Lauded for his “profoundly startling vocal resonance” (The New York Times) and “sweet and melancholy sound” (The Washington Post), Daniel Moody is celebrated for his interpretations of contemporary and baroque opera and as a soloist with orchestra.
In the last year, Moody made debuts at the Metropolitan Opera in Brett Dean’s Hamlet as Rosencrantz, Atlanta Opera as Tolomeo in Giulio Cesare, and Vancouver Opera as Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. American Record Guide praised his performance at Cincinnati Opera as Nerone in Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea as “utter beauty…where he would start singing ever so sweetly and then just let his voice blossom out into something big and round and smooth.”
A proponent of new music, Moody starred in a leading role in the world premiere of Hannah Lash’s chamber opera Desire, presented at Columbia University’s Miller Theater in collaboration with the JACK Quartet. Moody also worked with Nico Muhly on his song cycles at Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue in New York City. In 2016, Moody gave the American premiere of George Benjamin’s Dream of the Song at the Festival of Contemporary Music at Tanglewood Festival.
Moody is a frequent soloist for leading symphonic and baroque orchestras, including appearances with Philharmonia Baroque, Minnesota Orchestra, Apollo’s Fire, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Les Violons du Roy. His appearance with Philharmonia Baroque alongside mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter and conductor Nicholas McGegan was described as a “combination of tenderness and theatrical verve” (San Francisco Chronicle). He has performed as a soloist at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, London’s St. John’s Smith Square, and Cambridge’s Trinity College. His performances have been broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 in the United Kingdom, on Boston’s WGBH, Indiana’s WFIU, and WSHU’s Sunday Baroque. He has also performed in most major professional choral ensembles and church choirs in New York City, including Trinity Wall Street Choir, Musica Sacra and Saint John the Divine Choir.
Moody is a graduate of the Yale School of Music and Peabody Conservatory of John Hopkins University, with a certificate from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music in sacred music, oratorio and chamber music.
Moody has taught voice to both music and non-music majors at Yale University and maintains voice studios in New York City and Vancouver. As a performer, he enjoys helping others to realize their vocal ability and potential regardless of genre. Moody has given masterclasses in the United States and Mexico and has led workshops for choirs and choral ensembles in New York City. His pedagogical approach is informed by his rich solo and choral experience and gifted teachers, including Joyce DiDonato’s Masterclass series at Carnegie Hall in 2016 and Renee Fleming’s SongStudio in 2022. Daniel approaches singing with an eye to health and longevity as well as quality and musicality, targeting practice to help each student achieve their very best.
Reviews from Students:
“I worked with Daniel after a long time away from singing. I was daunted at the prospect of diving back in, but studying with Daniel immediately put my worries to rest. I regained confidence, rediscovered my love for singing, and enjoyed a fresh, low-pressure approach to practicing while working with him. This was all made possible because of Daniel’s skill as a teacher—he is warm and supportive, deeply knowledgeable about the voice, and possesses the hard-to-come-by talent for effectively explaining vocal mechanics and techniques to singing. I would highly recommend him as a teacher to anyone who loves to sing!”
— Amy
“Daniel Moody is a brilliant and encouraging teacher. In a few lessons he has given me tools to be a more efficient singer and has helped me sing with more ease and freedom. I have been able to tell a noticeable difference as well as my colleagues.”
— Adrin
“Anyone who hears and studies with Daniel will recognize his mastery of technique and ability to impart it to students. For me, what has been game-changing about his pedagogy is his ability to create a safe, fertile space and specifically tailored guidance and strategies to help me step into my power as a vocal artist, to learn how to learn and expand my technique, to work through and with my particular set of gifts and challenges.”
— Audrey
Photo credit: Jessica Osber