Dave
Danford

Dave Danford

Orchestral Contractor | Percussionist | Artistic Director

Dave Danford is an established orchestral contractor actively working in the UK, providing orchestras and ensembles of professional musicians for concerts, events and theatre productions throughout the country.

As a Percussionist he has performed with leading professional orchestras, for West End theatre productions, and as a soloist (including recitals and orchestral concertos).

In 2023 Dave was appointed as the Artistic Director of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

Orchestral Contractor

Concerts

The Music of Hans Zimmer in Concert / September 2023
The Studio Orchestra / 67 musicians / Jack Campey Productions

UK Proms in the Park / September 2023
British Sinfonietta / 44 musicians / UKAC Productions

Home Alone in Concert / Royal Albert Hall / 2018 & 2022
Cinematic Sinfonia / 83 musicians / RAH Productions

Russell Watson / Bridgewater Hall, Manchester / June 2022
Arts Symphonic / 38 musicians / Teenage Cancer Trust

Rolando Villazón in Concert / July 2019
British Sinfonietta / 47 musicians / Llangollen Eisteddfod

Video Games Live / National Tours 2015, 2016 & 2018
British Sinfonietta / 43 musicians / SJM Concerts

Berlioz – Requiem / Gloucester Cathedral / July 2018
British Sinfonietta / 99 musicians / Cheltenham Festival

The Addams Family in Concert / Royal Albert Hall / October 2017
Cinematic Sinfonia / 78 musicians / RAH Productions

James Horner: A Life in Music / Royal Albert Hall / October 2017
Cinematic Sinfonia / 95 musicians / RAH Productions

Michael Giacchino at 50 / Royal Albert Hall / October 2017
Cinematic Sinfonia / 88 musicians / RAH Productions

An Evening with Sir Karl Jenkins, St Davids Cathedral / May 2017
British Sinfonietta / 71 musicians / Milford Haven Music Festival

Glamis Prom / Glamis Castle, Scotland / July 2016
British Sinfonietta / 36 musicians / PDF Productions

Casablanca Live in Concert / Royal Opera House / August 2015
Cinematic Sinfonia / 70 musicians / ROH Productions

Hitchcock’s Psycho Live in Concert / Dominion Theatre / March 2015
Cinematic Sinfonia / 40 musicians / Apollo

Home Alone Live in Concert / Aalborg, Denmark / December 2014
Cinematic Sinfonia / 62 musicians / Musikkens Hus

Karl Jenkins – Adiemus Colores / World Premiere /July 2014
British Sinfonietta / 45 musicians / Llangollen Eisteddfod

Disney in Concert / St David’s Hall, Cardiff /June 2014
Welsh Session Orchestra / 52 musicians

An Evening of Movies & Musicals / National Tour / April 2014
British Sinfonietta / 39 musicians / Stage Right Concerts

Hitchcock’s Psycho Live in Concert / National Tour / April 2014
Cinematic Sinfonia / 40 musicians / Alto Productions

Dame Evelyn Glennie & the British Sinfonietta / October 2013
British Sinfonietta / 49 musicians / Alto Productions

Theatre

For Tonight / Adelphi Theatre / September 2023
Blair Russell Productions

Summer Holiday / Princess Royal Theatre / March 2019
Musicality Academy of Performing Arts

The Last Five Years / National Tour / 2018
Leeway Productions

Annie / Camberley Theatre / October 2018
EntertainArts

Into the Woods / The Gate Arts Centre / March 2018
Canolfan Berfformio Cymru

Sweeney Todd / The Gate Arts Centre / December 2017
Canolfan Berfformio Cymru

Thoroughly Modern Millie / Princess Royal Theatre / July 2017
Musicality Academy of Performing Arts

Oliver! / Princess Royal Theatre / July 2016
Musicality Academy of Performing Arts

Tonight from the West End / Scotland Tour / April 2015
Tonight Productions

John Owen-Jones / Grand Theatre, Swansea / February 2014
UK Concerts Ltd.

Studio Sessions

Jamie Lonsdale / Abbey Road Studios / April 2023
National Philharmonic Orchestra of Great Britain / Arts Records

90.10. AG / Abbey Road Studios / September 2022
National Philharmonic Orchestra of Great Britain / Arts Records

Jamie Lonsdale / Abbey Road Studios / August 2020 & July 2021
Arts Symphonic / Arts Records

Jamie Lonsdale / Angel Studios / October 2019
Arts Symphonic / Arts Records

Joanna Forest / Angel Studios, London / July 2018
Arts Symphonic / Arts Records

Anna Göldi – Das Musical / Angel Studios, London / August 2017
Arts Symphonic / Stageworks GmbH

Olga Thomas / Angel Studios, London / August 2017
Arts Symphonic / Arts Records

Joe Leader / RAK Studios, London / February 2017
Welsh Session Orchestra / Leading Note Ltd.

Jamie Lonsdale / Angel Studios, London / August 2017
Arts Symphonic / Arts Records

John Owen-Jones – Bring Him Home / Sain Studios / January 2016
Welsh Session Orchestra / Sain Records

Trystan Llyr Griffiths – Trystan / Sain Studios / July 2015
Welsh Session Orchestra / Sain Records

Celebrity Cruises/ Angel Studios, London / June 2015
Session musicians / Talent Artistic Group

London Welsh Male Voice Choir / Angel Studios, London / May 2015
British Sinfonietta / Sain Records

John Owen-Jones – Rise / Sain Studios / November 2014
Welsh Session Orchestra / Sain Records

Joe Leader / RAK Studios, London /July 2014
Welsh Session Orchestra / Leading Note Ltd.

