“Under
Mr. Swift’s baton, the
textures are transparent and details
finely drawn. The kaleidoscopic
changes in mood and character
are likewise conveyed with finesse
and vitality.” NIAGARA LIFE
DANIEL SWIFT
Recognized for his skillful programming, his large and varied
repertoire, and his dynamic and elegant conducting, Daniel
Swift studied oboe and composition at the Conservatory in
Trois-Rivières, music history and musicology at Laval
University in Québec, and conducting with Pierre
Dervaux and Jean-Pierre Jacquillat in Paris. He has been
music director of l'Ensemble instrumental de Trois-Rivières,
the Laval University orchestra and of the Ensemble instrumental
des Jeunesses musicales du Canada (Montréal). Winner
of the Heinz Unger Conducting Award in 1983, he was assistant
conductor for Boris Brott with the Hamilton Philharmonic
and Uri Mayer with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra before
becoming conductor and Music Director of the Saskatoon Symphony
Orchestra (1984-1992).
Equally at ease with mainstream or rare classical works,
as well as with “pops” concert material, Maestro
Swift has conducted numerous orchestras in Canada, the United
States and Europe. As a frequent guest of the Canadian Broadcasting
Corporation (CBC) and Radio-Canada, he has been regularly
featured on concerts for regional and national broadcast.
In 1989 Daniel Swift directed in Paris and New York (1989),
a revival of Francis Poulenc’s musical play Le Gendarme
incompris, which he rediscovered during musicological research
in France. He participated in the preparation of an edition
of this work for music publisher Salabert. As well, he has
recorded three ballets of composer Henri Sauguet with the
CBC Vancouver Orchestra on the SM5000 label. This CD entitled
Parisian Ballets was unanimously recommended by music magazines
in Japan, France and the United States.
Daniel Swift was appointed Music Director of the Niagara
Symphony Orchestra in 1999.
