When asked to describe Danny Helseth as a musician, composers Joseph T. Spaniola and Brett Miller use the words such as “high energy…intensity…emotion-filled”. Danny has never been known to go into anything half-way, but rather puts everything he has into what he does. This is very evident as he pursues his musical career on the euphonium.
Danny began his education with a Bachelor of Music Education from Central Washington University (1999); continued with a Master in Music Performance, Euphonium from The University of North Texas (2002); and a Post-graduate Diploma in Performance from The Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England where he studied on a Fulbright Scholarship.
As a former member of the United States Air Force Band in Washington D.C., Danny was quickly recognized as an energetic and engaging soloist, featured several times with the band including on national tour in the spring of 2004. Helseth performed as a chamber musician and clinician at universities all over the US as a member of the Tower Brass Quintet.
Searching for new music, and new ways of musical expression, Danny has had the opportunity to debut several newly commissioned pieces including:
“Dream” for euphonium and string quartet by Joseph T. Spaniola;
“Concerto” for euphonium and orchestra by James Kazik; and
“6 Moods” for euphonium and piano by Brett Miller.
Helseth has recorded with The North Texas Wind Symphony, the Royal Northern College of Music Wind Orchestra, and the United States Air Force Band. He has performed as principal trombonist with the Friday Morning Music Club Symphony in Washington D.C., and the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic, and as euphoniumist with the Serapis Foundation, the Auburn Symphony, and is now principal and solo euphoniumist with Brass Band Northwest.
Danny is currently a freelance musician and solo euphoniumist in Seattle, WA. With the release of his debut solo album, “Snapshots!” Helseth is quickly establishing himself as a dynamic soloist and educator, giving master classes and clinics to middle school and high school bands; infecting students with the desire to energetically give everything they have to that cause for which they are most passionate.
Danny, throughout his life, has been in contact with extraordinary musicians, many of whom have been his private teachers, including: Larry Gookin, Tom Gause, and Dr. Russ Schultz at Central Washington; Dr. Brian Bowman and Vern Kagarice at The University of North Texas; Steven Mead and Jim Gorlay at The Royal Northern College of Music; and Patrick Sheridan and Sam Pilafian at The Institute for Performance Success. Countless other musicians, colleagues and students have taught and inspired Danny’s music and direction.
Danny Helseth is a Besson performing artist and clinician for Buffet Crampon USA, and performs exclusively on a Besson Prestige 2051 Euphonium.
Education:
University of North Texas
--MMUS Perf 2002
Fulbright Scholarship to Britain 2001-2002
Royal Northern College of Music
--PGDip Perf 2002
Central Washington University
--BMUS ED 1999
Recent performances and other things of note:
World Premieres:
- ”Dream” by Joseph T. Spaniola
- “Euphonium Concerto” by James Kazik
- “Six Moods for Euphonium and Piano” by Brett Miller
Solo performances:
-Northwest International Brass Band Festival, Bellevue, WA
-Northwest Intercollegiate Tuba Euphonium Symposium, Central Washington University
-Mountlake Terrace High School Band
-Edmonds Woodway HIgh School Band
-Greenwood Concert Band
-Central Washington University
-Midwest Tuba Euphonium Conference
-Northeast Tuba Euphonium
Conference
-The Army Band Tuba Euphonium Conference
-University of Oregon
-Claremont School of Theology
-The Lyceum in Alexandria, VA
-With the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic
-Tour Soloist with the USAF Band, Spring 2004
-Featured soloist with USAF Band Summer Series, Summer 2005
-USAF Band Chamber Music Series
-British Fulbright Recital at the US Embassy, London, UK
Ensemble performance:
-The Potomac Trombone Quartet at the Lyceum in Alexandria, VA
-USAF Euphonium Quartet at the Potomac River Music Academy
-Euphoniums Unlimited! At ITEC 2006
