Bio

Daniel’s formal music training started with the piano at age 5. He went on to study percussion starting in middle school, then violin in college. His experiences in music are both expansive and diverse.

While in high school Daniel had opportunities to perform in Chicago’s Orchestra Hall, The Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, Texas Music Educators Association, and a concerto performance with the Memorial High School Orchestra in New York’s Carnegie Hall. While a student at the Butler School of Music at The University of Texas at Austin he performed with the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, New Music Ensemble, Opera, Symphony Band, University Orchestra, UT Percussion Group, Steel Pan, and the Longhorn Band. Outside of school he performed with the California Guitar Trio, Hong Kong Wind Philharmonic, at South by Southwest Music Festival, and most recently at a Professional-Amateur event with the San Antonio Symphony. Daniel’s performances can be heard on Places in the West: Music of Dan Welcher and Shadow of Sirius, with the UT Wind Ensemble, as well as Andromeda with the California Guitar Trio.

Daniel has had the opportunity to compose and arrange for the Lake Travis High School Band, as well as for middle school level string and full orchestra. He is currently working on publishing his marimba transcription of Bach’s Cello Suite number 6 in D Major, a piece he performed at his Senior Recital.

Daniel worked as the director of the Lake Travis High School Front Ensemble for four years. For seven years he was an Orchestra Director in Northside ISD, first at Jefferson Middle School before opening Folks Middle School and Harlan High School. While teaching at the Middle School level he created and implemented a curriculum for his four elementary school 5th grade strings programs. As a High School director he was very involved at his feeder middle schools. He has provided his students with opportunities to interact with the San Antonio Symphony, perform for the community, and make beautiful music. In 2019 he was given the “Standing Ovation Award for Best High School Orchestra Director in NISD.” Active as a volunteer in both TMEA and TODA, he has served as TMEA Region 29 Middle School Orchestra Coordinator, as well as a TMEA All-State Orchestra Organizer.

Daniel has had the opportunity to work with master teachers. He studied percussion with Dr. Tom Burritt, Tony Edwards, and Ralph Hicks. He studied Violin and String Pedagogy with Dr. Laurie Scott, and he studied conducting with Jerry Junkin and Dr. Damon Talley. The support of his parents, Bingiee and Cara Shiu, excellent educators in their own right, made all of this possible.