Countertenor. Producer / Director of this series of concerts
Daniel began his music career at the age of 4 playing violin, piano and singing at
Christ Church Stantonbury Campus. Milton Keynes.
At the age of 7 Daniel became a chorister at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford. Singing many solo pieces. With Cathedral Choir Daniel toured USA, Australia, Brazil and sang on many recording sessions.
From Oxford Cathedral Daniel was awarded a music scholarship to
Charterhouse School, Surrey, where under the tutelage of Mark Blatchly and Glyn Davenport he began to sing countertenor.
During his stay at Charterhouse Daniel attained Grade 8 violin, organ and piano.
Daniel went on to read Music at Magdalen College, Oxford, as a Choral and Academic Scholar. While at Oxford, Daniel began to embark on a solo career as a countertenor, studying with Ashley Stafford.
In between his studies Daniel found time to be music director for the
Oxford Gilbert and Sullivan Society. Productions included The Mikado, Trial By jury and Ruddigore. Daniel gave organ recitals in Magdalen Chapel, Oxford, and sang in various concerts, including at the University Church with Schola Cantorum and Emma Kirkby (Handel Dixit Dominus) and at the reopening of the Sheldonian Theatre (Handel The Messiah) Daniel played piano in productions of Carl Orff's Carmina Burana,
Saint-Saens Carnival of the animals and appeared with the Godalming Youth Orchestra.
Daniel received a first class degree in music at Oxford in 2005
In 2005 Daniel went on to further his vocal studies at the Royal College of Music, continuing to study under Ashley Stafford. Whilst there he participated in masterclasses with Michael Chance, Peter Harvey and James Bowman, as well as private tuition with people such as Robin Blaze, Margaret Cable and Stephen Roberts.
Daniel gained a post graduate diploma in singing at the RCM.
Some of Daniel's many solo performances include Bach's St. John Passion at Chichester Cathedral with the Hanover Band, and at St. Paul's Church, Knightsbridge with Orpheus Britannicus.
Handel's Messiah at St. Alkmund's Church, Shrewsbury and a concert of Purcell odes including Welcome to All the Pleasures with Orpheus
Britannicus, at All Saints, Margaret Street.
Daniel performed in live broadcast of Biber's Missa Bruxellensis from Izegem, Belgium.
Concert review: The Sixteen presents Bach’s Magnificat at Rochester Cathedral, by Anna Morell. 26th February 2017 Posted by Anna Morell
The standout moments for me were Daniel Collins’ solos – an alto, his voice has an astonishing purity. ‘Et misericordia…’ can be touched by melodrama, but not a bit of it here. A soaring, drawing in to the mercy articulated with such emotion that I found my made-up eyes a little pandafied afterwards.
His second solo accompanied by the most delicious flutes was similarly extraordinary. ‘Esurientes implevit bonis et divites dimisit inanes’ can be a bit… well, twee and inanes. This rendition had depth, texture, a sincerity and a serenity borne of lightness (again, that lightness – such a departure for the playing of most Bach).
22/4/2018 Classic FM, The Sixteen and the Genesis Foundation present the first ever live-streamed concert from the Sistine Chapel
Daniel was one of the soloists for the amazing performance of Sir James MacMillan’s Stabat Mater in the Sistine Chapel, Rome.
On Wednesday 9 May 2018, The Sixteen was awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS) Music Award in the Ensemble category, for its outstanding work in 2017.
Daniel is possessed of a remarkable counter-tenor voice…his contribution to the choir seems, at times, irreplaceable.
Daniel performs on many recording including
The Sixteen, Tenebrae, The Gabrieli Consort, Musica Beata, Arcangelo, The Hobbit (film score), Church of All Saints, Margaret Street and others.
