Bassist Daniel Turkos is a freelance musician in the tri-state area. He is a Graduate of West Chester University with BM in Music Performance and a Minor in Jazz Studies. He is the recipient of the Rob Simon Memorial Award and the Michael Falcone Jazz Scholarship at WCU.
Dan will be attending Penn State University in State College, PA in Fall ’08 for a Master’s Degree in Double Bass Performance. He is a Graduate Teaching Assistant studying with Robert Nairn, President Elect of the International Society of Bassists .
Dan began playing electric bass at age 14 and became exposed to jazz through the nurturing community of musicians in Delaware Water Gap, PA. Early experience came through groups at Stroudsburg High School, Moravian College, and the Celebration of the Arts (COTA) festival. At age 17, Daniel began studying the Double Bass because of his strong interest in jazz, Latin, and classical music.
Formal classical training began with Mr. Peter Paulsen at WCU. He has also studied with Dr. Mark Morton and Dr. Shao-lan Lee in Columbus, OH. Daniel is the Principal Double Bass of the West Chester University Symphony Orchestra led by conductor Ovidiu Marinescu and served as orchestra President for the 2006-07 school year. In August 2005, Daniel appeared with the orchestra at the Catania International Summer Festival in Catania, Sicily. He was appointed Principal Double Bass of the Catania Festival International Orchestra led by conductor Daisuke Soga and has played with the North Penn Symphony under Allan Scott.
Daniel’s formal jazz training began with Mr. Paul Rostock in Stroudsburg, PA. He has also studied with Peter Paulsen and Rufus Reid at Moravian College. He is the bassist for the Criterions Big Band at WCU, which in 2006, recorded the album “Writer’s Cramp.†He has performed at the COTA Jazz Festival, Media Jazz Festival, and at many clubs and restaurants in the tri-state area. Daniel has performed with jazz artists: John Swana, Dick Hyman, Phil Woods, Jon Faddis, John Fedchock, Greg Riley, Brian Betz, Bobby Sanabria, Steve Fidyk, Butch Ballard, Matt Niess, Mike Tomaro, Dave Manley, Jason Brown, Robert Stimpson, Samantha Rise Roberson, and Lauren Lark, as well as many of Philadelphia’s top jazz performers.
Double Bass gigs include Classical (solo, chamber, and orchestral), Jazz (combo and big band), Folk, Bluegrass, and Singer-Songerwriter dates.
Electric Bass gigs include Jazz (combo and big band) and Rock (coverbands/bar bands).
I am an applied music teacher at The Westtown School in West Chester, PA and a member of the International Society of Bassists .
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