Daniel Newman-Lessler is a conductor, pianist, and composer.
As a conductor, Daniel serves as music director of Music Academy of the West’s Sing! program, and conductor for Kadima Conservatory’s Senior Philharmonic. He was Chorus Master for Santa Barbara Symphony, Interim Director of Choral Activities at University of California Santa Barbara, regular guest conductor of Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra, and conductor for Rubicon Theatre’s production of West Side Story. Daniel held assistant conducting positions with Los Angeles Zimriyah Chorale, Diamond Youth Symphony Orchestra, and Cal State Channel Islands University Choir. Daniel studied under Gerard Schwarz at Eastern Music Festival as a Conducting Scholar and conducted premiers of works by microtonalist composers at Untwelve Summer Festival.
As a pianist, Daniel teaches at Pepperdine University and has won concerto competitions sponsored by Southwestern Youth Music Festival, Music Teachers Association of California (MTAC), and Thousand Oaks Philharmonic. He is a founding member of the Singer Chamber Players and has performed as a panelist for MTAC.
As a singer, Daniel has performed with Andrea Bocelli, Natalie Cole, Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, and David Foster at Nokia Theatre, Capitol Records, and Paramount Pictures. He serves as the High Holiday Cantor at Temple Ner Ami.
Daniel’s compositions have been performed by USC Thornton University Chorus, UCSB Chamber Choir, Torrance Civic Chorale, Los Angeles Zimriyah Chorale, Temple Ner Ami Choir, and Untwelve Players. Upcoming premiers include pieces for Eckerd Concert Choir and microtonal guitarist, Elynor Freyss. Daniel’s research on Dave Brubeck’s Gates of Justice received grant funding from University of the Pacific, and he serves as a lecturer for Cal State University Channel Island’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
Daniel graduated cum laude from University of Southern California with an M.M. in Sacred Music and B.M. in Piano Performance.