Diane Cooper

Born in 1960, Dianne Cooper was a talented musician whose career as principal keyboard player with the NZSO was cut short in the late 1990s by the brain tumour that eventually killed her. Having come from a musical family, Cooper began learning the piano at seven. Judith Clark was Cooper's piano teacher, first at Wellington Girls' College and then at Victoria University. Here, Cooper completed a BMus in composition, and also learned the clarinet and viola. Her musical life aside, Cooper's hobbies included flying and motorbikes. Cooper died in Wellington, on 25 October, 2005. She is survived by her partner Stephanie and their two sons.