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Events:

2005–present

• HADRIAN AT ANTINOOPOLIS Small-scale opera composition using text by librettist Simon Rees.  The work was first rehearsed by four male vocalists from the WNO Chorus and is current;y being adapted for Wind Trio.
• JAZZ, BLUES, ROCK ‘N ROLL Vocal and Piano composition by Dan Phelps and Dan Curtis
• EVERY ROAD LED STRAIGHT BACK TO YOU Vocal and Piano composition by Dan Phelps and Dan Curtis
• WHAT ARE YOU FEELING? Vocal and Piano composition by Dan Phelps and Dan Curtis using a strong Blues line.
• UNLEASHED Written for Flute, Clarinet in Bb/Clarinet in Eb, Viola, Cello, Guitar and Piano.
• PHASED Written for Clarinet in Bb, Cello and Piano. This piece was composed for the Enid Luff birthday celebrations and was premiered in a concert organised by the Composers of Wales in May 2008.
• THE DARK, BLUE SECRET Written for Clarinet, Violin, Cello and Piano. This composition was written for Cardiff New Music Collective and was premiered in 2008.
• REPERCUSSIONS Written for Flute/Piccolo, Clarinet in Bb/Bass Clarinet, Viola, Cello, Guitar and piano. This piece was commissioned by Cardiff New Music Collective, who Dan was an associate composer of, and was premiered in January 2007.
• STIFLED Written for String Quartet.  This piece was premiered by the Mavron Quartet at The Gate Arts Centre in Cardiff in June 2007.
• TWISTED FAIRGROUND Written for Viola and Piano. This piece was premiered in June 2006 at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff by Philip Heyman (of Welsh National Opera) and Zoe Smith.
• THE EMPTY HEAD Written for two Clarinets and Bassoon. This piece was premiered in Mold in June 2006 by Ensemble Cymru and was then played throughout Wales as part of a six-date tour.
• COMPROMISE Written for Clarinet and Flute. This piece was premiered as part of my wedding service in February 2006
• MINIMUM VS. MAXIMUM Written for Piano and Cello. This piece was premiered by the Composers’ of Wales in March 2006 as part of the Bangor Music Festival.
• EPISODIC DREAMS Written for Violin and Guitar. This piece was premiered by the Gjylaci Duo at the Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester in January 2006 and performed again by the Duo as part of the ‘Monday Night Musicales’ season organised by the Royal Northern College of Music in February 2006.
• FRICTION Written for Piano, Cello, Violin, Clarinets and Flute/Piccolo.
• THE DICTATION Written for Brass Quintet.
• FEARS AND DREAMS Electronic piece written for Rubicon Dance. This collaborative work was performed at the Gate Arts Centre in Cardiff in May 2005.
• EXPLORING THE ATMOSPHERE (TONES AND MOODS) Written for Solo Piano and premiered as part of a composers’ concert at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in February 2005.
• HYPERACTIVE Written for Piano, Eb Clarinet and Piccolo. Premiered in March 2005 as part of a composers’ concert at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff.
• THE FLY IN THE CRADLE Written for solo Bass Clarinet.
• KNACKERED Written for Symphony Orchestra. Performed by the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama Symphony Orchestra in January 2005. 2000 – 2004
• SISTERS Written for Piano, Violin and Cello. A set of four miniatures commissioned by a choreographer in Cardiff for a short movement film.
• TAMING THE CLARINET Written for Clarinet and Piano. This piece was premiered as part of a composers’ concert at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in March 2005.
• THE CURIOUS HYPNOTIST Written for Clarinet, Bassoon and Contrabassoon. Premiered as part of a composers’ concert at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff in May 2004.
• NOT CLOSE ENOUGH Written for Piano, Viola, Guitar, Clarinet in Bb/Clarinet in Eb/Bass Clarinet and Flute/Piccolo. Premiered by the In Transit Ensemble in June 2004 as part of the launch concert for the group at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff.
• BASSOON WHERE NEEDED Written for Piano and Bassoon. Premiered as part of a composers’ concert at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in March 2004.
• MECHANICAL FAILURE Written for Clarinet in Bb/Bass Clarinet, Oboe and Bassoon. Premiered as part of a composers’ concert at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in December 2003.
• THE FLAMINGO Written for Bass Clarinet, Oboe, Viola, Cello and Harp. Premiered by Okeanos in a performance at Bath Spa University College in May 2003.

