Violinist

Dan Flanagan has built a multifaceted career as a soloist and orchestral musician, performing concertos with orchestras in California and recitals throughout the United States and Europe. Flanagan currently serves as Concertmaster of the Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera, Concertmaster of West Edge Opera, and Instructor of Violin at University of California, Berkeley.  Described as a “stellar musician” (Nevada Reviews) and “superior violinist” (Piedmont Post), he has been praised for his “exquisite tones” and “forthright brio” (Sacramento Bee), and his “solos were excellent” (San Francisco Classical Voice).

The 2024-25 season includes the premiere of his String Quartet #1 ‘The Magpie’ by the Cecelia Ensemble in Berkeley, the premiere of his transcription of the Sibelius Trio in G Minor by the Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera, and a presentation at the American String Teachers Association National Conference in Atlanta. Recent solo recitals include The Center for New Music in San Francisco, Boson University, Carnegie Hall, University of Rome, and The American Library in Paris. In 2020, Dan created The Bow and the Brush, an organization that commissions new music inspired by paintings and sculptures. With over 30 chamber and solo works, the performances have taken place across the United States and Europe. 16 of these pieces were premiered at Opera America’s National Opera Center in New York City on October 3rd, 2022.  Of this performance, New York Concert Reviews said “Dan Flanagan is a true Renaissance man. Mr. Flanagan is an excellent violinist, versatile enough to serve as a blank canvas (and I mean this in the best sense) for the diverse styles of all the composers. His generosity and intelligence informed the entire program, and both of his own compositions affirmed his talent and (especially in the encore) his virtuosity.” He has since performed the program in San Francisco, Berkeley, Oakland, Sacramento, Houston, Denton, Riverside, San Diego, Chicago, Eugene, Perugia, Rome, Frosinone, Boston, London, Bordeaux and Paris. Several of these compositions can be seen on his YouTube channel (recommended by KDFC, The Strad, and SF Classical Voice) and heard on his album, The Bow and the Brush, which was released by MSR Classics in March of 2023, to critical acclaim.

Flanagan has performed as concertmaster with the Oakland Symphony, Santa Rosa Symphony, California Symphony, California Musical Theater, Festival Opera, Symphony San Jose, Modesto Symphony, Opera Parallèle, Merced Symphony and Symphony Napa Valley.  He performs regularly with the San Francisco Opera and records film, video game, and television soundtracks with the Skywalker Symphony Orchestra. Frequently featured as soloist with the Sacramento Philharmonic and Modesto Symphony, Flanagan has also performed with the American River Chamber Orchestra, Bear Valley Symphony, Reno Baroque Ensemble, UC Berkeley Symphony, UC Davis Symphony, and the Adelphi Chamber Orchestra.

Early studies were in New Jersey and New York City, followed by high school at Interlochen Arts Academy. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music and a Master’s Degree from the University of Oregon, where he was a Graduate Teaching Fellow. His teachers include Lewis Kaplan, Hal Grossman, Linda Cerone, Charles Castleman, and Fritz Gearhart.

In addition to promoting living composers and artists of diverse backgrounds, Dan is passionate about helping his community. He regularly features his art collection to host fundraisers for charities and collect supplies that he passes out at homeless encampments. Past fundraisers include Puerto Rico Relief Fund, California Fire Relief Fund, Berkeley Food and Housing Project, No Kill Advocacy Center, Hunters Point Shipyard Artists, InterMusic SF, and LymeDisease.org.

Commissions