Dave Danford  
Orchestral Contractor / Percussionist

Dave Danford is an established orchestral contractor actively working in the UK, providing orchestras and ensembles of professional musicians for concerts, events and theatre productions throughout the country.

As a Percussionist he has performed with leading professional orchestras, for West End theatre productions, and as a soloist (including recitals and orchestral concertos).

Orchestral Contractor
Concerts

The Music of Hans Zimmer in Concert / September 2023
The Studio Orchestra / 67 musicians / Jack Campey Productions

UK Proms in the Park / September 2023
British Sinfonietta / 44 musicians / UKAC Productions

Home Alone in Concert / Royal Albert Hall / 2018 & 2022
Cinematic Sinfonia / 83 musicians / RAH Productions 

Russell Watson / Bridgewater Hall, Manchester / June 2022
Arts Symphonic / 38 musicians / Teenage Cancer Trust

Rolando Villazón in Concert / July 2019

British Sinfonietta / 47 musicians / Llangollen International Eisteddfod

Video Games Live / National Tours 2015, 2016 & 2018
British Sinfonietta / 43 musicians / SJM Concerts

Berlioz - Requiem / Gloucester Cathedral / July 2018
British Sinfonietta / 99 musicians / Cheltenham Festival

The Addams Family in Concert / Royal Albert Hall / October 2017
Cinematic Sinfonia / 78 musicians / RAH Productions

James Horner: A Life in Music / Royal Albert Hall / October 2017
Cinematic Sinfonia / 95 musicians / RAH Productions

Michael Giacchino at 50 / Royal Albert Hall / October 2017
Cinematic Sinfonia / 88 musicians / RAH Productions

   

An Evening with Sir Karl Jenkins, St Davids Cathedral / May 2017
British Sinfonietta / 71 musicians / Milford Haven Music Festival 

Glamis Prom / Glamis Castle, Scotland / July 2016

British Sinfonietta / 36 musicians / PDF Productions

Casablanca Live in Concert / Royal Opera House / August 2015
Cinematic Sinfonia / 70 musicians / ROH Productions

Hitchcock's Psycho Live in Concert / Dominion Theatre / March 2015
Cinematic Sinfonia / 40 musicians / Apollo

Home Alone Live in Concert / Aalborg, Denmark / December 2014
Cinematic Sinfonia / 62 musicians / Musikkens Hus

Karl Jenkins - Adiemus Colores / World Premiere /July 2014
British Sinfonietta / 45 musicians / Llangollen Eisteddfod

Disney in Concert / St David's Hall, Cardiff /June 2014
Welsh Session Orchestra / 52 musicians

An Evening of Movies & Musicals / National Tour / April 2014
British Sinfonietta / 39 musicians / Stage Right Concerts

Hitchcock's Psycho Live in Concert / National Tour / April 2014
Cinematic Sinfonia / 40 musicians / Alto Productions 

Dame Evelyn Glennie & the British Sinfonietta / October 2013
British Sinfonietta / 49 musicians / Alto Productions

Theatre

For Tonight / Adelphi Theatre / September 2023
Blair Russell Productions

Summer Holiday / Princess Royal Theatre / March 2019
Musicality Academy of Performing Arts 

The Last Five Years / National Tour / 2018
Leeway Productions

Annie / Camberley Theatre / October 2018
EntertainArts

Into the Woods / The Gate Arts Centre / March 2018
Canolfan Berfformio Cymru


Sweeney Todd / The Gate Arts Centre / December 2017
Canolfan Berfformio Cymru 

Thoroughly Modern Millie / Princess Royal Theatre / July 2017

Musicality Academy of Performing Arts 

Oliver! / Princess Royal Theatre / July 2016

Musicality Academy of Performing Arts

Tonight from the West End / Scotland Tour / April 2015
Tonight Productions

John Owen-Jones / Grand Theatre, Swansea / February 2014 
UK Concerts Ltd. 

Studio Sessions

Jamie Lonsdale / Abbey Road Studios / April 2023
National Philharmonic Orchestra of Great Britain / Arts Records

90.10. AG / Abbey Road Studios / September 2022
National Philharmonic Orchestra of Great Britain / Arts Records

Jamie Lonsdale / Abbey Road Studios / August 2020 & July 2021
Arts Symphonic / Arts Records

Jamie Lonsdale / Angel Studios / October 2019
Arts Symphonic / Arts Records

Joanna Forest / Angel Studios, London / July 2018

Arts Symphonic / Arts Records

Anna Göldi - Das Musical / Angel Studios, London / August 2017
Arts Symphonic / Stageworks GmbH

Olga Thomas / Angel Studios, London / August 2017
Arts Symphonic / Arts Records

Joe Leader / RAK Studios, London / February 2017
Welsh Session Orchestra / Leading Note Ltd.

Jamie Lonsdale / Angel Studios, London / August 2017
Arts Symphonic / Arts Records

John Owen-Jones - Bring Him Home / Sain Studios / January 2016
Welsh Session Orchestra / Sain Records

Trystan Llyr Griffiths - Trystan / Sain Studios / July 2015
Welsh Session Orchestra / Sain Records 


Celebrity Cruises/ Angel Studios, London / June 2015
Session musicians / Talent Artistic Group

London Welsh Male Voice Choir / Angel Studios, London / May 2015
British Sinfonietta / Sain Records

John Owen-Jones - Rise / Sain Studios / November 2014

Welsh Session Orchestra / Sain Records

Joe Leader / RAK Studios, London  /July 2014
Welsh Session Orchestra / Leading Note Ltd.

