Our new blog features Diane Hossinger a biochemist and musician,working as an operations research analyst for the army. Ms. Hossinger is a lifelong violinist and her passion for science, math and music has permeated her life.
Diane Hossinger was born on June 29, 1987 to Dave and Della Hossinger in Portsmouth, VA. She was raised in Newport News and Chesapeake, VA. Her fascination with science and math began in Kindergarten and she excelled in math and science throughout her elementary, middle school and high school years.
Diane Hossinger began playing the violin in 4th grade at the age of 9 taking violin lessons with Wayne Hill. She found out later that he was a former student of Dr. Madeline Frank. From middle school through high school, her school orchestra teacher was Mrs. Anna Fontaine Moyer, also a former student of Dr. Frank’s.
Feature question for July 2012
“Diane Hossinger how does Classical music play a part of your life as a bio- chemist and musician and what musical instrument do you play?”
Diane began studying with Dr. Frank in 7th grade, when she was 12 years old and attending Gildersleeve Middle School. She continued studying with Dr. Frank through high school. She also played solos, chamber music and orchestra concerts in Dr. Frank’s class for 6 years.
Diane says the only other musician in her family is, “My mom’s brother, my Uncle Steve. He is a talented tuba player.
In high school Diane played with the Menchville Monarch Orchestra at Menchville H.S. and was Concertmaster of the Southeast Region Orchestra and played the solo part in “Overture to the Wind”. She played Mozart’s 3rd Violin Concerto, Dvorak’s Terzetto Trio, Haydn’s Quartet No. 40 in concert.
Diane Hossinger’s interest in science:
Ms. Hossinger says, “I recently found one of those question and answer papers that I had filled out in Kindergarten. My parents kept all of my elementary school papers, and this one stood out because it asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up. My answer was a ‘scientist’. I do not remember exactly when that idea began, but my goal as long as I can remember was to study science and math.”
Diane said her Dad, Dave Hossinger, a Naval Architect, inspire her in math and science. She said, “My Dad was very strong in math, and encouraged me to develop my strengths in both math and science. My Dad had an engineering background, and almost every childhood question I asked him could be answered with a mathematical diagram. I always wanted him to see me excel in math, and tried hard to perform well through school.”
While growing up her parents took her to science museums and she said ,“I always enjoyed going to museums I particularly liked the Air and Space Museum and the Virginia Living Museum.
Diane Hossinger’s inspiring teachers in high school:
Ms. Hossinger says, “My calculus teacher in 11th grade, Mrs. Stevens, encouraged everyone in her class to do well. She was dedicated to helping every student learn the course material. I believe she had a 100% pass rate on the AP exam, and most of her students received a score of 5. She was encouraging, and also very successful in helping me learn calculus and be able to apply the lessons to all following math classes.”
Diane Hossinger graduated from Menchville High School in Newport News, Virginia in 2005. She was in the top of her class, with a GPA of 4.0. Diane Hossinger’s favorite subject was calculus, which she took in 11th grade.
Diane Hossinger attended Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. Her major was biochemistry. She says, “It took me 2 years to decide on the major, but I was already taking biology, chemistry, and calculus as electives. Once I figured it out, it seemed like the obvious choice.” Diane Hossinger graduated in spring of 2010 from ODU with a degree in Biochemistry with a minor in Psychology. She said “Rather than go to graduate school directly, I decided to take an internship with the army as an operations research analyst. This position requires an in depth knowledge of math, both calculus and statistics. My long term career goal would be to attend graduate school and focus more on biochemistry.”
Diane Hossinger say, “ Playing the violin has taught me that everything in life takes hard work, but it pays off if you take the time to practice and do it right. I thought about this during difficult times in my college education. I also have gained confidence and enjoyment in many aspects of life.
Diane Hossinger as a Concert violinist has played at Bush Gardens for 6 years and with the Bermuda’s 400th Anniversary Concert Celebration as Principal 1st Violinist with the Bermudian Festival Chamber Orchestra. She continues to play with the Frank Chamber Orchestra.
Happy July 4th!
We want to wish all of our readers a Happy July 4th! Remember to start your day right by listening to Classical music which has the power to improve your mood, make you smarter, help you work faster with more accuracy, improves health and healing, grows healthier plants in fewer days, increases sales in stores, soothes your mind and preventing crime.
Today is the birthday of the United States of America the day the Declaration of Independence was adopted 236 years ago on July 4, 1776. More than one million people in the United States suffer from Parkinson’s disease and in the Western world there are 4 million people with Parkinson’s disease. On the news and in several new articles it has been announced that the “First trial to treat Parkinson’s disease begins” in Vienna, Austria. The new vaccine to be tested is called PD01A.The Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Foundation is helping to fund this clinical trial.
Thomas H. Maugh II, journalist on the Los Angeles Times, Science Now article says, “ PD01A is designed to stimulate the production of antibodies against alpha-synuclein without affecting closely related proteins.”
We are celebrating this new direction for hope of a cure to free the millions of Parkinson’s suffers in the United States and elsewhere.