Praised by the New York Times for his “crisp performance” of a “devilish showpiece” by Ukrainian composer Borys Liatoshynsky, Daniel Anastasio is a soloist and chamber musician based in San Antonio, Texas who combines an intellectual curiosity with “technical prowess and emotional sensitivity” (San Antonio Report). As Artistic Director of several organizations including Agarita and Unheard-of Ensemble, his innovative programs have included collaborations with dancers, poets, art museums, photographers and more.
As a performer with a diverse skillset, he has performed Bach’s Goldberg Variations on harpsichord one week, and premiered a multimedia work by Rome Prize-winning contemporary composer Christopher Stark on MIDI keyboard the next. His performance of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto no. 3 under Leon Fleisher was a “highlight of the evening, if the full-house standing ovation were any indication” (ECM reviews). As an educator, Anastasio has given interactive lectures on musical concepts to general audiences and emerging professionals alike, from graduate students in performance to medical students at the UT Health and Science Center in San Antonio. With examples from J.S. Bach to Franz Schubert to George Crumb, these talks cover aspects of harmony, structure, notational details, style, and performing in a way that permanently deepens the listening experience for new audiences.
Anastasio has received fellowships to Music Academy of the West, Kneisel Hall, Tanglewood Music Center and Yellow Barn Music Festival. He was Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Keyboard Studies at San Antonio College from 2018-2025, before deciding to devote himself fully to his artistic projects and performances. Anastasio received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and Philosophy from Cornell University under Xak Bjerken, a Master of Music degree from Juilliard under Jerome Lowenthal, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Stony Brook University, where he studied with Gilbert Kalish and Christina Dahl. Read more…
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