Daniel Newman-Lessler started studying classical piano at age four and was taught by Peter Yazbeck from ages eight to eighteen. During this time, Daniel performed as a Rising Star at the Ventura County Music Festival in 2006 and as a concerto soloist with the Thousand Oaks Philharmonic on three occasions; participated in summer music festivals at the Idyllwild Arts Academy and the Franz Liszt Piano Academy in Sopron, Hungary, where he studied with William Wellborn from the San Francisco Conservatory and Professor Adam Wibrowski from the Paris Conservatory in 2007; excelled in competitive circuits, winning the Anne George and Bernice Bernard Scholarship Competitions, the 2008 SYMF and 2009 MTAC State Concerto Competitions, and the State Certificate of Merit Panel Competition, which resulted in his receiving a master class from Steinway Artist Jon Nakamatsu. Daniel has decided upon a career in conducting and to date has studied with Kenneth Kiesler at the first Los Angeles Conductor’s Workshop, Helmuth Rilling at the Oregon Bach Festival, Maurizio Ciampi from the Conservatorio Santa Secilia, Jo-Michael Scheibe, Christian Grases, and Michael Christ Powers. Currently, he is pursuing a Masters of Music in Sacred Music at the USC Thornton School of Music, while also serving as conductor of the Kadima Senior Philharmonic and PVSD Chorus and as pianist for the Singer Chamber Players. Daniel also teaches piano privately at his studio in Somis. He will be conducting eleven showings of West Side Story at the Rubicon in Ventura this summer.