MY STORY
I was born and raised on the West Side of Chicago, a place rarely associated with classical music. This was not the romanticized city of gleaming skyscrapers or jazz clubs, but a landscape shaped by poverty, violence, and survival. In my world, orchestras were distant abstractions and classical music was an anomaly. A life in the arts requires discipline, sacrifice, resources, and access. I did not grow up imagining myself as a conductor. Long before I stood on a podium, the lone piano in the basement became my refuge. It gave me a voice, a way to heal, and a window into worlds far beyond the Windy City.
I learned early that talent alone would never be enough. I pursued my studies across the United States and Europe, training at institutions including the Manhattan School of Music, the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, the Conservatoire Américain de Fontainebleau, and the Centro de Estudios Musicales Isaac Albéniz in Spain. I was mentored by artists such as Dmitri Bashkirov, Jiří Bělohlávek, Gaby Casadesus, Jorma Panula, and others, and received artistic guidance from Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Colin Davis, Zubin Mehta, and Iván Fischer. These experiences shaped not only my technique, but my understanding of music.
Today, I work internationally as a conductor, artistic director, educator, and cultural advocate, having led performances in major halls including Carnegie Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, the Rudolfinum in Prague, and many other venues across Europe, the Americas, and the Caribbean.
Several milestones clarified that my work extended beyond personal achievement. In 2011, I founded the Festival International de Musique Saint-Georges, the largest and most prestigious classical music festival in the Caribbean. In 2013, I conducted the Russian premiere of William Grant Still’s Afro-American Symphony with the Tatarstan Symphony, earning recognition from the composer’s family. In 2015, I was featured on CBS Nightly News in a report titled “Changing the Color of Classical Music.” In 2016, I became the first African American to conduct the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Cuba in its 65-year history. These are some of the moments that affirmed that through music I could be an instrument of change, one note at a time.
A central focus of my life’s work is restoring the music and legacy of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, an 18th-century composer, violinist, and conductor who influenced composers such as Mozart, Haydn, and Gossec, and artists such as Alexandre Dumas and Guillon Lethière. Through performances, research, and educational initiatives such as Before There Was Mozart and The Arts and Social Change, I have worked to reposition Bologne and other Composers of Color, not as a footnote, but as foundational figures in classical music history.
I am equally committed to living composers and new music, a dedication recognized by the Yvar Mikhashoff Trust for New Music. I have premiered and championed works by composers including Florence Price, William Grant Still, Tania León, George Walker, Adolphus Hailstork, Arturo Márquez, Nkeiru Okoye, Thierry Pécou, and Libby Larsen, often creating opportunities where none previously existed.
Education and Access remain core to my mission. I have frequently lectured at institutions such as Opera America, the Sphinx Organization, Columbia University, Yale University, Rutgers University, and Fordham University, where I also created the web series Black Voices / Classical Music.
I build platforms for others because I know what it means to walk alone. I educate because no one should have to discover their worth in isolation. When young musicians, especially musicians of color, see themselves on stage or reflected in history, something irreversible happens: identity shifts and possibility expand. My work has never been about a single concert or title, but about community and continuity: ensuring the next generation inherits something stronger than what we were given.
I currently serve as Artistic Director of Festival Mahogany, Music Director of Ensemble du Monde and Artistic, Music Director of the Festival International de Musique Saint-Georges. I have held leadership roles with orchestras and opera companies across the United States, Europe, the Caribbean, and Latin America, and in Opera I am the founder of the Opera Discovery Project, an Artist Conductor for Florida Grand Opera and a Conductor for Chicago Summer Opera.
Music saved me long before it defined me. I continue to collaborate across disciplines — classical music, jazz, theater, dance, and film with artists such as Savion Glover, Phylicia Rashād, Cicely Tyson, Chita Rivera, and many others. These collaborations remind me that classical music does not exist in isolation; it lives in conversation with all the Arts.
My story is simple: classical music belongs to everyone. My work is about striving for excellence, uncovering truth, creating access, and making sure the next generation of classical music artists and audiences inherit a genuine sense of belonging.
I learned early that talent alone would never be enough. I pursued my studies across the United States and Europe, training at institutions including the Manhattan School of Music, the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, the Conservatoire Américain de Fontainebleau, and the Centro de Estudios Musicales Isaac Albéniz in Spain. I was mentored by artists such as Dmitri Bashkirov, Jiří Bělohlávek, Gaby Casadesus, Jorma Panula, and others, and received artistic guidance from Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Colin Davis, Zubin Mehta, and Iván Fischer. These experiences shaped not only my technique, but my understanding of music.
