Daniel Taylor

Noted for his “solid, ringing tenor that was rich and intense,” and as a “mellifluous talent you should watch for” by Opera Today, Daniel Taylor is establishing himself with a voice of power, sensitivity, and musicianship. He cultivates a craftsmanship of thoughtfulness and curiosity with experience across a wide variety of disciplines including opera, new music, early music, chamber music, ensemble singing, and even as an instrumentalist.

Singing as a member of the chorus at Opera Philadelphia since 2012, he has also emerged to perform principal roles for the company including Remendado in Bizet’s Carmen and Lucio in Rossini’s Otello. Additionally, he has workshopped and premiered roles in a number of new operas, such as Missy Mazzoli’s The Listeners (as Vince) and Breaking the Waves (as the Stone Thrower), Kevin Puts’ Elizabeth Cree (as Priest and Librarian), and Lembit Beecher’s Sky on Swings where he sang the role of Ira alongside Frederica von Stade. Other workshops have included operas by Rene Orth, David Hertzberg, and Jennifer Higdon. Beyond Opera Philadelphia, he has performed operatic works with The New York Philharmonic, Curtis Opera Theater, Beth Morrison Projects, Three Oaks Opera, Poor Richard’s Opera, Opera Libera, Children’s Opera Box, and Temple University Opera Theater.

Aside from opera, Daniel explores projects spanning from early music to new music, appearing as a guest soloist with the South Jersey Pops, Drexel University Chorus, Delaware State University, Kent Chamber Choir, Reading Choral Society, Opus One: ECHO, and Philadelphia Voices of Pride. As a great admirer of chamber music, he performs often with Variant 6, and recently premiered with Network for New Music. He is also active as an ensemble singer, most notably as a member of the Grammy award winning new music chamber choir, The Crossing, and has performed solos with the group in works by composers such as David T. Little and Benjamin C. S. Boyle. 

He attended Temple University for his Masters of Music in vocal performance, and earned his Bachelors of Music from the Peabody Conservatory in cello performance. Before he shifted his focus to singing, his work as a cellist saw him performing orchestrally, as a soloist, and extensively as a chamber musician, including a dive into early music with work on baroque cello and viola da gamba. While at Peabody, he was a founding member of the early music ensemble, Charm City Baroque, and also performed with the Baltimore Baroque Band and Peabody’s Viola da Gamba Consort.

He currently lives in Warrington, Pennsylvania and otherwise enjoys fantasy novels, birding, video games, and board games.