Daniel Kepl has been writing classical music, theater and dance reviews since he was in high school, and has hosted interviews with artists from around the world for well over 20 years. He founded the Santa Barbara (California) Youth Symphony at the age of 17; was the first conducting major at the California Institute of the Arts; has served as conductor for California Chamber Orchestra, California Philharmonic, Seattle Festival Ballet, Seattle Wind Ensemble, Seattle Debut Orchestra, American Collegiate Symphony, and launched the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival residencies in Seattle, and founded the Santa Barbara Chamber Music Festival. Currently conducting tours of countries he’s always wanted to visit with his Performing Arts Review Travel adventures every June, he continues his decades-long career as an arts administrator/entrepreneur. Go to full bio

"One of the best and most knowledgeable arts writers in the region, the writer I have confidence in for his ability to write intelligent, penetrating material." Adrian Spence, Founder/Artistic Director, Camerata Pacifica, Los Angeles

"The combination of his broad knowledge of arts history and personal understanding of the world of performing artists as a conductor in his own right, makes for profound reading." Nir Kabaretti, Music & Artistic Director, Santa Barbara Symphony/Music Director, Southwest Florida Symphony

"Incomparable verbal technique, combined with such personal flair - rather like what a great concert artist does to the score with his instrument/voice you do with words." Dr. Betty Oberacker, Professor Emeritus, Keyboard Program, UC Santa Barbara

“As a submariner, I have an acute sense of intuition. And my intuition tells me that you are an outstanding conductor and musician. I am honored to know you.” David Finko Russian-American composer (Yale, Universities of Pennsylvania and Texas), former lieutenant-commander of the Soviet Arctic Submarine Navy (reserve)

"One of the best reviewers going. Erudite, humble, master of agile prose, unparalleled polyglot in the borderless language of mighty music." Guy Veloz, Hollywood script writer/producer of An American Tango, the story of his parents, the world-famous film legends of ballroom dance, Velos and Yolanda

"As an English, public speaking and performing arts professor for 30 years, I truly enjoy reading the works of someone who has such a beautiful command of the English language!" Jerianne Warren, Professor of Speech, Dance, and Theatre Arts, Mount Wachusett Community College, Harvard, Massachusetts

“The score is tremendously moving. You explained to me during our chat the simplicity of the structure, but neglected to give yourself credit for the more important achievement; setting a mood, an exact and perfect characterization in sound color of the atavistic mystery of night and its queen, a resplendent full moon - the key to Blakelock’s inner consciousness. The piano entry at the beginning of the film implies immediately, things to come. The musical narrative you construct from there brings vibrant life, intuitive meaning and final ecstasy to this stunning short.” Daniel Kepl | Performing Arts Review

“The fact that a fellow and more experienced musician completely understands my thought process concerning the Blakelock music is one of the most uplifting things I’ve experienced recently.” Composer Adam Potter Scott

“I want to thank you for listening to my CD with such care.  That is unusual, and it is a listening like yours that nourishes me and keeps me going as a musician. And thank you again for making me feel so comfortable during the interview.” Pianist Gayle Martin/sole American laureate of the sixth International Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in Moscow – the third American woman ever to reach the finals

“Thank you so much, dear Dan, for giving us the opportunity to talk about our CD and about the composers featured on it. Your enthusiasm will certainly be contagious and incite people to discover and perform those songs themselves. We had a wonderful time!” Pianist Sylvie Beaudette/Assistant Professor of Chamber Music and Accompanying, Eastman School of Music/Director of Summer@Eastman

“I echo Sylvie’s beautifully articulated sentiments. It was a true joy to share a conversation about music that has meant so much to us, and with someone who so obviously appreciated our humble efforts with great nuance, sensitivity and care.” Soprano Eileen Strempel/Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs at University of Cincinnati/Special Assistant to the Provost, Professor of Voice