We are pleased to introduce and welcome Daniel Robert Cushing as our new Musical Director. Daniel is a young and enthusiastic musician whose primary specialisation is in choral direction. Daniel will lead us through all our rehearsals and will conduct our concert on Saturday 16th May in St Cuthbert’s Church, Wells.
As well as Musical Director of Somerset Choral Society, he is also Musical Director of The Octet and The Newton Park Singers; Chorus Master of the Corsley Festival Choir; and is accompanist to the Bath Celebration Choir. Daniel is a classically trained musician who studied piano under the distinguished Maria Garcia and studied conducting with the acclaimed Francis Faux. Recently, he graduated from Bath Spa University with MA Music, having specialised in choral direction as a recipient of the Jennifer Skellett Award; following on from his BA (Hons) Music.
In 2015, Daniel won Caerphilly County’s Young Composer of the Year and has gained experience conducting a wide range of repertoire. Having trained under Dr. Emma Gibbins and Shean Bowers, Daniel is a freelance organist regularly giving solo performances across the South West of England and South Wales. As an early music enthusiast Daniel provides the harpsichord and organ continuo for Bladud Baroque Trio. In 2019 Daniel was invited to the Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod as an official accompanist.
Previously, Daniel has been Organist and Master of the Choristers at St. Margaret’s Church, Blackwood; Organist at Central Methodist Church, Blackwood; and Musical Director of The Chamber Singers and Blackwood United Churches Choir. He has taken many choirs on tour to perform in prestigious places such as Clifton, Brecon, Truro and Newport Cathedrals and Bath Abbey while he is a member of the Association of British Choral Directors.
Daniel is in demand as an accompanist, repetiteur and coach with professional and semi-professional soloists and choirs. He has been repetiteur performing in Mozart’s The Magic Flute and Cosi Fan Tutte; Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas; and Kurt Weill’s Happy End. As regular accompanist to international soloist Matthew Tilley, Daniel has covered an extensive range of Opera repertoire. In addition, he has worked with many acclaimed musicians including Dr. Charles Wiffen, Maria Angel Garcia, The Bristol String Quartet, Maria Danishvar Brown, Shean Bowers, Adam’s Apple Jazz Trio, Dr. Emma Gibbins, Dr. Edward-Rhys Harry, Jessica Robinson and Elan Catrin Parry.
Somerset Choral Society 