Three Welsh Tenors – Tarantella / Sain Studios / June 2013
Welsh Session Orchestra / Sain Records

Rhys Meirion & Robat Arwyn / Sain Studios / May 2013
Welsh Session Orchestra / Sain Records

Three Welsh Tenors – Tarantella / Sain Studios / January 2013
Welsh Session Orchestra / Sain Records

Ballet Cymru / Ty Cerdd Studio, Cardiff / February 2012
Welsh Session Orchestra / Ballet Cymru

John Owen-Jones – Unmasked / Sain Studios / January 2012
Welsh Session Orchestra / Sain Records

Cor Godre’r Garth – Coro Angelicus / Sain Studios / October 2011
Welsh Session Orchestra / Sain Records

Côr y Penrhyn / Sain Studios / September 2011
Welsh Session Orchestra / Sain Records

Television

Jamie Lonsdale / Songs of Praise / August 2020
BBC Studios

Rolando Villazón in Concert / Llangollen / July 2019
British Sinfonietta / Rondo Media for BBC / S4C

Corau Rhys Meirion / Ty Cerdd Studio, Cardiff / January 2019
Welsh Session Orchestra / Cwmni Da for S4C

Ten Divas / Venue Cymru, Llandudno / December 2016
British Sinfonietta / Rondo Media for S4C

Ten Welsh Tenors / Venue Cymru, Llandudno / December 2015
British Sinfonietta / Rondo Media for S4C

Male Voice Choir Festival / Royal Albert Hall / October 2014
British Sinfonietta / Sain Records for S4C

Karl Jenkins – Adiemus Colores (Premiere) / Llangollen / July 2014
British Sinfonietta / Rondo Media for BBC / S4C

Alfie Boe / Llangollen / July 2014
British Sinfonietta / Rondo Media for BBC / S4C

John Owen-Jones / The London Studios / September 2012
​Welsh Session Orchestra / ITV

Three Phantoms / Gwyl Gobaith / August 2012
​Welsh Session Orchestra / Avanti Media for S4C

Hayley Westenra / Gwyl Gobaith / August 2012
Rhythm section / Avanti Media for S4C

Karl Jenkins – The Peacemakers / Llangollen / July 2012
British Sinfonietta / Rondo Media for S4C

Percussionist

Jim Steinman’s Bat Out of Hell The Musical / 2017 – 2023
Manchester Opera House / London Coliseum / Dominion Theatre, London / International Tour / Australasia Arena Tour / Peacock Theatre, London

For Tonight: A New Musical / West End / 2023
Drum Kit & Percussion

British Sinfonietta
Britten – War Requiem (Chamber Orchestra Percussionist) / December 2018
​Karl Jenkins – Stabat Mater (Solo Percussionist) / September 2018
An Evening with Sir Karl Jenkins / May 2017
Ten Divas / December 2016 (Televised)
Karl Jenkins – Stabat Mater (Solo Percussionist) / May 2016
Ten Welsh Tenors / December 2015 (Televised)
Karl Jenkins – Adiemus Colores (World Premiere) / July 2014 (Televised)
Dame Evelyn Glennie & the British Sinfonietta / October 2013
Dame Evelyn Glennie in Llangollen / July 2013 (Televised)
Karl Jenkins – The Peacemakers / July 2012 (Televised)

Cinematic Sinfonia
Home Alone in Concert, Royal Albert Hall / December 2018 & 2022
Casablanca in Concert at the Royal Opera House / August 2015
Home Alone in Concert, Aalborg in Denmark / December 2014

Welsh Session Orchestra
Ney Rosauro – Concerto for Marimba (Marimba Soloist) / March 2014
​Three Welsh Tenors in Concert (Percussion & Drum Kit) / March 2014
Three Phantoms (Percussion & Drum Kit) / August 2012 (Televised)

Video Games Live – UK Tours / 2015, 2016 & 2018
Principal Percussionist

Extra work
BBC National Orchestra of Wales (Percussion)
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (Percussion & Drum Kit)
Royal Northern Sinfonia (Percussion & Drum Kit)

Tonight from the West End – Scotland Tour 2015
Drum Kit

Alfie Boe Live / July 2014
Drum Kit (Televised)

An Evening of Movies & Musicals – UK Tour 2014
Percussion & Drum Kit

Hayley Westenra Live / August 2012
Drum Kit (Televised)

Bryn Terfel / Bad Boys – UK Tour 2009
Percussion & Drum Kit (Televised)

Taran
Two albums (Percussion)

Dru Masters (The Apprentice, BBC)
Various projects including Solo Marimba for Canadian vocal group Aliqua

Judge Jules – BBC Radio 1
Two albums and various singles (Percussion)

Gear

Adams Musical Instruments
Artist

Balter Mallets
Artist

Grover Pro Percussion
Artist

Hardcase
Artist

LP / Latin Percussion
Artist

Protection Racket
Artist

SABIAN
Artist

Contact