… grew up in the Cariboo, in Prince George, BC. His mom was a piano teacher who grew up playing at old-time community dances in southern Alberta with her fiddling father, Dan Wutzke. Grandpa Dan taught Daniel his first tune at age 9 and 6 uncles taught him the fiddle music of the prairies.

Since then, he received his BMus from UVic studying trumpet and in a career that has spanned over 4 decades has toured across Europe, Australia, China, Israel, the USA and Canada playing a wide range of musical styles from folk and jazz to electronic music. He has performed with many recognizable names such as Rickie Lee Jones, Spirit of the West, 54-40, Gord Downie, Elvis Costello, Lou Reed and the Vancouver and Victoria symphonies to name a few.

In 2012, Daniel received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee ‘Service’ Award for his legendary work as a music teacher. Then in 2013, was the recipient of the Canadian Folk Music Association ‘Innovator’ Award and in 2019, received a ‘Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle Association’ for his contribution to Canada’s fiddle culture. As well as teaching and performing, this includes a 35-year commitment to collecting, archiving and preserving BC’s indigenous fiddle history in which his collection currently includes over 3,000 BC tunes by over 300 BC composers, dating back to 1850. In 2014, Daniel was hired as the founding Artistic Director of the School of Contemporary Music at the Victoria Conservatory of Music. At the VCM, he spearheads innovative programming, helps run the Camosun College Music program and teaches 190 students weekly in ensembles and private lessons. He continues to compose, teach, perform and tour internationally, was a judge at last year’s Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle Contest in Whitehorse, YK, where he also visits and teaches youth on a regular basis. This year Daniel launches Woodbox Records – a label to preserve and promote BC Fiddle music.

Contact Daniel at daniel@daniellapp.com.