Diana Lawton

Diana Lawton

August 24, 1939 - July 9, 2023

Diana Lawton passed away on July 9, 2023, in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, at the age of 83. Born on August 24, 1939, in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, Diana leaves behind a loving family including her husband Wolfgang Hoefer, children Christian (Kareen) and Elise (Scott), and grandchildren Marianne, Florian, and Cohen. She is also survived by her brother Chip, her sister Stephanie, and their respective families.

Diana's life was marked by major achievements. She earned the Associateship (A.R.C.T.) Diploma with "First Class Honours" from the Royal Conservatory of Music of Toronto. She continued her studies with French Pianist and Pedagogue Yvonne Hubert at L'Ecole de Musique Vincent d'Indy, Université de Montréal. There, she received both the Bachelor of Music and the Master of Music degrees in performance "avec très grande distinction." She received prestigious awards, including the Cécile Léger Scholarship Award of the Ladies' Morning Musical Club of Montreal, First Prize in the Concerto Class resulting in a televised performance with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) Orchestra conducted by Wilfred Pelletier, and the Best Chamber Musician Award at the Québec Provincial Music Competition.

After completing her studies in Montreal, Diana pursued postgraduate studies in Munich, Germany, and Salzburg, Austria, with renowned pianist Friedrich Wührer. She further refined her artistic abilities under the guidance of Ivan Moravec and Hans Keller during study periods in Prague and London.

Returning to Canada, Diana joined the faculties of the Maritime Conservatory of Music in Halifax and the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. She taught piano interpretation and technique, performed solo recitals, and engaged in chamber music performances. Diana's passion for music extended beyond teaching and performing; she traveled across Canada as an examiner for the Royal Conservatory Examination System.

Later, Diana became a faculty member of the Department of Music at the University of Ottawa. Alongside her university teaching, she maintained a significant class of private students, many of whom went on to establish careers as professional musicians. She performed as a soloist and collaborated with leading musicians from the National Arts Center.

In 1992, Diana relocated to Victoria, British Columbia, where she taught piano and piano accompaniment at the School of Music, University of Victoria, until 2004. During this time, she continued to give masterclasses, performed as a soloist and chamber musician in Canada, Germany, and Italy, and served as an adjudicator at various music festivals and competitions in British Columbia.

From 2009 to 2012, Diana lived in Singapore, where she lectured and served as a jury member at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. She also played an active role in the Executive Committee of the Chopin Society Singapore, responsible for international liaison.

Diana’s teaching philosophy aimed at transcending the physical requirements of the piano to achieve pure musical expression. Her love for music, her captivating artistry and musicianship, infectious laughter, elegance, and grace touched the hearts of friends, students, and colleagues around the world. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

The family expresses their gratitude to the staff of the Royal Jubilee Hospital and the Victoria Hospice Team for providing exceptional care during Diana's final weeks. Special thanks go to Drs. Inman, McArdle, Minaker, Dewart, and Malik for their outstanding support.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made in Diana's name to a charity of the donor's choice.

A Celebration of Diana's life will take place on Saturday, July 29, from 12 noon to 3 pm at the University Club on the Campus of the University of Victoria. All who have known Diana either professionally or/and privately are welcome to join Diana's family and friends in the Fireplace Lounge.

An interactive map of the University Campus is available here.