Background

Dan Phelps is a composer and pianist based in South Wales. Dan has a Post Graduate Diploma in composition from the prestigious Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama as well as a BA (Hons) degree in Music from Bath Spa University College.

Multimedia

Dan has composed music for a number of professional organisations and individuals including Rubicon Dance, India Dance Wales, Elan Wales (a theatre company) and Calon TV (an animation company) amongst others. For Calon TV Dan was responsible for composing the music for one of their animation ‘Trailers’ "Are We There Yet"

Dan continues to work very closely with two poets, Jeff Phelps and Simon Fletcher, on a collaboration project Severn Spirit. The collaboration combines the original solo piano works of Dan Phelps with the poems and stories of Jeff Phelps and Simon Fletcher. the trio performed at a sold out performance at the Bewdley Festival.

Chamber Music

Dan has been involved with numerous chamber ensembles including the Gjylaci Duo who have given a world premiere performance of his Violin and Guitar piece (Episodic Dreams) at the Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester, as well as performing it again as part of the ‘Monday Night Musicales’ season organised by the Royal Northern College of Music.

His Piano and Cello piece "Minimum Vs. Maximum" was premiered by Harvey Davies (piano) and Heather Bills (cello) at the Powys Hall at the University of Wales Bangor, as part of the Bangor Music Festival. This concert was co-organised by the Composers of Wales which Dan is a member of. For more information about the Composers of Wales, please visit their website at www.cc-cw.org

His piece "The Empty Head" for two Clarinets and Bassoon was premiered by Ensemble Cymru. The piece was premiered in Mold, North Wales and was then played throughout Wales in a six date tour.

His Viola and Piano piece "Twisted Fairground" was premiered by Philip Heyman (of Welsh National Opera) and Zoe Smith at the Wales Millennium Centre, and his piece "Stifled", for String Quartet was premiered by the Mavron Quartet at the Gate Arts Centre in Cardiff.

Dan is currently working very closely with librettist Simon Rees of Welsh National Opera on a new opera piece called Hadrian At Antinooplis

Other Work

After working at the Wales Millennium Centre leading educational music workshops for children Dan now freelances as a workshop facilitator and piano and composition tutor.

Dan is part of a number of performance based projects. He is the keyboard player for New Jersey, a Bon Jovi tribute band. The band have played many gigs together including the Swansea Milkwood Jam and they have many big performances to look forward to in the future including a large scale tribute festival.

Dan is also the keyboard player in a new venture 2 Rude, a Ska tribute band. The band have headlined the Swansea Beer Festival and look forward to more successes in the future.

Dan works closely with the singer Dan Curtis on a number of music projects. The duo have performed together many times including a concert prior to the prestigious BAFTA Cymru Awards held at Wales Millennium Centre. They have played, amongst others, at the internationally recognised Millennium Stadium, Cafe Jazz, Aber Jazz Festival, Bute Town Jazz and Blues Festival, the Hard Rock Cafe in Cardiff, which was one of the first Jazz gigs under the Hard Rock Brand, St Giles Church in the prestigious Covent Gardens, and they have recently performed live on Cardiff Radio. The duo have received excellent feedback on their versions of classic songs and their own material. They are currently working on an album and theatre show based around their works.

Dan was also a member and an associate composer of the Cardiff New Music Collective for several years. CNMC specialise in performing contemporary music to new audiences and have performed throughout Wales at venues including the Chapter Arts Centre, the Wales Millennium Centre, Canton Uniting Church, Trinity College Carmarthen, the Aberystwyth Arts Centre and Conway Methodist Church in Canton.

If you would like more information about the composer, his work or any of his forthcoming concerts and events, please do not hesitate to contact him.

• E-mail: danphelpsmusic.com
• Visit his website: http://www.phelpsmusic.com
• To listen to Dan Phelps’ MP3 samples please visit: http://www.nationalgigguide.com/danphelps