Dan Price - Composer
Born in the Vale of Evesham, Worcestershire, Dan
showed an interest in music from an early age
playing trombone and tuba in Perscoran Brass and
his local 4th section band Alcester Victoria Silver
Band.
Dan also learned double bass and clarinet at high
school and developed a keen interest in
composition and arranging.
After leaving school Dan embarked on a career as
an hotelier, but continued to take his music
seriously playing with the many town bands in his
area. He also started his own 1920’s and 30’s
dance band, using his transcriptions and
arrangements. He developed his jazz musicianship
further during the late nineties through playing sousaphone, double bass and bass
saxophone in a number of professional ensembles, including the internationally
acclaimed Pasadena Roof Orchestra.
In 2003 Dan decided to return to full time education and began studying for a music
degree at the University of Salford, which he completed with first class honours in
2006. On completion of this, he was awarded a scholarship to continue his studies
further for a Masters degree in Composition under the direction of Peter Graham.
Dan completed this with distinction in 2008.
During his final year of the postgraduate degree, Dan gained his first real taste of
recognition as a composer/arranger when he was asked to arrange That’ll Do from the
film ‘Babe’ for the famous Black Dyke band. He was also runner-up in the
Mouthpiece March competition in 2005 with The Traditional and finalist in the
Brighouse and Rastrick 125th anniversary composers’ competition in 2006 with
Celebration Prelude.
Dan’s 4th section test piece; An Elgar Portrait, was chosen as the set work for the
Swiss National Brass Band Championships in 2007, and at the ‘Pontins’
Championships, in 2008. In 2009 his test piece New World Sketches was used as the
2nd section Regional Championships and again at the French Open Championships in
the same year.
Dan is currently an associated composer with the Cory Band and is currently working
on several exciting new projects with some of the world’s top class brass soloist’s.