Dan Phelps is an award-winning composer and pianist based in Tonteg in Rhondda Cynon Taff. Dan has a Post Graduate Diploma in Composition from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff, as well as a BA (Hons) Degree in Music from Bath Spa University College, Bath.
Dan's albums "Lasting Light" (2019), "Pathways" (2017), "Shadows" (2013), "Serenity" (2013) and "Reflections" (2010) have given him the freedom and ability to produce and release his music on his own label "Phelps Music". “Minimum vs. Maximum” from his album "Pathways" has been played on BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio 6 Music’s Mix Tape, and was described by Tom Robinson, the show's presenter, as one of the most "ambitious and daring" pieces that had ever been played on the show. "Clockwork Hiatus" from his album "Shadows" has also been played on BBC Radio Wales and described as "expansive and beautiful" by the show’s presenter Adam Walton. His albums have also been described as a "pleasurable listening experience" by BBC Radio 3's Rob Cowan, "Utterly Beautiful" by Big Issue Cymru and his album "Reflections" has been described as "A striking solo piano debut" by The Musician (The magazine of the Musicians' Union).
Performance highlights include The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, St David's Hall as part of the Welsh proms, The Swansea Fringe Festival and the Wales Millennium Centre.
Dan has written music for a diverse range of professional organisations and individuals across the country, and his music has been performed throughout the UK. He has composed music for chamber ensembles including Ensemble Cymru (who gave the world premiere performance of his piece "The Empty Head”), The Mavron Quartet, Altitude (Philip Heyman (of Welsh National Opera) and Zoe Smith), and the Gjylaci Duo amongst many others. His piece "Minimum Vs. Maximum" for cello and piano was premiered at the Powys Hall of the University of Wales, Bangor by Harvey Davies (piano) and Heather Bills (cello), as part of the Bangor Music Festival. Dan was a member and associate composer of the Cardiff New Music Collective for several years, specialising in contemporary music for new audiences. Dan has also worked very closely with librettist Simon Rees (formerly of Welsh National Opera) on an opera piece called "Hadrian At Antinooplis"
As well as chamber music, Dan has extensive experience of composing music for other media. Students from the Atrium in Cardiff produced a selection of short films set to the music from his album Shadows. Dan was also commissioned by Intangible Productions to compose two short pieces for their show Heroes Incorporated. Other commissions include work with Rubicon Dance, India Dance Wales, Elan Wales (a theatre company) and Calon TV (an animation company) amongst many others.
Dan is also an associate of Offa's Press which launched in 2010. For this Dan recorded his collaboration with Jeff Phelps, "River Passage", which combines poetry and music and was published by Offa's Press. In 2017, the recording of "River Passage" was turned into an iOS App for iPhone users.