Photo by Benny Vernon

Daniel Shao | Artist

Daniel Shao studied at the Royal Academy of Music, London, with Samuel Coles, graduating with Distinction and DipRAM. Before this, he graduated from Oxford University and the Purcell School, winning the Felsenstein Leaver’s Award.

Daniel’s playing has been described as “shapely and silvery” (Classical Source) and possessing “virtuosity, charm, and charisma in abundance” (The Telegraph). He is currently Associate Member with the Philharmonia and has performed with the London Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony, Oxford Philharmonic, Multi-Storey Orchestra, Chineke!, and Sinfonia Cymru, as well as the European Union Youth Orchestra, Britten Pears Orchestra, and Music Academy of the West.

He loves contemporary music, having undertaken intensive study with Sophie Cherrier at the Lucerne Festival Academy, and performing with groups like Riot Ensemble. He commissioned Mark Simpson’s ‘Miniatures’ for solo flute, premiered at the Leicester International Festival (published by Boosey).

Daniel won the British Flute Society Young Artist Competition, the Oxford Philharmonic concerto competition, Royal
Overseas League’s Sussex Prize, RAM’s Alumni Development Award for 'distinguished studentship’, and was a wind finalist in BBC Young Musician 2014.

​He greatly enjoys education and outreach work, such as for Live Music Now, and has given masterclasses at Leicester and Canterbury Christchurch Universities.