Dan Flanagan currently serves as Concertmaster of the Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera, Concertmaster of West Edge Opera, and Instructor of Violin at University of California, Berkeley. Described as an “excellent violinist” (New York Concert Reviews), “stellar musician” (Nevada Reviews) and “superior violinist” (Piedmont Post), he has been praised for his “exquisite tones” and “forthright brio” (Sacramento Bee), and his “solos were excellent” (San Francisco Classical Voice)
Flanagan created The Bow and the Brush, an organization that commissions new music inspired by paintings and sculptures. With over 30 chamber and solo works, he has performed solo recitals across the United States, France, Italy, and England, including Carnegie Hall, University of California, Boston University, University of Rome, Stern Pissarro Gallery, and The American Library in Paris. Several of these compositions can be heard on his album, The Bow and the Brush, released by MSR Classics in March of 2023, to critical acclaim.
Flanagan has performed as concertmaster with the Oakland Symphony, Santa Rosa Symphony, California Symphony, California Musical Theater, Festival Opera, Symphony San Jose, Modesto Symphony, and Opera Parallèle. He performs regularly with the San Francisco Opera, Trio Solano, Berkelium String Quartet, and the Eco Ensemble.
As a composer, he has been commissioned by International Arts Educators Forum, Cecilia Ensemble, Trio Solano, Farallon Quintet, Hunter’s Point Shipyard Artists, Shipyard Gallery, Gold Coast Chamber Players, the Swedenborgian Church of San Francisco, and numerous musician colleagues. In addition to promoting living composers and artists of diverse backgrounds, Dan regularly features his art collection to host fundraisers for charities.
