COMPOSER
When composing, I always have an image in my head, which gets immediately confronted with reality when listening for the first time a sound that was only a blur-initial idea behind my sketches and notes.
Daniel Davis, about The Cloud
Biography
Daniel Davis is a composer whose music is characterised by rich polyphonic textures and vibrant sonic landscapes, blending modern approaches with lyrical and communicative expression. Drawing inspiration from nature landscapes, his work reimagines historical materials and techniques in contemporary contexts.
His music has been performed by ensembles such as the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra of Cascais and Oeiras, and at international festivals including the World New Music Days and the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence. He has collaborated with leading musicians and composers, including Mark-Anthony Turnage, James MacMillan, Michel van der Aa, Kaija Saariaho, Julian Anderson, António Pinho Vargas, and Luís Tinoco.
Davis was the Young Composer in Residence for the Chamber Orchestra of Cascais and Oeiras (2014–15) and has received multiple awards, including First Prize at the SPA/Antena 2 Composition Competition (2014) and the Intel Accordion Competition Prize (2019).
Recent highlights include his participation in the Opera & New Technologies Workshop at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence (2019–20) and residencies with the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s Young Composers Scheme (2019–20) and the enoa Workshop Composing for Voices and Orchestra at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.
In 2025, Daniel had the esteemed honor of rearranging the National Anthem of the United Kingdom for a special presentation at Windsor Castle. This memorable performance was held in the presence of His Majesty King Charles III and to commemorate His Royal Highness, The Duke of Kent's 90th birthday. The National Anthem, arranged for String Octet, featured talented musicians including Isabelle Faust (violin), Meesun Hong Coleman (violin), William Coleman (viola), Jean-Guihen Queyras (cello), and the Modigliani Quartet: Amaury Coeytaux (violin), Loïc Rio (violin), Laurent Marfaing (viola), and François Kieffer (cello).
Daniel Davis is represented by the Portuguese Music Research & Information Centre (mic.pt), with rights managed by the Portuguese Authors’ Society (SPA) in Portugal and PRS for Music internationally.
schedule
news
The Cloud
for Baritone and String Quartet
Text by Aubrey Lavender
Platinum Prize Winner from the Berlioz International Music Competition 2025, Season 2.
get in touch
Photographs © Ben Reason Photography