Daniel Salazar possesses one of the most distinctive sounds in the world of the Spanish classical guitar, expanding the boundaries of the instrument with traditional repertoire and original works that fuse Spanish, Latin American, world music and orchestral elements.
Praised internationally for his warm and virtuosic playing, his solo, chamber and orchestral performances have been enjoyed by international audiences on stage, television and radio.
Throughout his adventurous and versatile career, Daniel Salazar has re-imagined the concert experience, creating new programs that relentlessly redefine the Spanish classical guitar’s limits. In 1993 he conceived and founded Guitar Under the Stars, a large-scale outdoor concert production with the goal of sharing his musical vision with large audiences. Since then, Guitar Under the Stars has become a one of a kind guitar event that draws an audience of thousands to hear his original music and brilliant orchestral arrangements of classical, Latin American and Spanish works. Through Salazar’s efforts, the event has always been free and open to the entire community, sponsored solely by grants and donations.
In 2013, Daniel Salazar performed with The Hartford Symphony Orchestra for an audience of over 3,500 people celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Guitar Under The Stars at the Riverfront in Hartford, Connecticut. In 2018, Guitar Under The Stars was presented at The University of Saint Joseph with resounding success.
In addition to his solo, chamber music and concerto performances, Salazar also performs with The Daniel Salazar Ensemble, a group of international musicians in a program that has been described as “a spectacular fusion of Spanish classical guitar with Latin and World rhythms”. He has produced and released three Compact Disc recordings, on his own SGP label, that sell internationally and are available through his website, iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon and other sites.
Daniel Salazar is the recipient of several prestigious honors: A 2020 Artist Respond Grant from the Connecticut Office Of The Arts, 2019 Commendation from The Governor Of Connecticut for Artistic Contributions To The Community, a 2018 Commendation from the State Of Connecticut General Assembly for Artistic Accomplishments, The 2018 Charter Oak Visions Award for Arts and Education, the 2017 Fund For Teachers Professional Development Award and a 2015 National Artist Teacher Fellowship, both which allowed him travel and collaborate with distinguished Flamenco and Classical Artists in Spain. For his contributions to promoting the Arts in the community he received a Proclamation from the Office of The Mayor declaring “Daniel Salazar Day” in the of The City of Hartford, a 2013 Official Citation from The State of Connecticut’s House of Representatives for leadership in music and artistic vision and the 2011 Connecticut Public Service Award for the Arts. Mr. Salazar has been featured in a long running NBC Television segment for Hispanic Heritage Month and is a recipient of the Latino de Oro Award, which recognizes outstanding musical achievement .
Daniel Salazar held the distinguished title of United States Artistic Ambassador for the Department of State, having traveled throughout Eastern and Western Europe performing solo recitals, conducting master classes and meeting with foreign dignitaries. His performances at prestigious concert venues in major cities such as Rome, Vienna, Prague, Warsaw, Poznan, Minsk, Vilnius, Ljubljana, and Valetta were met with wide critical acclaim.
Daniel Salazar was a founding member and served as long-time Artistic Director for The Connecticut Guitar Society, leading the organization to national and international prominence as one of the largest and most active groups of its kind.
As an educator, Salazar has conducted master classes and workshops at numerous institutions throughout the U.S and Europe, including the University of Connecticut, Yale University, Mannes College of Music in New York, The University of Southern California, Colegio De Bellas Artes in Morelia and Casa de La Cultura in Paracho, Mexico, and The Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw among others. He currently serves on the faculty at The University of Connecticut and Manchester Community College, where he inspires a new generation of young musicians.
Daniel Salazar was born in El Paso, Texas to immigrant Mexican parents with Spanish roots who instilled a deep love for music. He grew up surrounded by a close knit family extended across two countries, immersed in the cultural traditions of his Mexican and Spanish heritage within the bi-cultural environment of the United States border with Mexico. He is a graduate of The University of Hartford Hartt School of Music, where he received a Master of Music Degree in Classical Guitar Performance, studying with Artist-in-Residence and renowned Italian virtuoso Oscar Ghiglia. He also received a Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of Texas. Salazar undertook additional studies in Spain and has performed in master classes with illustrious classical guitar maestros. He considers Oscar Ghiglia, Christopher Parkening, Pepe Romero, Leo Brouwer and Manuel Barrueco as most influential. He is a long time resident of Hartford, Connecticut.
With his international performances, distinctive repertoire, dynamic original music and arrangements of Spanish classics for guitar and orchestra, Daniel Salazar continues to expand the guitar’s repertoire while introducing new audiences to the beautiful sound of the Spanish classical guitar.