Daniel Smith

  • Emerging Artist with the Australian Chamber Orchestra - 2020/2021
  • 1st Prize: Queensland International Chamber Music Competition
  • 1st Prize and Musica Viva Prize: Australian National Academy of Music Chamber Music Competition
  • Australian National Academy of Music Graduate
  • Bachelor of Music (Performance) Queensland Conservatorium 2014
  • AmusA (distinction)

Daniel, a graduate of the Griffith Conservatorium of Music and the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) has enjoyed a multitude of experiences as an educator, soloist, and as a chamber and orchestral musician.
Daniel was Principal Cellist of the Australian Youth Orchestra for several years, receiving the Peter Weiss Cello Scholarship in 2012 and selected as co-principal for their 2013 international tour.
Throughout his studies and professional career, Daniel has performed with internationally recognised artists/ensembles including The Australian Chamber Orchestra, Gurrumul Yunupingu, Elixir & Katie Noonan, Bush Gothic, Joe Hisaishi, Tina Arena, Nai Palm, Wafia, JOY, Go-Jo, John Gilfedder, Anthony Marwood, Ensemble Modern, The Australian World Orchestra, and the Elision Ensemble.

Chamber Music has long been one of Daniel’s passionate pursuits. A founding member of the Partridge String Quartet, he is a 1st prize recipient of the 'Queensland International Chamber Music Competition' (2019), the 'Australian National Academy of Music's Chamber Music Competition' (2018), and the 'Musica Viva Prize' (2017)
PSQ were recipients of the Canadian 'Husky Energy Award' Scholarship (2018) assisting with their attendance at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity program ‘EQ’ (Evolution of the String Quartet), at which they were tutored by the Parker, JACK, and Eybler String Quartets.
In October 2019 the Partridge String Quartet were featured artists at the Port Fairy Spring Music Festival, and gave the world premiere performance of prolific Australian composer Richard Mills' 5th string quartet. In February 2020 PSQ were engaged to perform at the Bendigo Chamber Music Festival in their own recital, and additional concerts collaborating with members of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, and soprano Merlyn Quaife.
The Partridge String Quartet were Musica Viva's ‘FutureMakers’ for 2020-2021, giving the ensemble additional learning experience and resources to develop their own interpretation/reinvention concert.
In May of 2021 PSQ were featured artists at the Canberra International Music Festival (CIMF) where they performed extensively, including a world premiere performance of Australian Composer Brian Howard's 4th String Quartet 'Armoured Faun'.
In March 2022, Partridge String Quartet performed at the Melbourne Recital Centre as featured artists with Musica Viva, and in June 2022 they were selected as one of three quartets worldwide to participate in a course at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia (U.S) to be tutored by the Dover Quartet and Shmuel Ashkenasi.
In October 2022, Partridge String Quartet were again featured at the Port Fairy Spring Music Festival, and gave the world premiere of Australian composer Briony Marks' quartet 'Australia Fair?'.
In August 2023 the Partridge String Quartet featured in a series of concerts in Sydney with Music With A View, and were artists in residence at Orange Conservatorium in NSW. In September of 2023 PSQ gave the world premiere performance of David Hush's Quartet No.4 at Mount Beauty in Victoria, and in October performed as part of the Melbourne International Jazz Festival playing alongside Katie Noonan and Elixir.
In 2024 PSQ were artists in residence at Monash university, tutoring chamber music ensembles and working alongside the students of the Monash Academy Orchestra, in addition to their own feature concert. In September they were artists in residence at Coffs Harbour Regional Conservatorium, and shared the production of ‘Twofold’ with The Australian String Quartet in collaboration with the Sydney Dance Company.

In addition to festivals attended as a PSQ member, he has performed as a soloist and ensemble member at major national music festivals including the Canberra International Music Festival, the Huntington Estate Music Festival, The Bendigo International Festival of Exploratory Music, The Bangalow Music Festival, and the Darwin Festival.

Professional orchestral playing is another of Daniel’s passions, playing regularly with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra Victoria, and has performed in the past with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Melbourne Chamber Orchestra, Apex Ensemble, the Tasmanian and Queensland Symphony Orchestra(s) and Queensland Chamber Orchestras Camerata and Southern Cross Soloists.

Daniel has participated in masterclasses with some of the world’s leading cellists including Nicolas Alstaedt, Li-Wei Qin, Alban Gerhardt, Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, and Timo-Veikko Valve.

In 2020 + 2021 Daniel was selected as one of the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s ‘Emerging Artists’, culminating in the opportunity to tour with members of the ensemble as the ‘ACO Collective’ on project tours throughout the year.

Daniel is a passionate educator as well as performer, teaching privately at his home in Preston, previously a Teaching Artist with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s 'Pizzicato Effect', a cultural regeneration outreach program giving access to classical music education to those who may not be able to access it otherwise (7 years). Daniel has also had experience as a tutor with the Australian Chamber Orchestra Academy program (2024), through the 'Crashendo!' program at Laverton College and was regularly invited as a guest teacher at the Albany Creek (QLD) 'Cluster' School Music camps.

Daniel is triple-vaccinated has a current Working With Children Check.

275 Tyler Street
Preston, VIC

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https://www.partridgestringquartet.com/

Details last updated: October 1, 2024