About

Diana Daw (Dawydchak) is a multi-award-winning violinist and fiddler from Toronto, Canada, celebrated for her extraordinary versatility and artistry. Known for seamlessly blending classical precision with the dynamic energy of folk and contemporary styles, Diana is highly regarded as a performer, teacher, recording artist and collaborator across diverse musical communities. 

A champion fiddler, Diana has competed in competitions throughout North America winning titles of Canadian Open Fiddle Champion, Ontario Open Champion, Southwestern Ontario Open Champion and Northern Ontario Open Champion. As a Bluegrass fiddler, she won Junior Runner up at both the Grand Master Fiddle Championship in Nashville, Tennessee and the Tennessee State Fiddle Championship.

As a multi-instrumentalist, Diana performs with Canadian country singer Kelsi Mayne, playing keys, fiddle, and singing background vocals. She has graced many prominent venues and festivals across Canada, including the Calgary Stampede, Casino Rama, Roy Thomson Hall, Centre in the Square, Toronto Christmas Market, Greenbridge Celtic Folk Festival, and ArtsFest Waterdown.

Diana's classical music achievements are equally as impressive. She has participated in summer music festivals such as the Colorado College Summer Music Festival, the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, and the Bowdoin International Music Festival. Additionally, she has performed in masterclasses for distinguished violinists like Midori, Stefan Jackiw, Ani Kavafian, Ben Beilman, and Jonathan Crow.

As a chamber musician, Diana has worked with members of the Calidore, Rolston, Ying, Quartetto di Cremona, and New Orford String Quartets. Her dedication to chamber music earned her the Felix Galimir Award for Chamber Excellence at the University of Toronto. Recently, she performed in a Baroque production at the prestigious Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland.

Performing as part of the sibling duo DnA, Diana and her brother Andrew have captivated audiences at various festivals and events nationwide. Together, they have garnered numerous awards, including being the youngest winners of the Summerfolk Youth Discoveries Competition. Their first EP, recorded in Nashville, TN, was featured on Toronto’s CP24 Breakfast Television, and they have been frequent guests of Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy.

Diana holds a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from the University of Toronto, where she studied under Dr. Timothy Ying, and a Master of Music from the University of Southern California, studying with Dr. Lina Bahn. Currently, Diana is pursuing her Graduate Certificate in Violin Performance at the University of Southern California on a full scholarship.

With a passion for teaching, Diana currently instructs undergraduate students at the University of Southern California. She has served as a judge for the Ontario Open Fiddle Competition. Diana enjoys teaching students of all levels and ages at her private home studio. 

She is a current faculty member at the Miles Nadal JCC Suzuki School, and has been an invited guest instructor at many institutes and camps around Ontario. As a former Suzuki student herself, she credits her longtime mentor and teacher, Margot Jewell for nurturing her creativity and musicianship over many years.