About>
Dan is a drummer/percussionist based in London, currently playing drums for 'Dear Evan Hansen' (Noel Coward Theatre, West End)
Whether it was singing with his children's choir, playing drums and percussion in west end theatres or all three with his various bands, Dan has been lucky enough to perform at some of the UK's finest music venues such as St. Paul's Cathedral, Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, o2 Academy 1 - Islington to name just a few...
Dan began playing drums at the age of 3, when his dad, a professional drummer himself (Brendan Day of ‘The Steve Gibbons Band’), bought Dan his very first drum kit. During his primary school years, Dan was self taught, with general guidance coming from his dad. He started playing drums with Fosbrooks at Stockport Sunday School Arts Centre and performed with ‘Gene Therapy And The Chromosomes’ at The One World Festival in New Mills.
In 1999, Dan joined The Kinder Children’s Choir of the High Peak and began performing at venues all across the UK, including: St. Paul’s Cathedral, London with the Duchess of Gloucester and Bishops of the Church of England attending, Coventry Cathedral, Queen Elizabeth Hall for the London for Music for Youth Festival, Chapel of St. Mary Undercroft in the Palace of Westminster, Buxton Opera House, Royal Northern College of Music and the Lowry in Salford for Sainsbury’s Choir of the Year, Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in 2000 and 2001, Chatsworth House for the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. He toured Germany and Norfolk twice, sang on two CD recordings and also sang on BBC’s Songs Of Praise. Dan also auditioned for and was offered the part of one of the 3 boys in Opera North’s production of ‘The Magic Flute’.
Dan began studying percussion at Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester in 2001. His teachers included: Paul Patrick (Percussion), Dave Hext (Orchestral Percussion), Dave Hassell (Drum Kit/Latin Percussion), Dave Walsh (Drum Kit) and Sophie Hastings (Drum Kit/Latin Percussion). In his seven years at Chet’s he performed at such venues as: Bridgewater Hall, Windsor Castle, Selby Abbey and a personal highlight was playing timpani in Mendelsohn’s ‘Elijah’ with Paul McCreesh conducting at Chester Cathedral. Dan reached the televised percussion category finals of BBC’s Young Musician Of The Year in 2008. After the competition, Dan performed an opening set for established American session drummer Russ Miller at one of his drum clinics in Manchester – courtesy of Yamaha Drums and Zildjian Cymbals.
In 2006, Dan teamed up with friend and fellow percussionist Jim Molyneux to form the folk quartet ‘4Square’ with fiddle player and clog dancer Nicola Lyons from Stockport and James Meadows, a banjo and tenor guitar player from Holmfirth. In 2007 they released their debut album ’20:20 Manchester’. 4Square performed at Fairport’s Cropredy Convention in 2009. They performed an astounding 80 minute set and encore before an audience of 20,000 people, 4Square then went on to sell every last one of their debut album becoming The Cropredy Convention’s 2nd biggest selling band of all time. 4Square have performed at various UK folk festivals such as: Warwick Folk Festival, Shrewsbury Folk Festival and Broadstairs Folk Festival. In 2010, 4Square released their second album ‘ChronicLes’ and took Europe by storm by performing at festivals in Denmark, The Czech Republic, Corfu and Norway. 4Square are still performing on the UK folk circuit today and will be releasing their fourth album 'Fuel' in time for a UK Spring Tour in 2016.
Dan began studying at The Royal College Of Music in London as a scholar in 2009. His teachers included: Alex Neal (Percussion), Ralph Salmins (Drum Kit), David Hockings (Percussion,) Mike Skinner (Orchestral Percussion), Anthony Kerr (Jazz Vibes), Andy Smith (Timpani), Hugh Wilkinson (Latin Percussion) and Daniella Geneva (Marimba). During his time at the RCM, Dan has had masterclasses with some of the industry’s top players, including: Peter Erskine, Stewart Copeland (Drummer with ‘The Police’), John Riley, Jim Kilpatrick, Randy Max, Mark Ford, She Wu, Colin Currie, David Lopez, Nick Woud, Matthew Perry, Paolo Cimmino, Eric Sammut and Nebojsa Jovan Zivkovic.
During his time in London, Dan has played drums and percussion in many musical productions including: the west end fringe show ‘Daddy Long Legs’ at St. James Theatre, 'Zanna, Don't!' at The Landor Theatre.
In 2015 Dan began playing drums for the UK Tour of 'Dirty Dancing' and not long after began deputising on the 'Billy Elliot' (UK Tour), 'Charlie & The Chocolate Factory' (Theatre Royal, West End), 'Aladdin' (Prince Edward Theatre, West End) and Hamilton (Palace Theatre, Victoria).
Dan made his West End debut in 2019 in 'Come From Away' (Pheonix Theatre,West End) which won the Oliver Award for 'Outstanding Achievement In Music'.
In late 2019, Dan took the drum chair for 'Dear Evan Hansen' (Noel Coward Theatre, West End)
Dan is endorsed by Schlagwerk Percussion and Vater Drumsticks.
