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