A Solo Performance of Musical Sensitivity and Virtuosity

Moving to Cumbria from rural Scotland aged 7, Daniel attended Ghyllside Primary school and then QKS in Kendal, alongside the Junior Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. Age 18 he became the youngest winner of the Keldwyth Award, the lead cellist in the National Youth Strings Orchestra, and won a scholarship to the European String Summer School. He then studied for four years at the RNCM with Emma Ferrand as his main cello teacher.

The stage at the Old Laundry Theatre atmospherically spotlighted a single chair and music stand and Daniel’s solo cello recital delivered an engaging mix of Bach, Gabrielli and Britten. It also included two of his own compositions,‘Valentine’s Day’ and ‘Chaconne.’ He also gave a brief presentation about the cello’s role within the orchestra, playing well known repertoire extracts, and demonstrating the changing role the cello has taken through the baroque to the romantic era.

Daniel’s performance revealed such a range of tonal colour, contrasts of mood and at times virtuosity, that it was hard to realize this was a solo instrumental recital. It was eloquently presented in a gentle, humorous and relaxed manner, and the playing was confidently assured in technique and musical sensitivity to fully captivate the audience.