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Concert and recording artist, composer, conductor, and international television personality, Diane Bish has displayed her dazzling virtuosity and unique showmanship the
world over. Her performances have been hailed by critics as stunning, virtuosic, fiery and astonishing. Through numerous recordings,
concerts and weekly television appearances, Diane Bish is the most visible organist in the world today.
Miss Bish is perhaps best known through the international television
series, The Joy of Music, in which she combines exhilarating organ and ensemble performances with an informative, inspirational narrative and
exciting world travel. The series appeals to people of all ages and backgrounds. Over 300 programs have been taped in famous cathedrals
and concert halls, and over 300 million people are able to see The Joy of Music on a weekly basis.
In 1989, Miss Bish was awarded the National Citation by the National Federation of Music Clubs of America. Considered to be the
Federation's highest honor, Diane Bish shares this rare distinction with such legends as Leonard Bernstein, Eugene Ormandy, Van Cliburn,
Robert Shaw, Irving Berlin and Fred Waring in receiving this award "for distinguished service to the musical, artistic, and cultural life of the nation."
A consummate church musician, Diane Bish served as senior organist and artist-in-residence at the
Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for over 20 years. While at Coral Ridge
Church, she was instrumental in developing one of the country's first church concert series, creating
an annual church music workshop for musicians around the world, and designing the 117-rank Ruffatti
organ, distinguished as one of the great organs in America. In her book Church Music Explosion, Miss Bish shares her philosophy of excellence in church music.
Miss Bish has recorded on the foremost organs of the world and was the first American woman to
record on the four organs of Freiburg Cathedral, Germany. Featured on over 30 of her recordings are
music for organ and orchestra, brass and organ, great organ masterpieces, organ and harp, original works, and hymn arrangements.
The sparkling creativity and artistry of Diane Bish is equally evident in her compositions. She has
composed numerous solo pieces, arrangements, and full symphonic works which have received much
acclaim and are performed regularly due to her ability to combine musical quality with accessibility.
Diane Bish began her study with Dorothy Addy in Wichita, Kansas, and continued as a student of Mildred Andrews. She was a recipient of Fulbright and French government grants for study in
Amsterdam and Paris with Nadia Boulanger, Gustav Leonhardt and Marie Claire Alain. Diane Bish: First Lady of the Organ by Warren Woodruff was published in 1993.
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