Fuelling Daniel’s creative work is a desire to collaborate with a diversity of artists at home and abroad and to contribute measurably to the art of percussion. He strives to balance his work as a soloist and concert artist with projects that engage the wider community. While life as a performer often means countless hours alone in the practice room, his work with communities of professional artists, students, and music enthusiasts builds connections throughout the world of music.
Aside from the dozens of workshops Daniel has given locally and internationally, below is an overview of the projects and positions involving leadership, program development, education, and music performance through which Daniel contributes to the broader community.
Leadership
Director, Career and Skill Development Ministry of Education and Child Care, Province of British Columbia
January 2023 – present
In early 2023, Daniel began a Director position with Ministry of Education and Child Care through which he supports career and skill development in K-12 students across the province of British Columbia. In this role he facilitates the development of courses, programs, and resources with far reaching impact on school-age learners.
Chair, Percussive Arts Society’s International Committee
Chair from 2018-2023, Committee Member since 2013
This committee is comprised of leading artists and educators from Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America. It aims to increase the international presence of performing arts and educational activity among the 4000-member Percussive Arts Society by sharing PAS’s vision, promoting international membership, and cultivating collaborative endeavors.
Member of the Board of Directors, National Youth Orchestra of Canada
2014-2020
As a Board Member for Canada’a premier orchestral training program, Daniel supported young musicians in their pursuit of artistic excellence. He was invited to join this organization because of his profile as a performing artist, success as an arts administrator, and dedication to student-centred educational experiences in university- and community-based contexts.
Program Development
Music Program Coordinator, the District of West Vancouver
West Vancouver, BC, Canada
2009-2017
In this position, Daniel led the creation and development of performing arts programs at two community centres, supervised a team of 18 instructors and three contractors, forecast and managed cost-recovery budgets with annual revenues of $250,000, and supported the needs of program participants, their families, and various non-profit groups in the community. Over the eight years Daniel supervised this portfolio, enrolment in West Vancouver’s music, drama, and musical theatre programs grew from approximately 70 students per term to 270.
Education and Performance
Yamaha Junior Originals Camp
Whistler, BC, Canada
July 2014 and 2018; the event scheduled for 2020 was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic
At each of these five-day events for Yamaha Canada Music, Daniel led a series of workshops for over 75 student performers and composers from across the country between the ages of 6 and 16. These sessions, focussed on time, rhythm, and hand-drumming technique, supported students’ artistic and intellectual development, and were based on Daniel’s expert knowledge of West African dance-drumming and Cuban percussion.
Residency at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
February 2018
At the University of Tennessee, Daniel presented a career development masterclass, coached private percussion lessons, collaborated with undergraduate and graduate students in the preparation of two significant Canadian compositions for public recital, and performed repertoire for solo percussion on this same concert.
Residency at the University of York
York, UK
April 2017
The REConnected duo in which Daniel performs with Owen Underhill was invited back to the University of York where they had performed previously in 2015. Their 2017 visit featured a full-length evening concert, a percussion masterclass for the community, and a composition seminar led by Underhill.
Prairie Music Residency
Saskatoon, SK, Canada
August 2016
During this week-long program, Daniel led a percussion ensemble, comprised of high school and university students, recent graduates, and members of the community, in daily rehearsal and public recital, presented masterclasses, and gave three solo performances.
Residency at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
London, UK
May 2015
In May 2015, Daniel was a Visiting Artist at one of England’s most prestigious schools of music. He gave a series of masterclasses, coached student percussion ensembles, collaborated with Guildhall’s percussion students and faculty in rehearsal and performance, and performed solo repertoire at the Barbican’s Milton Court Concert Hall.
Contemporary Percussion Intensive
West Vancouver, BC, Canada
August 2013 and August 2014
In August 2013 and 2014, Daniel led week-long seminars that focused on contemporary percussion repertoire and performance practice. Participants were upper-level undergraduate students and recent graduates from Metro Vancouver’s colleges and universities, including Douglas College, Capilano University, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Simon Fraser University, and the University of British Columbia. Students received daily masterclasses, ensemble coaching, and prepared percussion ensemble repertoire for public performances.
Community Music-Making for Vancouver New Music
Vancouver, BC
March 2013
Daniel led the Vancouver premiere of John Luther Adams’s Inuksuit. The 25-member ensemble that performed this work included professional percussionists, educators, and students from across Metro Vancouver.