José A. Díaz, DMA
Associate Dean
College of Arts and Humanities
California State University Fresno
Prior to joining
the Music Faculty in 1982, José A. Díaz was actively engaged as a
performing musician with orchestras and chamber ensembles in Mexico and
across the state of Texas. Since coming to Fresno he continues to
contribute to the professional musical and cultural life of the central
San Joaquin Valley as performer, adjudicator, clinician, and guest
speaker for various musical organizations. Since 1986 he has held the
position of Principal Oboe with the Fresno Philharmonic Orchestra, one
of California’s most prominent regional orchestras, and performs
regularly with the Fresno-based Orpheus Chamber Ensemble and the
California Wind Quintet.
José’s unpublished dissertation “A Pedagogical Study for Oboe of Four
Orchestral Works by Maurice Ravel” has made its way into oboe studios
throughout the world. He holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Oboe
Performance from the University of Texas at Austin.
José has served in various capacities at California State University
Fresno over the course of his tenure. José was Chair of the Music
Department from 1998 – 2004 and served as Chair of the Council of Chairs
for AY 2003-2004. Between 2001 and 2004, he served as the College of
Arts and Humanities Representative to the Western Association of Schools
and Colleges Self-Study Steering Committee. In addition to teaching and
performing, José has reviewed Music Appreciation texts for Macmillan and
contributed test questions in Music History and Aural Skills for the
Praxis Music Test. He was a founding member of the highly acclaimed
University High School and served on its Board from 1999-2004. He
currently serves on the Fresno Philharmonic Orchestra Board of Directors
Education Subcommittee, the Fresno Metropolitan Museum of Art Education
Subcommittee, and is a Site-Evaluator for the Accreditation Commission
of the National Association of Schools of Music. He was appointed
Associate Dean for the College of Arts and Humanities in 2004.