DIANE TUIOFU

Diane Tuiofu's love of music began in childhood while taking piano lessons from her grandmother. She participated in various recitals and contests, and went on to begin the Performance Degree Program at San Diego State. Although Diane left the University to raise a family, after the birth of her third child, she felt something was missing in her life and returned to the keyboard where she discovered an additional interest--writing music. She feels her love of melody blossomed while growing up by listening to classical music with her family, singing the earlier tunes of the Beatles, and being exposed to great musicals like The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, and West Side Story.

Soon Diane began collaborating with Toni Thomas; their combined credits include several musical plays, namely, Seasons of a Woman's Life, Jewels in her Crown, The Queen of Phoenix, and A Time for Gathering, as well as the Easter cantata, "Christ: Life and Light of the World." Their songs have been recorded by such noteworthy talent as Michael Ballam ("The Kidron"), Anna Carson ("Open Window") and others. Most recently they have been honored with Special Recognition in the 2008 LDS Church Music Submission Competition for the song "The Yoke" and Special Recognition in the 2007 LDS Church Music Submission Competition for the songs "A Vessel of Light" and "He Knows His Lambs."

Diane's solo credits include: her arrangement of "Silent Night" which was a finalist in the 2011 LDS Church Submissions Awards, "Give Back the Love," the soundtrack for the San Diego Children's Hospital Telethon video, and "Because of Faith," which received Honorable Mention in the 1992 LDS Church Writing and Music Competition.

Diane is currently continuing her music education at Point Loma Nazarene University now that her six children are becoming older, and is finding a special joy in teaching and writing. She looks forward to sharing her love of music with her six grandchildren, to pass on the legacy left to her by her grandmother. She especially loves living in the small country town of Ramona, California, because of its peaceful environment, which allows her greater freedom in the creative process.

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