Daniel Albertson
Daniel Albertson, originally from Wichita, Kansas, is a graduate of Washburn University (B.M.E. ‘21) and the University of Delaware (M.M. ‘23). He received numerous accolades during his undergraduate work, including first prize for the 2019 Kansas Percussive Arts Society Snare Drum competition, a semifinalist finish at the 2020 Naftzger competition in Wichita, Kansas, and the 2019 Washburn University Most Outstanding Music Major of the Year award. While working towards his Masters degree, he was awarded with a Graduate Teaching Assistantship for the University of Delaware percussion studio and was an inaugural member of the University of Delaware Graduate Percussion Group. As a member, this ensemble won first prize at the PASIC Concert Chamber Percussion Ensemble competition in 2021 and runner up the following year in 2022, and were soloists for Viet Cuong’s “Re(new)al” percussion concerto with the University of Delaware Wind Ensemble in 2023. His primary teachers have been Steve Hatfield, Tom Morgan, Von Hansen, Gene Koshinski, and Tim Broscious.Albertson has enjoyed a vibrant teaching and performance career, serving on staff at Topeka West, Highland Park, Goddard Eisenhower, Salina Central, and Buhler high schools in Kansas and the Salesianum School in Delaware. He has played in a wide variety of mediums both in the United States and abroad, as well as performed with percussion professionals such as Quey Percussion Duo, Sandbox Percussion, Sō Percussion, Third Coast Percussion, Michael Burritt, and the United States West Point Band.
Daniel most recently accepted the position of Assistant Professor of Music (percussion emphasis) at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, Kansas. Prior to this, he served as the 5-12 Band Director and 7-8 Choir Director for the Ellinwood USD 355 school district in Ellinwood, Kansas. He has also served on staff for the Sunflower Music Festival since 2018, serving as a chaperone for the Blanche Bryden Institute and the festival stage manager before moving into the role of Festival Coordinator for the 2024 season.
