Marlon Daniel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marlon Daniel
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| Born |
Chicago, Illinois
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| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Conductor, music director |
| Known for | Contemporary classical music, Music of Chevalier de Saint-Georges, Music of African descent |
Marlon Daniel is an American conductor and music director. He is famous for his special knowledge of music by Chevalier de Saint-Georges. Daniel won the John and Mary Virginia Foncannon Conducting Award in 2009. He also won a prize at the 2018 Bucharest Symphony Orchestra International Conducting Competition.
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Early Life and Talents
Marlon Daniel was born in Chicago, Illinois. His family comes from New Orleans, Louisiana, and Atlanta, Georgia. He has African American, French, and American Indian family roots.
He went to St. Ita Grammar School and Lane Technical High School in Chicago. He also learned dance at the Boitsov Classical Ballet School. For a short time as a child, he even acted on the TV show Sesame Street. He also holds two silver medals in competitive jujitsu, a type of martial art.
How He Learned Music
Marlon's musical talent was first noticed when he was seven years old. His father, Michael Daniel, an amateur musician, saw that Marlon could play his songs on the piano just by listening. He didn't even need lessons!
He started piano lessons with Kathryn Gladden. She was a student of a famous pianist named Moritz Rosenthal. He continued his music studies at the Music Center of the North Shore and the American Conservatory of Music.
With help from Mayor Harold Washington, Daniel studied music in the United States and Europe. He earned piano degrees from places like Manhattan School of Music and New York University. He also studied in France and Spain. He learned conducting at the Prague Academy.
A very important teacher for Daniel was Jorma Panula. Panula is a famous Finnish conducting teacher. Many of his students have become well-known conductors. Daniel also worked with famous conductors like Sir Simon Rattle and Iván Fischer.
His Musical Journey
Marlon Daniel started his music career as a child piano player in Chicago. Later, he performed as a concert artist while studying conducting. In 1993, he was chosen as one of only thirteen pianists for a special program.
He often performed as a solo artist with orchestras. He also played solo concerts and chamber music with other musicians.
In 2000, Daniel started his own orchestra called Manhattan Virtuosi. He was its music director for four years. He then spent time in Europe, working as an associate conductor. In 2004, he started a new orchestra called Ensemble du Monde. This group brought together talented musicians from all over the world.
Daniel has conducted in many famous concert halls. These include Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York. He has also performed with many well-known artists.
He has also led music for big events. He conducted for the world premiere of a Maybach car. He also led the live performance of a Nickelodeon TV show, Wonder Pets!, which won an Emmy Award.
Besides Ensemble du Monde, Daniel leads other groups. He is the main conductor of the New Horizons Orchestra. He is also the artistic director of the Festival International Saint-Georges in Guadeloupe. He has conducted orchestras in many countries, including the United States, the Caribbean, and Europe.
In 2015, he was the first American conductor invited to Cuba after President Barack Obama changed the US embargo. He performed with the Havana Lyceum Orchestra and the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Cuba. He still performs in Cuba regularly.
Daniel often performs new music by modern composers. He has conducted the very first performances of several pieces. He also helped bring the Russian premiere of William Grant Still's famous "Afro-American" Symphony to life.
Daniel is known for playing music by composers of African descent. In 2016, he started the Saint-Georges International Music Festival. He is still the artistic and music director of this festival. He is seen as one of the best at interpreting the music of Chevalier de Saint-Georges.
Awards and Recognition
Marlon Daniel has received many awards for his musical talents:
- Prizewinner "Special Talent Award" at the 2018 Bucharest Symphony Orchestra, International Conducting Competition
- International Saint-Georges Award 2011
- Global Association of Women for the Arts, Dove Award for Outstanding Artistic Contributions to Cultural and Humanitarian Causes 2010
- John and Mary Virginia Foncannon Conducting Award 2009
- United Nations Voice of the Artist Award 2008
- James and Lola Faust Fellowship 2007
- National Symphony/Leonard Slatkin Conducting Institute Search – Finalist 2006
- Yvar Mikhashoff Trust for New Music – Award recipient 2003
- Hazel Scott Memorial Prize for Outstanding Musical Achievement 2003
- Mabel Henderson Memorial Grant for Foreign Experience 2001
- Capitol Region Foundation Grant for Arts in Education 2001
- Rose Hanus Fellowship – Recipient 1998
- North Shore Music Competition – Winner 1987
- NAACP National ACT-SO Competition – Winner 1986
- Key to the City of Chicago – Recipient 1986
Music Recordings (Discography)
- Ravel: Piano Concertos and Orchestra Works
- Phoenix Forever (Music of Hampson Sisler) MSR Classics 1389
- The Second Coming (Music of Hampson Sisler) MSR Classics forthcoming 2013