Today, I work internationally as a conductor, artistic director, educator, and cultural advocate, having led performances in major halls including Carnegie Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, the Rudolfinum in Prague, and many other venues across Europe, the Americas, and the Caribbean.
Several milestones clarified that my work extended beyond personal achievement. In 2011, I founded the Festival International de Musique Saint-Georges, the largest and most prestigious classical music festival in the Caribbean. In 2013, I conducted the Russian premiere of William Grant Still’s Afro-American Symphony with the Tatarstan Symphony, earning recognition from the composer’s family. In 2015, I was featured on CBS Nightly News in a report titled “Changing the Color of Classical Music.” In 2016, I became the first African American to conduct the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Cuba in its 65-year history. These are some of the moments that affirmed that through music I could be an instrument of change, one note at a time.
A central focus of my life’s work is restoring the music and legacy of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, an 18th-century composer, violinist, and conductor who influenced composers such as Mozart, Haydn, and Gossec, and artists such as Alexandre Dumas and Guillon Lethière. Through performances, research, and educational initiatives such as Before There Was Mozart and The Arts and Social Change, I have worked to reposition Bologne and other Composers of Color, not as a footnote, but as foundational figures in classical music history.
I am equally committed to living composers and new music, a dedication recognized by the Yvar Mikhashoff Trust for New Music. I have premiered and championed works by composers including Florence Price, William Grant Still, Tania León, George Walker, Adolphus Hailstork, Arturo Márquez, Nkeiru Okoye, Thierry Pécou, and Libby Larsen, often creating opportunities where none previously existed.
Education and Access remain core to my mission. I have frequently lectured at institutions such as Opera America, the Sphinx Organization, Columbia University, Yale University, Rutgers University, and Fordham University, where I also created the web series Black Voices / Classical Music.
I build platforms for others because I know what it means to walk alone. I educate because no one should have to discover their worth in isolation. When young musicians, especially musicians of color, see themselves on stage or reflected in history, something irreversible happens: identity shifts and possibility expand. My work has never been about a single concert or title, but about community and continuity: ensuring the next generation inherits something stronger than what we were given.
I currently serve as Artistic Director of Festival Mahogany, Music Director of Ensemble du Monde and Artistic, Music Director of the Festival International de Musique Saint-Georges. I have held leadership roles with orchestras and opera companies across the United States, Europe, the Caribbean, and Latin America, and in Opera I am the founder of the Opera Discovery Project, an Artist Conductor for Florida Grand Opera and a Conductor for Chicago Summer Opera.
Music saved me long before it defined me. I continue to collaborate across disciplines — classical music, jazz, theater, dance, and film with artists such as Savion Glover, Phylicia Rashād, Cicely Tyson, Chita Rivera, and many others. These collaborations remind me that classical music does not exist in isolation; it lives in conversation with all the Arts.
My story is simple: classical music belongs to everyone. My work is about striving for excellence, uncovering truth, creating access, and making sure the next generation of classical music artists and audiences inherit a genuine sense of belonging.
BIOGRAPHY
Born in Chicago, Marlon Daniel is recognized as one of the most dynamic and versatile conductors of his generation. Praised by the Chicago Sun-Times as “a natural and enormous talent” and described as “fabulous and exceptional” by Pravda, he has captivated audiences worldwide with his artistry, interpretative depth, and commanding stage presence. A laureate of the 2018 Bucharest Symphony Orchestra International Conducting Competition, Daniel has performed in many of the world’s most prestigious concert halls, including Carnegie Hall in New York, Queen Elizabeth Hall in London and the Rudolfinum in Prague.
A highly sought-after conductor, his engagements have included collaborations with renowned orchestras across Europe, North and South America, and the Caribbean. Daniel has led acclaimed performances with ensembles such as the Chineke! Junior Orchestra, Havana Lyceum Orchestra, Sofia Sinfonietta, and the Tatarstan National Symphony Orchestra, where he conducted the Russian premiere of William Grant Still’s Afro-American Symphony. In 2016, he made history as the first African American to conduct the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Cuba in its sixty-five-year history.
Daniel is recognized as the world's foremost authority on the life and music of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges; he is also a champion of the music of William Grant Still and a dedicated advocate for under-represented and contemporary composers. He has premiered works by Adolphus Hailstork, Giya Kancheli, Libby Larsen, Arturo Márquez, Nkeiru Okoye, Fred Onovwerosuoke, Hampson Sisler, Eino Tamberg, and Pulitzer Prize winners Tania Léon and George Walker, among others. A recipient of the Yvar Mikhashoff Trust for New Music Award, his performances have consistently been lauded for their musical insight and technical precision.
