DIANE PONZIO was born and raised in New York City, honing her performing skills in the clubs and coffeehouses of Manhattan’s Greenwich Village. She is a graduate of both the “Fame” school

(The High School of Performing Arts in NYC) and the City University of New York with a degree in Mathematics.

Diane’s songs blend musical motifs of jazz, pop, and folk as a palette for her intelligent and meaningful lyrics. She sings her memorable melodies with a  saxophone-like mezzo and formidable guitar playing.  An accomplished singer-songwriter, Diane has released 10 full length CDs of her original songs.

In  1985 Diane was chosen as the global ambassador for the prestigious Martin Guitar Company to represent them worldwide at promotional events, and there are two Martin guitar models that she designed which bear her name. Diane toured tirelessly for decades in Europe, and relocated from Manhatan to Auckland’s North Shore in 2018.

Accompanying Diane will be Helene Piper on vocals and percussion, and Hank Trenton on upright bass.

Helene, born and raised in Denmark, has a degree in music, and has performed extensively in Europe and South America. She now heads the music program at Belmont Intermediate School on the North Shore.

Hank has already established himself as one of Auckland’s prominent bassists. While touring regularly with several ensembles, he is currently working on a Master’s degree in jazz from Auckland University.

 The trio weaves stories, harmonies and intricate rhythms, to create a powerful performance of words and music. They LOVE playing unplugged here at East Coast Bays, and their performance here will be particularly special, given the acoustics and intimacy of the space.