Biography
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Danielle is a 19th century fretted instrument specialist, a devotee of both the Classical Banjo and the Early Romantic Guitar. Having studied with Craig Ogden and Mark Ashford, she graduated from Birmingham Conservatoire in June 2001. She performs in a number of ensembles with which she specialises in 19th century fretted instrument performance; in guitar duet "Dodici Corde" with Mark Willetts, with pianist Linda Kitto and in a banjo duet with Douglas Back, who is based in Alabama, USA.
Danielle’s performances have taken in a wide range of established venues and festivals including The Royal Festival Hall at The South Bank; The Bolivar Hall, London; the CBSO centre in Birmingham and the Royal Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool; at Bath Banjo Festival, Droitwich Festival and Hagley Music Festival.
She
directs the Midlands Fretted Orchestra, which she founded in September 2001, to
promote the playing of fretted instruments in an ensemble setting. The orchestra
is based of the principles of the original fretted orchestras which were popular
in the 19th Century, and is one of only a handful of similar
ensembles in the UK. In 2007, the ensemble won a place on the “Adopt a
Composer” Scheme run by SPNM and Making Music. This led to some ten new works
being commissioned by the orchestra from composers across Europe and America,
which were premiered in one concert in Autumn 2007. MFO were also delighted to
be awarded the prestigious "Federation Cup for Musicianship" at the 2008
British BMG Federation Rally, having fought off stiff competition from
orchestras around the UK. MFO is privileged to be hosting the next BMG
Federation Rally in March 2010 and has also been awarded a place on the 2009
Adopt-a- Composer scheme. Danielle is a committee member and adjudicator for the British Banjo, Mandolin and Guitar Federation. She is currently developing the Classical Banjo syllabus for Victoria College and has commissioned a number of new works for the instrument by contemporary British composers.
Danielle is an enthusiastic educator of students whose ages range from 7 to 70 plus. As well as running a successful private teaching practice, she is resident guitar teacher at Edgbaston High School for Girls, she also adjudicates and tutors for the British BMG Federation. She plays a 1905 "New" Cammeyer Open Back Classical Banjo and an 1840 French Early Romantic Guitar, in addition to a Contreras Doble Tapa Classical Guitar. |