Artistic Directors

Artistic Directors

Dannielle McByran, Composer

Oboist and composer Dannielle McBryan enjoys performing many different kinds of musical styles and ensembles, but her favorite is chamber music. Dannielle is the recipient of two chamber music Fellowships; one from the Yale School of Music’s Norfolk Chamber Music Festival and the other from the Bowdoin International Music Festival. She has performed chamber music in such venues as Quebec at Orford Centre d’Arts, Symphony Space, Christ & Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church, the National Arts Club, and Weill Hall. One of her upcoming performances include appearances with Ensemble Modern, performing a Zelenka opera from February-March, 2018 in Frankfurt, Germany.

She has performed as a guest with Ensemble Connect, a bridge program between Carnegie Hall and the Julliard School, both at their fall 2016 residency at Skidmore College and at a Carnegie Hall Notables concert at the French Consulate. She is also a two time winner of the Annual Lillian Fuchs Chamber Music Competition at the Manhattan School of Music. Dedicated to outreach, she performs at retirement communities with her duo, Air Vite.

In addition to chamber music, Dannielle is an active soloist. In 2014, she performed two pieces for oboe and English horn by cross-genre composer Alec Wilder with the Chamber Jazz Orchestra of the Manhattan School of Music. In 2016, Dannielle was named winner of the Purchase Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, and will be performing the Martinu Oboe Concerto during their 2017-18 season. Additionally, she performed Laura Kaminsky’s Oboe Concerto with the Purchase Contemporary Ensemble in May 2017.

As an advocate of new music, Dannielle composes original works for both solo oboe and chamber ensembles. She began composing music at age 7, and has performed on numerous recitals and concerts in both Europe and North America showcasing her works. In addition to her own performances, Dannielle’s pieces have been performed in New York, Los Angeles, Western Pennsylvania and Ottawa, Canada.

Dannielle was named a 2017-18 recipient for a Fulbright Study/Research Grant in Germany, where she will continue her oboe studies with Christian Hommel. She is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music under the tutelage of Stephen Taylor and just completed the first year of her Master’s degree at the State University of New York Purchase with James Austin Smith.