Daniel Cummings

Daniel Cummings is a conductor, composer, and pianist based in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  He has conducted such luminaries as the world famous Boston Brass, international trumpet virtuoso Jens Lindemann, and legendary guitarist Angel Romero. Active in opera and musical theatre, Dr. Cummings has conducted performances of Gianni Schicchi, Midsummer Nights Dream, Die Zauberflöte, Suor Angelica, L’Elisir d’Amore and West Side Story.  He has served on the faculties of the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, where he taught Musical Theatre and Collaborative Vocal Piano and UCLA Summer Music Academy, where he was Administrative Assistant and Chamber Music coach.

As a pianist, Dr. Cummings is active in chamber music and performs frequently in instrumental and vocal recitals. He has worked with Rakefet Hak, Betty Buckley, Len Cariou, Martin Katz and Margo Garrett. He worked as conducting assistant to John Mauceri of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and served as rehearsal pianist for their production of “Sunset Blvd.” 

As a composer, Daniel Cummings has written film scores, concerti for piano and clarinet, choral works, songs and song cycles, and over one hundred arrangements of hymns and folk songs for various ensembles and singers.  His music has been performed across the United States and in Canada, and his most recent premieres have been his setting of Tennyson’s Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal for the New Mexico Symphonic Chorus, Roger Melone, conductor,  Stabat Mater for mezzo-soprano and four cellos, and The Nativity, a Christmas Cantata for soprano and baritone soloists, SATB choir and four-hand piano.  In 2016, his Rhapsody for solo piano was premiered by Dr. Kristin Ditlow.  In April of the same year, Cummings conducted the New Mexico Philharmonic Orchestra in the world premiere of his piece, Bradbury Preludes.  Dr. Cummings also conducted the world premiere of his SummerRun Overture on the 2017/2018 season of the Albuquerque Philharmonic Orchestra, and in the fall of 2018, pianist Tzufeng Liu premiered his 3 Variations after J.S. Bach on her solo recital with the Southwest Arts Music Series.  He is currently writing music for the Los Angeles-based film company, Delta Wing Pictures new series, Phoenix.

Daniel Cummings also serves as the choir director and piano instructor at Manzano High School, as organist and pianist at Central United Methodist Church, and as pianist for the New Mexico Symphonic chorus.