam and husband A. Frank Klam; nephews Josef Klam and wife Amy Klam, Jason Klam and wife Amber Klam, and Jeffrey Klam; niece Jennifer Klam; great-nieces Grace Klam and Madeline Klam; and great-nephew Peyton Klam. |
