De Ann has been the Concertmaster of the Las Vegas Philharmonic for over twenty seasons. She has been described as a powerfully warm and emotionally charged violinist with the unique ability to relate her love of music to all audiences. De Ann is also one of the few female concertmasters in the U.S.
The Las Vegas Review Journal said “…she performed not only impeccably but with an exuberant sense of joy.” The Duluth News Tribune raved “… her performance was sensationally vibrant from beginning to end.”
A native of Superior Wisconsin, she began studying with Diane Balko, the former concertmaster of the Duluth-Superior Symphony, at age 14. She quickly became known as one of the outstanding young artists in the U.S., winning her first professional job at age 16 with the Duluth-Superior Symphony. She has been in love with symphonic performing ever since.
Her career, now spanning over 30 years, includes many performances throughout the US and Europe as soloist and chamber musician on violin and viola. Formerly affiliated with the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestra, she has appeared as guest artist with many orchestras including the Milwaukee Symphony, National Arts Chamber Orchestra (Chicago), Duluth-Superior Symphony, St. Martin Chamber Orchestra, Nevada Chamber Orchestra and the Lake Superior Chamber Symphony in addition to soloing with the Las Vegas Philharmonic.
De Ann has also been a frequent guest artist performing recitals on radio broadcasts including KNPR FM, National Public Radio, WQXR FM in New York City, and Wisconsin Public Radio. She was awarded the Governor’s Excellence in the Arts Award and was a prizewinner at the National Arts Competition in Washington DC. De Ann has also won First Prize at the International Starling Violin Competition in Aspen CO.
De Ann was honored by National Association of Women Business Owners as the first ever recipient of the “Woman of Distinction Award in the Performing Arts” and received the Congressional Certificate of Achievement for her work in helping build performing arts in Las Vegas. In 2012, she received a “Lifetime Achievement Award” from her alma mater, Superior High School, for her work with various music programs and young artists where her passion and enthusiasm for developing communities through the arts and youth arts education have had a lasting impact.
Living in Las Vegas, she is sought after by some of the best-selling, popular performers of today in addition to her classical performances. De Ann performed, recorded and traveled with Celine Dion for nine years. She recorded an acoustic album, “Uku-Latte” with her friend, Billboard Chart/Vegas headliner, Frankie Moreno. She has performed for the Billboard Award shows, American Music Awards, Country Music Awards, Latin Grammy’s and other productions. De Ann has performed with popular artists including Lady Gaga, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Thomas Rhett, Smokey Robinson, Earth Wind and Fire, Deep Purple, Metallica, Vanessa Williams, Natalie Cole and Johnny Mathis. She regularly performs with Andrea Bocelli at the Hollywood Bowl as his Associate Concertmaster and has also served as Concertmaster with Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Sarah Brightman and Alicia Keys among others.
Passionate about teaching and coaching to help inspire young musicians to reach their full potential as artists, De Ann owns a private studio where violin & viola students are admitted by audition. She also regularly coaches through Skype lessons around the U.S. and Europe, offering students help in preparing to audition for college, summer festivals and orchestral positions. Many of De Ann’s students now hold positions in various orchestras around the world. She presents masterclasses at various academic institutions on Neuro Linguistic Programming to help identify and address performance issues and make learning faster for artists. In June 2020, she will give a keynote presentation for Nevada Music Teachers Conference on her teaching method and how to get excellent, faster results in every level student.
De Ann attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and studied with Efim Boico & the Fine Arts Quartet. She then attended the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music to study with Dorothy DeLay & Kurt Sassmanshaus. She has also had the opportunity to study with some of the world’s best violin pedagogues including Josef Gingold (IU), Jascha Brodsky (Curtis), and David Cerone (CIM). All of these master teachers were her mentors at music Festivals including Aspen, ENCORE, LA PHIL Institute, Symphony School of America and Indiana Summer Festival.
De Ann lives in Las Vegas with her husband, Scott, and their 3 beautiful daughters, Grace, Rose and Faith. They enjoy spending summers in Northern Wisconsin with family and friends.