Three Welsh Tenors - Tarantella / Sain Studios / June 2013
Welsh Session Orchestra / Sain Records

Rhys Meirion & Robat Arwyn / Sain Studios / May 2013
Welsh Session Orchestra / Sain Records

Three Welsh Tenors - Tarantella / Sain Studios / January 2013
Welsh Session Orchestra / Sain Records

Ballet Cymru / Ty Cerdd Studio, Cardiff / February 2012
Welsh Session Orchestra / Ballet Cymru

John Owen-Jones - Unmasked / Sain Studios / January 2012
Welsh Session Orchestra / Sain Records

Cor Godre'r Garth - Coro Angelicus / Sain Studios / October 2011
Welsh Session Orchestra / Sain Records

Côr y Penrhyn / Sain Studios / September 2011
Welsh Session Orchestra / Sain Records

Television

Jamie Lonsdale / Songs of Praise / August 2020
BBC Studios

Rolando Villazón in Concert / Llangollen / July 2019

British Sinfonietta / Rondo Media for BBC / S4C

Corau Rhys Meirion / Ty Cerdd Studio, Cardiff / January 2019
Welsh Session Orchestra / Cwmni Da for S4C 

Ten Divas / Venue Cymru, Llandudno / December 2016
British Sinfonietta / Rondo Media for S4C

Ten Welsh Tenors / Venue Cymru, Llandudno / December 2015
British Sinfonietta / Rondo Media for S4C

Male Voice Choir Festival / Royal Albert Hall / October 2014
British Sinfonietta / Sain Records for S4C


Karl Jenkins - Adiemus Colores (Premiere) / Llangollen / July 2014
British Sinfonietta / Rondo Media for BBC / S4C

Alfie Boe / Llangollen / July 2014

British Sinfonietta / Rondo Media for BBC / S4C

John Owen-Jones / The London Studios / September 2012
​Welsh Session Orchestra / ITV

Three Phantoms / Gwyl Gobaith / August 2012
​Welsh Session Orchestra / Avanti Media for S4C

Hayley Westenra / Gwyl Gobaith / August 2012
Rhythm section / Avanti Media for S4C

Karl Jenkins - The Peacemakers / Llangollen / July 2012
British Sinfonietta / Rondo Media for S4C


Percussionist

Jim Steinman's Bat Out of Hell The Musical / 2017 - 2023
Manchester Opera House / London Coliseum / Dominion Theatre, London / International Tour / Australasia Arena Tour / Peacock Theatre, London

For Tonight: A New Musical / West End / 2023
Drum Kit & Percussion

British Sinfonietta
Britten - War Requiem (Chamber Orchestra Percussionist) / December 2018
​Karl Jenkins - Stabat Mater (Solo Percussionist) / September 2018
An Evening with Sir Karl Jenkins / May 2017
Ten Divas / December 2016 (Televised)
Karl Jenkins - Stabat Mater (Solo Percussionist) / May 2016
Ten Welsh Tenors / December 2015 (Televised)
Karl Jenkins - Adiemus Colores (World Premiere) / July 2014 (Televised)
Dame Evelyn Glennie & the British Sinfonietta / October 2013
Dame Evelyn Glennie in Llangollen / July 2013 (Televised)
Karl Jenkins - The Peacemakers / July 2012 (Televised)

Cinematic Sinfonia
Home Alone in Concert, Royal Albert Hall / December 2018 & 2022
Casablanca in Concert at the Royal Opera House / August 2015
Home Alone in Concert, Aalborg in Denmark / December 2014

Welsh Session Orchestra
Ney Rosauro - Concerto for Marimba (Marimba Soloist) / March 2014
​Three Welsh Tenors in Concert (Percussion & Drum Kit) / March 2014
Three Phantoms (Percussion & Drum Kit) / August 2012 (Televised)

Video Games Live - UK Tours / 2015, 2016 & 2018
Principal Percussionist 



Extra work
BBC National Orchestra of Wales (Percussion)
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (Percussion & Drum Kit)
Royal Northern Sinfonia (Percussion & Drum Kit)

Tonight from the West End - Scotland Tour 2015
Drum Kit

Alfie Boe Live / July 2014
Drum Kit (Televised)

An Evening of Movies & Musicals - UK Tour 2014
Percussion & Drum Kit

Hayley Westenra Live / August 2012
Drum Kit (Televised)

Bryn Terfel / Bad Boys - UK Tour 2009
Percussion & Drum Kit (Televised)

Taran
Two albums (Percussion)

Dru Masters (The Apprentice, BBC)
Various projects including Solo Marimba for Canadian vocal group Aliqua

Judge Jules - BBC Radio 1
Two albums and various singles (Percussion)

Gear

Adams Musical Instruments 
Artist

Balter Mallets
Artist

Grover Pro Percussion
Artist

Hardcase
Artist


LP / Latin Percussion
Artist

Protection Racket
Artist

SABIAN
Artist

Contact