Educated in both the United States and Europe, Daniel studied at the Manhattan School of Music and the Prague Academy, earning additional diplomas from the Conservatoire Américain de Fontainebleau in France and the Centro de Estudios Musicales Isaac Albéniz in Spain. His conducting teachers include Jiří Bělohlávek, David Gilbert, Tomáš Koutník, Miriam Němcová, and Jorma Panula, with whom he maintains a close association. He has also received artistic guidance from Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Colin Davis, Zubin Mehta and Iván Fischer at the Beethovenfest Bonn.
Daniel’s work extends beyond the podium, encompassing significant contributions as an artistic leader, educator, and mentor. He has served as inaugural Music Director of the Colour of Music Festival, Associate Conductor of the Praga Sinfonietta, Principal Guest Conductor of the Pazardzhik Symphony Orchestra, Guest Conductor of La Orquesta Filarmónica Municipal de Guayaquil (Ecuador), Guest Conductor of the Sinfónica EAFIT (Colombia), Guest Conductor of Tatarstan National Symphony Orchestra (Russia), Associate Conductor of the Florida Grand Opera and Guest Conductor of the Teatro Lírico Nacional de Cuba.
His dedication to education and diversity in the arts is evident in his academic roles and leadership initiatives. He has been a guest lecturer with Tafelmusik, Opera America, the Lunigiana International Music Festival, and at institutions such as College of Charleston, Columbia University, Rutgers University and Yale University, as well as Drew University and Fordham University, where he served on the faculty as Director of Orchestral Ensembles. He has been a panelist for Opera America and the Sphinx Organization’s SphinxConnect Conference and led projects such as the Diversity in Classical Music Project at Columbia University.
An accomplished opera conductor, Daniel has demonstrated expertise in the operatic repertoire, working with distinguished singers and stage directors across major productions. He is a former Associate Conductor of the Floridia Grand Opera, former Assistant Conductor of the National Opera and Ballet of Bulgaria (Sofia) and a panelist and adjudicator for Opera America and is the founder of the Opera Discovery Project, alongside the opera faculty of the Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA) in Cuba, which provides professional training for emerging artists. Currently, he is a roster of conductors for the Chicago Summer Opera.
He has collaborated with acclaimed artists such as Ifetayo Ali, Rachel Barton-Pine, Yuriy Bekker, J’Nai Bridges, Janinah Burnett, Soloman Howard, Eleomar Cuello, Savion Glover, Soloman Howard, Charlotta Huldt, Michelle Johnson, Sami Junnonen, Koh Gabriel Kameda, Julian Milkis, Magali Léger, Kristin Lewis, Norm Lewis, Chauncey Packer, Limmie Pulliam, Phylicia Rashād, Chita Rivera, Eric Silberger, Karen Slack, Russell Thomas, Cicely Tyson and Deborah Voigt.
Daniel is currently the Artistic and Music Director of the Festival International de Musique Saint-Georges, Artistic Director of Festival Mahogany, Music Director of Ensemble du Monde, and Founder and Music Director of the All Caribbean Youth Orchestra (ACYO). In 2024, he was appointed Artistic Director and Conductor of the Universität Münster Musikhochschule Orchester. His recent projects include a feature on Sony Entertainment’s popular podcast They Did That! and a new recording entitled Total Tango: Music of Ástor Piazzolla with the Havana Lyceum Orchestra. He is also a voting member of the Recording Academy (GRAMMYS).
A passionate advocate for classical music’s transformative power, Daniel continues to shape musical landscapes through his artistry and leadership. In 2025 he worked as the Music Curator of Guillon Lethière Exhibition for Mémorial ACTe and Musée du Louvre. This upcoming Season 2026/27 his has been appointed Asociado Artístico of the Orquesta Sinfónica de Matanzas in Cuba and will make débuts with the Chicago Philharmonic, the Kuopio Symphony Orchestra and the new Marvel Cinematic Universe Black Panther Opera.
A highly sought-after conductor, his engagements have included collaborations with renowned orchestras across Europe, North and South America, and the Caribbean. Daniel has led acclaimed performances with ensembles such as the Chineke! Junior Orchestra, Havana Lyceum Orchestra, Sofia Sinfonietta, and the Tatarstan National Symphony Orchestra, where he conducted the Russian premiere of William Grant Still’s Afro-American Symphony. In 2016, he made history as the first African American to conduct the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Cuba in its sixty-five-year history.
