Zachary Daniels, DMA
Adjunct Instructor of Music Theory
Music
Music - Theory
Music - Adjunct
Biography
Dr. Zachary Daniels is an award‑winning composer, conductor and scholar based in Oklahoma City. He serves on the faculty of Oklahoma City University, where he teaches Music Theory and Aural Skills and mentors emerging composers and low‑string players through his private studio. His creative work spans concert, theatre, film, and electroacoustic media, with a particular focus on narrative-driven sound worlds and the musical potential of unconventional timbres drawn from everyday objects and environments.
Daniels’ music has been performed internationally in Austria, South Korea, and major U.S. cities, and has been featured at College Music Society conferences, SEAMUS, the New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival, Inner sOUndscapes, and other competitive national venues. His “Lullaby” for Cello and Piano appears on Remembrance and Renewal, a Naxos‑distributed album that earned multiple honors at the World Music Awards. His compositions and conducting have been named finalists for The American Prize on multiple occasions, recognizing both his creative versatility and his leadership on the podium.
Alongside his compositional work, Daniels maintains an active and expanding research profile. His scholarship examines the multi‑hyphenate composer, narrative structures in electroacoustic music, and pedagogical intersections of theory, technology, and creative practice. He has presented at CMS, SCI, SEAMUS, SMT regional meetings, interdisciplinary arts symposia, and the Aspen Composers Conference, where his work on contemporary compositional identity and creative methodology has received notable attention. His forthcoming article, Familiar Foundations, will appear in the Journal for Music Theory Pedagogy and proposes innovative approaches to teaching post‑tonal analysis through narrative scaffolding, repertoire familiarity, and multimodal engagement.
As a conductor, Daniels leads ensembles across professional, civic, and educational spheres. He is the Music Director and Conductor of the Oklahoma Metropolitan Orchestra, the Winds of the Prairie Concert Band, and the Heartland Orchestra, where he champions accessible programming, regional collaboration, and the creation of new musical opportunities for Oklahoma communities. His conducting experience includes orchestral, wind band, chamber, and opera productions, bringing a clear, energetic, and collaborative approach to a wide range of repertoire. He also contracts and conducts orchestras for touring productions, holiday events, and large-scale civic performances.
A versatile performer, Daniels appears on cello, synthesizer, theremin, and electric bass, and remains a committed advocate for new music throughout the region. He is active in CMS, SCI, SMT, and SEAMUS, and continues to develop projects that bridge contemporary composition, technology, scholarship, and community engagement. Outside of music, he is an avid programmer, lifelong gamer, and film enthusiast.
