Daniel McDonough

Bio

Cellist Daniel McDonough has performed across the U.S. and abroad as a chamber musician and recitalist. He is best known as a founding member of the award-winning Jupiter String Quartet  with which he concertizes extensively.  In recent years, the Jupiter String Quartet has received first prize at the Eighth Banff International String Quartet Competition, grand prize at the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, first prize at the Young Concert Artists Auditions, as well as Chamber Music America’s triennial Cleveland Quartet Award. The quartet was formerly in Lincoln Center’s Chamber Music Society’s Chamber Music Two program and, in 2008, were the recipients of a prestigious Avery Fischer Career Grant.  The quartet has recorded for Marquis Records and Deutsche Grammophon’s DG Concerts in conjunction with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.

In addition to his regular appearances with the Jupiter String Quartet, Daniel is a founding member of the innovative East Coast Chamber Orchestra, a democratically-run, self-conducted chamber orchestra comprised of some of the nation’s finest string players.  For a few concentrated periods of time each year ECCO convenes for intensive rehearsal, musical exploration, and concert touring.  The group has been enthusiastically received at the Kennedy Center, New York’s Town Hall, and the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, among others.  Their debut recording was released in 2012 on EOne records.

Daniel has been heard repeatedly on NPR’s Performance Today and seen on Live from Lincoln Center.  He has had the privilege of collaborating with Menahem Pressler, Donald Weilerstein, Wu Han, Roger Tapping, Paul Katz, Marcus Thompson, and Jeremy Denk, among many others.   He has appeared as soloist with the Asheville (NC) Symphony, Austin Symphony, and the Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra, and is heard regularly at many of the country’s premiere summer music festivals.

A passionate teacher, Daniel has given lessons and guest masterclasses at some of the country’s leading institutions including The Peabody Institute, The Eastman School of Music, The Cleveland Institute of Music, The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the Boston Conservatory.  The Jupiter String Quartet is on faculty of the Bowdoin International Music Festival, and has appeared often at other prestigious summer academies, including Encore Chamber Music, Madeline Island Chamber Music, and the Aspen Music Festival and School.

Daniel began his musical studies at the age of five in Austin, Texas. He went on to receive his Bachelor’s degree, with honors in chamber music and cello performance, from The Cleveland Institute of Music and a Master’s from The Juilliard School. He is married to Megan Freivogel, also of the Jupiter String Quartet.