Daniel Colalillo is a New York-based classical pianist renowned for his commanding performances and unique interpretations, praised for their depth and musical integrity. He has received acclaim from The New York Times and continues to captivate audiences with his dynamic style. Daniel made his concerto debut in 2008, performing Beethoven’s 2nd Concerto with the MK Symphony only after playing piano for only 3 years. Since then, he has appeared as a soloist with the PurchaseSymphony Orchestra, Spring Hill Orchestra (Tchaikovsky’s 1st Piano Concerto), and performed Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. He has given solo recitals at prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall, Steinway Hall, Bargemusic, Symphony Space, Baruch College, and Princeton University. His performances span major cities such as Philadelphia, San Francisco, Nashville, Toronto, and Montreal, etc. A dedicated advocate for contemporary music, Daniel has premiered numerous works for solo piano and chamber music. He had also worked with many renowned composers and most notably with composer & pianist Lowell Liebermann.
Daniel began playing piano at the late age of 15 and earned his Master’s degree in Piano Performance from Mannes College: The New School for Music, studying with Thomas Sauer and Eteri Andjaparidze, and holds a Bachelor of Music from Purchase College, where he studied with Paul Ostrovsky. He has also studied with MacArthur Fellow Jeremy Denk.
Daniel is the Artistic Director of Classical Keys, a chamber music series now in its 5th season, organizing concerts in New Jersey and NYC. As a chamber musician, he has collaborated with top soloists, doctoral artists from Juilliard, Manhattan School of Music, and Indiana, as well as members of the NY Philharmonic, The Met Opera, and Avery Fisher Career Grant recipients.
A dedicated educator, Daniel has taught masterclasses at universities and operates a private studio in Manhattan, earning the title of “Top Piano Teacher” by Steinway & Sons. He has been an accompanist on staff at Columbia University’s Barnard College and SUNY Purchase, with work at institutions like Manhattan School of Music, Mannes, and The Juilliard School. His debut album Mostly Scriabin, has been widely praised. Daniel serves on the Council of Groupmuse, an organization promoting chamber music house concerts in the U.S. and abroa
Funding for the Madison Holiday Arts Festival is provided by the Madison Downtown Development Commission in association with the Madison Arts and Culture Alliance.
