Diane Porsch, Certified Visual Communications Judge Specialist and International Faculty has been a member of Sweet Adelines International since January 1975.
Having served as Master Director of The Fox Valley Chorus (formerly Region 22, now Region 6) from 1975-1985, The Riverport Chorus (formerly Region 22, now Region 3) from 1985-1999 and currently The Buffalo Gateway Chorus (formerly Region 16, now Region 17) from 1999 to present, Diane has enjoyed over 44 years of musical leadership in Sweet Adelines. Riverport Chorus earned 5 Regional Championships under her direction and placed in the Top Ten in Salt Lake City in 1997. Buffalo Gateway Chorus has earned three Region 16 Championships and 3 Wildcard invitations since 2001 and has placed in the Top Ten in Hawaii (2008), Seattle (2010), Denver (2012), Baltimore (2014) Las Vegas (2016) and St. Louis (2018). In addition to directing Sweet Adelines choruses, Diane served as the front- line director of The East Aurora Friends of Harmony BHS Chorus from 1999 to 2006.
In her work with Sweet Adelines, Diane has achieved many honors: In addition to her judging and faculty duties, she served as Moderator of the International Faculty Coordinators for four years, chair of the 2003 International Educational Symposium and co-chair of the 2009 Side By Side seminar held in Detroit, MI. She also served four years as Secretary of the International Board of Directors and as a member of the Education Direction Committee from 2014-2016. She works with champion men’s and women’s choruses and quartets throughout the United States along with coaching, judging and teaching in England, Canada, New Zealand, Sweden and Australia. Not surprisingly, her educational background is as a music major; having studied at both the University of Dubuque, Iowa, and the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh. She has served as Region 16’s Director Coordinator and Membership & Marketing Coordinator and is the 2005 recipient of Region 16’s “Excellence in Leadership Award”. In addition, Diane is a familiar face as an anchor webcaster for Chorus Semi-Finals and Finals International competitions.
Diane's busy schedule is a breathless but fun existence as she spends most of her weekends in trains, planes and automobiles traveling to and from coaching and teaching assignments worldwide. She is especially thrilled to serve as the front-line director of the Buffalo Gateway Show Chorus.
Diane's enthusiasm and wonderful sense of humor are inspirational assets. We are proud to call her our director, and most importantly, our friend.