Daniel Orsen '18 MM joins the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra

Congratulations to Daniel Orsen '18 MM for his new position with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra!

Orsen will join the viola section and his first concerts as a full-time member will occur at the beginning of the 2022.23 season. Orsen will be featured as soloist on Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante for Violin and Viola September 16-20.

Read the full press release here.

“Daniel played with such commitment and passion in his audition recital, completely winning over the audition committee. His musical curiosity and interests align perfectly with the SPCO’s repertoire and I am thrilled to have him join the viola section of the SPCO!” said Principal Viola Maiya Papach.

Regarding his appointment to the viola section, Daniel comments:

“I'm elated to be joining the SPCO! This is a dream job for me, and a long time coming. I've had my sights set on this since the fall of 2019,” said Orsen. “Each member of the orchestra has a high degree of agency and responsibility, which makes this ensemble so excellent and unique [...]. I do have to credit my experience with the NEC Chamber Orchestra for whetting my appetite for the chamber orchestra experience, and connections from NEC for helping me get my foot in the door at the SPCO as a sub. Perhaps it was Don Palma's recommendation, perhaps Kim Kashkashian, perhaps Hugh Wolff, but I suspect I owe one of those three a debt of gratitude."

During his six years in Boston, Daniel performed with A Far Cry, the BSO, Fermata Chamber Soloists, and the Phoenix Chamber Orchestra, and ran Jamaica Plain Chamber Music from 2019-2022. Additionally, he was Guest Solo Violist with the Arctic Philharmonic in Norway in the 2018-2019 season. He was taught and mentored by members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Credo, and the Perlman Music Program before his studies at the Oberlin Conservatory with Peter Slowik and the New England Conservatory with Kim Kashkashian. He plays on a 2013 Philip Injeian viola and a 2014 Benoit Rolland bow, both specially made for him.

Congratulations and best of luck in Saint Paul, Daniel!