Daniel Newman-Lessler

Piano | Ventura County | Openings Available

Teaches in Somis. Daniel Newman-Lessler started studying classical piano at age four and was taught by Peter Yazbeck from ages 8 to 18.

During this time, Daniel performed as a Rising Star at the Ventura County Music Festival in 2006 and as a concerto soloist with the Thousand Oaks Philharmonic on three occasions; participated in summer music festivals at the Idyllwild Arts Academy and the Franz Liszt Piano Academy in Sopron, Hungary, where he studied with William Wellborn from the San Francisco Conservatory and Professor Adam Wibrowski from the Paris Conservatory in 2007; excelled in competitive circuits, winning the Anne George and Bernice Bernard Scholarship Competitions, the 2008 SYMF and 2009 MTAC State Concerto Competitions, and the State Certificate of Merit Panel Competition, which resulted in his receiving a master class from Steinway Artist Jon Nakamatsu. Daniel graduated magna cum laude, as a Discovery Scholar, and as a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Musical Honors Society with a Bachelors of Music in Piano Performance with emphases in composition and conducting from the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, where he studied piano with Daniel Pollack. Additional teachers in performance, composition, theory, history, and orchestration include Morten Lauridsen, Frank Tichelli, Stephen Hartke, Donald Crockett, Erica Muhl, and Lucinda Carver. Daniel often performed the new piano music of fellow student composers and occasionally his composition teachers.

As a member of the USC Concert and Chamber Choirs, Daniel sang Bach’s b minor Mass conducted by Helmuth Rilling and in performances with Andrea Bocelli, Mary J. Blige, Natalie Cole, David Foster, and Jennifer Hudson. He was a founding member of Remedy Through Music – USC’s musical therapy club that performs in hospitals and retirement homes in downtown Los Angeles. In 2011, Daniel participated in a summer music festival as a pianist and composer at the Landesmusikakademie in Ochsenhausen, Germany.

Daniel has decided upon a career in conducting and to date has studied with Kenneth Kiesler at the first Los Angeles Conductors Workshop, Helmuth Rilling at the Oregon Bach Festival, Maurizio Ciampi from the Conservatorio Santa Secilia, Jo-Michael Scheibe, Christian Grases, and Michael Christ Powers. He is currently the pianist for the Oceana Trio and the Music Director and Founder of the Boys and Girls Club Choral Singers.

Visit Daniel Newman-Lessler's website at www.danielnewmanlessler.com

Contact Daniel Newman-Lessler by phone at (805) 407-5855 or by e-mail at dmnlessler@gmail.com.