Diana Cummings

Born in London, she studied with David Martin at the Academy, and with Remy Principe in Rome and Louis Persinger in New York. After winning prizes in the International Paganini Competition and the Alberto Curci International Competition she developed an international solo career as recitalist and concerto soloist.

Diana has performed nationally and internationally as leader of the Cummings String Trio and English String Quartet. The English String Quartet was resident ensemble of the London Festival of Chamber Music, an event which gave over 200 concerts over a thirteen year period, bringing an extensive repertoire of familiar and rarely heard works to audiences London-wide.

Orchestrally, Diana has guest-led many of the UK's major symphony orchestras, and has played with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and English Chamber Orchestra. With the London Bach Orchestra she performed the complete concerto repertoire of Bach at London's South Bank, and was leader and soloist of the Northern Chamber Orchestra and the Milton Keynes City Orchestra.

Diana is also a Fellow and violin teacher at the Academy, and was the violin/viola specialist for the LRAM Teaching Diploma. She is a violin professor at TrinityLaban Conservatoire for Music and Dance where she participates in a full programme of classes and teaching.

Diana is violin coach of the National Youth String Orchestra. She is a chamber music coach at the International Chamber Music Summer School, and at the International Academy of Musical Excellence and the Chamber Music Weeks, in Graz, Austria. She gives masterclasses and workshops, and adjudicates at competitions and festivals nationally and internationally.