Daniel Burwasser

Daniel Burwasser, born in New Brunswick NJ, is an American composer who has been writing and playing music since the age of 5. Originally a student of the piano, he eventually progressed to other forms of percussion, including drum set and orchestral percussion. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Temple University, a Master of Arts degree from Rutgers University, and his Ph.D. in Composition from the Graduate School of CUNY. He is a recipient of grants from both The American Music Center and Meet the Composer. 

Critics have described Burwasser’s music as highly communicative, emotionally charged, actively engaging, refreshingly lyrical, and displaying a fine sense of balance and proportion. His works have been performed throughout the United States as well as in South Korea, Armenia, Slovakia, and Russia. Burwasser’s recordings on the Navona label include Flux by The Concordia Orchestra and conductor Marin Alsop, Catching Fireflies by The Seattle Symphony and conductor Gerard Schwarz, Whirlwind for woodwind quintet, and Puck’s Game by the Sirius Quartet on an album entitled, PLAYING ON THE EDGE 2. Other recordings include A Well-Traveled Road by the Slovak Radio Orchestra and conductor Robert Stankovsky. 

Recent commissions include Breaking and Entering, a work which also features electronics for bassoonist Mark Ortwein. Other commissions include Kaleidoscope for cello and oboe for oboist Elizabeth Tomorsky Knott, and False Awakening for the Kalliope Reed Quintet. His latest commission, Prelude and Dance for strings, was written for the Rocky Mountain Middle School Orchestra. 

Burwasser has formerly taught music in the New York City public schools for 30 years and currently serves as Adjunct Professor of Music at Hunter College, CUNY. He is also on the artist roster of Polyphony Artist Management.

Burwasser’s works are published by Imagine Music Publishing and Ensemble Publications. His works can also be purchased on Sheet Music Plus.