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“a master musician… a pleasure to hear”

— The Philadelphia Inquirer

creative cellist, teacher, composer

I'm Daniel Delaney. I'm a creative cellist, educator, and composer. I'm a dad, a husband, a teacher, and a lover of sarcasm and absurd humor. My performances have dragged me throughout the world (kicking and screaming, right...?) as a band leader, sideman, and solo singer/songwriter. I love to travel, love new places and people, but my home is my sanctuary. It's where I create, where I teach, where I daydream, where I avoid sleep.

studio musician, recording artist

As a studio musician, I've had the privilege of recording with some pretty incredible folks. Recent collaborators and records include The Welcome Wagon (Tooth and Nail), Beach Slang (Polyvinyl) Elvira Nikolaisen (SONY), mewithoutYou (Tooth and Nail), Twin Sister (Domino), Sun Airway (Dead Oceans), and many other great artists, producers, and engineers from whom I've learned so much.

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“a world-class cellist”

— Broadway World

influences

In the 80's and 90's I was growing up and listening to AC-DC, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Phish, Miles Davis, Led Zeppelin, Frank Sinatra, Billy Joel, and more than a little Huey Lewis and the News. Forgive me if I fail to mask my influences; the visceral emotional lens through which I hear the world is vividly colored by these greats and I'm not ashamed of them.

But you'll certainly hear the decades-long impact of endless Popper etudes, Piatti caprices, late night practice of Dvorak and Elgar concertos, and the deep love/hate of the J.S. Bach Suites. Just don't get yourself confused - those guys were making rock music in their own days and in their own ways.

And now, here we are.

professional

cello faculty & instruction

Cairn University, Philadelphia, PA: cello, chamber music, string faculty (2009-14)

Off the Hook Arts (2018-20)

Fort Collins String Teachers’ Association (2018- )

Poudre School District Special Instructor (2018- )

private in-person & online; local in Colorado, online worldwide

studio recording cellist

principal studio cello with Dark Horse Orchestra (2009-2016)

string arranger, ensemble director, improvisor

remote string recording

see recording credits on "Records" page

principal orchestral cello

Wilmington Ballet Orchestra (2010-13)

Southeast Pennsylvania Symphony Orchestra (2009-2014)

Section cello: Fort Collins Symphony, Greeley Philharmonic, New Artist Philharmonic

expert

Master of Music

Cello Performance, Mannes College of Music, NYC

Bachelor of Music

Cello Performance, University of Northern Colorado