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Dave Danford

@dave.danford

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Artistic Director
@llangollen_eisteddfod
@theabsoluteorchestra
Managing Director
@absolutemusicservices
Assistant Tour Manager for
@holly_teague 🧡

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2025 highlights

1. Percussionist for the UK tour of Bat Out of Hell: The Musical (January - September).
2. Orchestral Contractor and Percussionist for British Sinfonietta concerts in Amersham, Anglesey, Bristol, Carlisle, Chester, Gloucester, Guildford, Harewood, King’s Lynn, London, Reading, Shrewsbury, St Davids, Stafford, Surrey, and Swansea.
3. Various adventures on the road around the UK as Percussion Technician for Dame Evelyn Glennie.
4. Conductor for The Dance Anthems Orchestra on tour in Anglesey, Carlisle, Harewood, Shrewsbury and Whitby (June - July).
5. Artistic Director for the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, including performances by KT Tunstall, Il Divo, and Bryn Terfel, including 4 personally curated shows (July).
6. Arranger and Conductor for KT Tunstall with The Absolute Orchestra (July).
7. Orchestral Contractor for ‘For the Lack of Laura’ in Malvern and London (July - August).
8. Orchestral Contractor and Percussionist for ‘Cosmos & Orchestra’ at Stadtcasino Basel, Switzerland (August).
9. Production Manager and Orchestral Contractor for The Studio Orchestra for ‘The Music of Animation in Concert’ in Basingstoke and Cheltenham (September).
10. Timpanist for Zaho de Sagazan with The Heritage Orchestra at the London Palladium (November).

Overall highlight; Holly Teague being at my side for all of the above. by @dave.danford

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10 months ago

@holly_teague and I had a SUBLIME meal just a few miles from home on Friday evening, thanks to @marcatfraiche. Flavours galore, in a really relaxed setting. Highly recommended. taken in Weston Rhyn by @dave.danford

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20 days ago

I can’t wait to conduct this show with @emelisande and @theabsoluteorchestra next week, featuring more than 80 minutes of new arrangements, orchestrations, and newly composed interludes. It’s going to be an epic night, with 3,500 in the audience!

@emelisande
@nickybrownmusic
@holly_teague
@theabsoluteorchestra
@the.hammond
#dreamteam by @dave.danford

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4 months ago

Slightly less miles than usual travelled in the last week, but still a busy one, including a concert at City Lit in Holborn with @dameevelynglennie, @holly_teague performing as the lead soprano soloist in Mahler 8 at Coventry Cathedral, a couple of office days in Llangollen, a meeting in Caernarfon, and loads of writing for my upcoming orchestral collaboration with @emelisande - all topped off by an epic roast dinner in Warrington to finish the weekend! Plus the 8-year-old going on her first away day with Brownies, and the 11-year-old going on his final residential of primary school! by @dave.danford

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5 months ago

Last week was another one of those here there and everywhere kind of weeks…
Monday - Bank Holiday at home in Oswestry
Tuesday - Office day in Llangollen
Wednesday - City Lit in London with @dameevelynglennie setting up an exhibition for @theevelynglenniefoundation
Thursday - Office day in Llangollen
Friday - Writing session with @emelisande @nickybrownmusic & @holly_teague for our upcoming orchestral show
Saturday - King’s Lynn for a special concert with @karljenkinsofficial @benhorden & @britishsinfonietta

This week is more of the same, starting in Caernarfon, followed by Llangollen, London, Llangollen and Coventry! by @dave.danford

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5 months ago

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9 months ago

Handel's Messiah is a work that classical musicians and singers are used to performing multiple times every Christmas (4 times for me this year!), but last weekend one came along that ticked all of the boxes!
• My amazing partner @holly_teague was the Soprano soloist (the first time we've performed together this year!) ✅
• We performed the seldom-programmed Mozart arrangement, which meant in addition to the traditional line-up, I was also able to book Horns, Flutes, Clarinets and Trombones (plus I had more notes to play on Timpani than usual!) ✅
• The concert took place at the stunning St Davids Cathedral, one of my very favourite venues ✅
• Our parents were all able to make the trip to Pembrokeshire to make a weekend of it ✅

Next weekend we're a bit closer to home, performing Handel's original version (and by chance, sharing the stage once again!). by @dave.danford

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10 months ago

Tonight we’re in Holborn, providing a full range of professional music services for the London Phoenix Orchestra:
• Orchestral music hire
• Percussion hire
• Orchestral equipment hire
• Extra musicians

orchestralhirelibrary.com
percussionhirelondon.com by @dave.danford

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10 months ago

We’re starting the week with the announcement that Michael Ball will be headlining the Saturday evening at next year’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. Tickets will be on sale from Wednesday: Llangollen.net by @dave.danford

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a year ago

🌟 Emeli Sandé Live with The Absolute Orchestra - Tickets On Sale Now! 🌟

Get ready for an unforgettable night at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod! 🎶

Emeli Sandé will be performing with The Absolute Orchestra on Friday, July 10th, 2026, and tickets are NOW available!

Don’t miss your chance to see one of the UK’s most iconic voices live in concert. 🎤🎻

🎟️ Secure your tickets today at Llangollen.net

#EmeliSande #AbsoluteOrchestra #LlangollenEisteddfod #LiveMusic #Concert2026 #GetYourTickets

🌟 Emeli Sandé Yn Fyw gyda’r Absolute Orchestra - Tocynnau Ar Werth Nawr! 🌟

Paratowch am noson fythgofiadwy yn Eisteddfod Gerddorol Ryngwladol Llangollen! 🎶

Bydd Emeli Sandé yn perfformio gyda’r Absolute Orchestra ddydd Gwener, Gorffennaf 10fed, 2026, ac mae tocynnau ar gael NAWR!

Peidiwch â cholli’ch cyfle i weld un o leisiau mwyaf eiconig y DU yn fyw mewn cyngerdd. 🎤🎻

🎟️ Sicrhewch eich tocynnau heddiw trwy Llangollen.net

#EmeliSande #AbsoluteOrchestra #EisteddfodLlangollen #CerddoriaethFyw #Cyngerdd2026 #CaelEichTocynnau by @dave.danford

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a year ago

Today we’re announcing that @tom.grennan will be performing as part of our TK Maxx presents Live at Llangollen Pavilion series next summer! by @dave.danford

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a year ago

Today we announce our next collaboration with The Absolute Orchestra...

On Friday 10 July next year we'll be performing an exclusive show with @emelisande at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in North East Wales.

I'm privileged to be tasked with arranging the bespoke orchestrations of her music, and can't wait to be back on stage with the orchestra to conduct the concert. by @dave.danford

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a year ago