Daniel is recognized as the world's foremost authority on the life and music of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges; he is also a champion of the music of William Grant Still and a dedicated advocate for under-represented and contemporary composers. He has premiered works by Adolphus Hailstork, Giya Kancheli, Libby Larsen, Arturo Márquez, Nkeiru Okoye, Fred Onovwerosuoke, Hampson Sisler, Eino Tamberg, and Pulitzer Prize winners Tania Léon and George Walker, among others. A recipient of the Yvar Mikhashoff Trust for New Music Award, his performances have consistently been lauded for their musical insight and technical precision.
Educated in both the United States and Europe, Daniel studied at the Manhattan School of Music and the Prague Academy, earning additional diplomas from the Conservatoire Américain de Fontainebleau in France and the Centro de Estudios Musicales Isaac Albéniz in Spain. His conducting teachers include Jiří Bělohlávek, David Gilbert, Tomáš Koutník, Miriam Němcová, and Jorma Panula, with whom he maintains a close association. He has also received artistic guidance from Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Colin Davis, Zubin Mehta and Iván Fischer at the Beethovenfest Bonn.
Daniel’s work extends beyond the podium, encompassing significant contributions as an artistic leader, educator, and mentor. He has served as inaugural Music Director of the Colour of Music Festival, Associate Conductor of the Praga Sinfonietta, Principal Guest Conductor of the Pazardzhik Symphony Orchestra, Guest Conductor of La Orquesta Filarmónica Municipal de Guayaquil (Ecuador), Guest Conductor of the Sinfónica EAFIT (Colombia), Guest Conductor of Tatarstan National Symphony Orchestra (Russia), Associate Conductor of the Florida Grand Opera and Guest Conductor of the Teatro Lírico Nacional de Cuba.
His dedication to education and diversity in the arts is evident in his academic roles and leadership initiatives. He has been a guest lecturer with Tafelmusik, Opera America, the Lunigiana International Music Festival, and at institutions such as College of Charleston, Columbia University, Rutgers University and Yale University, as well as Drew University and Fordham University, where he served on the faculty as Director of Orchestral Ensembles. He has been a panelist for Opera America and the Sphinx Organization’s SphinxConnect Conference and led projects such as the Diversity in Classical Music Project at Columbia University.
An accomplished opera conductor, Daniel has demonstrated expertise in the operatic repertoire, working with distinguished singers and stage directors across major productions. He is a former Associate Conductor of the Floridia Grand Opera, former Assistant Conductor of the National Opera and Ballet of Bulgaria (Sofia) and a panelist and adjudicator for Opera America and is the founder of the Opera Discovery Project, alongside the opera faculty of the Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA) in Cuba, which provides professional training for emerging artists. Currently, he is a roster of conductors for the Chicago Summer Opera.
He has collaborated with acclaimed artists such as Ifetayo Ali, Rachel Barton-Pine, Yuriy Bekker, J’Nai Bridges, Janinah Burnett, Soloman Howard, Eleomar Cuello, Savion Glover, Soloman Howard, Charlotta Huldt, Michelle Johnson, Sami Junnonen, Koh Gabriel Kameda, Julian Milkis, Magali Léger, Kristin Lewis, Norm Lewis, Chauncey Packer, Limmie Pulliam, Phylicia Rashād, Chita Rivera, Eric Silberger, Karen Slack, Russell Thomas, Cicely Tyson and Deborah Voigt.
Daniel is currently the Artistic and Music Director of the Festival International de Musique Saint-Georges, Artistic Director of Festival Mahogany, Music Director of Ensemble du Monde, and Founder and Music Director of the All Caribbean Youth Orchestra (ACYO). In 2024, he was appointed Artistic Director and Conductor of the Universität Münster Musikhochschule Orchester. His recent projects include a feature on Sony Entertainment’s popular podcast They Did That! and a new recording entitled Total Tango: Music of Ástor Piazzolla with the Havana Lyceum Orchestra. He is also a voting member of the Recording Academy (GRAMMYS).
A passionate advocate for classical music’s transformative power, Daniel continues to shape musical landscapes through his artistry and leadership. In 2025 he worked as the Music Curator of Guillon Lethière Exhibition for Mémorial ACTe and Musée du Louvre. This upcoming Season 2026/27 his has been appointed Asociado Artístico of the Orquesta Sinfónica de Matanzas in Cuba and will make débuts with the Chicago Philharmonic, the Kuopio Symphony Orchestra and the new Marvel Cinematic Universe Black Panther Opera.