ANN DANIS, is
an Associate Professor of Music and the Director of Orchestral Activities at the
University
of
Rhode Island
. She is in demand as a performer on
viola and violin, clinician, and as a guest conductor throughout the region.
She founded the Ocean State Chamber Orchestra in 1991 and the Ocean State
Youth Orchestra in 1999 and serves as the Artistic Director and conductor for
both organizations. Ann has also served as
an assistant conductor for the Rhode Island Philharmonic and the conductor of
the Philharmonic’s Senior Youth Orchestra.
She has been a member of orchestras throughout the country and is
currently a member of several chamber ensembles. Ann
is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music where she earned
undergraduate and graduate degrees in violin performance.
Her principle teachers at NEC were George Zazofsky and Joseph
Silverstein. She studied conducting with
Richard Pittman and Andrew Massey.
In 1990, Ms. Danis led the Massachusetts All-State
Orchestra and in 1995 was conductor of the Rhode Island All-State Orchestra.
Over the past ten years she has introduced many premiere performances
through her music ensembles including “Rage of the Heart” by Enrico Garzilli
(World-Premiere), “State House" by Rhode Island composer Geoffrey Gibbs
honoring the Rhode Island State House (World-Premiere), “Blind Allegory” by
Nico Muhly (Rhode Island-Premiere) "A Triptych for the Millennium" by
Providence composer Paul Nelson (World-Premiere), and the American premiere of
"Dance of Grandmother Nohpat and the Dwarfking" by the Mexican
composer Sylvestre Revueltas. During the
2002-03 season, Ms. Danis will be doing the world premiere of "Bridging
Time- A Sinfonietta for Strings" by Geoffrey Gibbs.
During the 2006-07 season, Ann will be guest conducting two string festivals on
Long Island, NY and also in Connecticut. Ms. Danis will also be doing a URI
University Artist series recital in November. Ann has led the 2005 Massachusetts
Southeastern District Festival Orchestra at Bridgewater State College, the 2005
New England Festival Orchestra in Connecticut, and adjudicated for the 2005 Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors
Association. She has led the North
Carolina Honors Orchestra at the North Carolina School of the Arts (2004), New
Hampshire All-State Orchestra (2003), the Maine All-State Directors Orchestra
(2002), the Vermont All-State Orchestra (2001), the Maine All-State Orchestra
(2000), the Eastern Connecticut Middle School Festival Orchestra (2000), the
Northern Virginia Regional Music Festival Symphony Orchestra (1999), and the New
England Music Festival Orchestra at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(1999). She has also served as a frequent
guest conductor with the Franklin (MA) Performing Arts Company and the Claflin
Hill (MA) Symphony Orchestra.
In the 2005-2006 season, Ann conducted the Georgia
Independent Schools Select String Ensemble, served as Music Director for three
events by the Ocean State Music Collaborative, and continued as Music
Director of the Fall River (MA) Symphony Orchestra.
She continues to serve as the Director of Orchestral Activities at the
University
of
Rhode Island.
