Gregory D. McDaniel

Gregory D. McDaniel is a passionate educator and conductor active across many musical settings. Praised for his "impeccable musicality and technique" (La Presse - Montreal), one of Mr. McDaniel’s career highlights was being featured in concert with Orchestre Métropolitain, conducting Boulanger's D'un Matin de Printemps.  He recently completed a two-year appointment as Colton Conducting Fellow for the New Jersey Symphony, leading the world premiere of Allison Loggins-Hull's Doublespeak. Other NJS highlights include Mozart's The Magic Flute with Undead Arts, Holiday and Family Concerts, and stepping in last minute for Maestro Xian Zhang to conduct Strauss' Ein Heldenleben.

 

 

McDaniel also serves as Artistic Director of the Houston Ebony Opera Guild, curating concerts including the annual Christmas Concert, African-American Music Gala, and Opera Gems. He opened his 2025-2026 season leading NJS's outreach concert Moonrise, featuring works by Puccini, J. Strauss, and John Williams. He served as Assistant Director of the Ensemble for Houston Grand Opera's Porgy and Bess and as Music Director for the Alley Theatre's A Christmas Carol. He also made his Opera in the Heights debut leading the Houston premiere of Laura Kaminsky's Lucidity, having previously served as Assistant Conductor/Chorus Master for Lucia di Lammermoor, La Bohème, and Hansel and Gretel. Other projects have included William Grant Still's Highway 1, USA; Missy Mazzoli's Proving Up for Opera Ithaca; and Kaminsky's As One for HOPERA. He has also worked with the Orchestre Métropolitain, the LA Philharmonic, the Henderson Symphony, the Allentown Symphony, the Abilene Philharmonic, and the Fort Bend Symphony.

 

 

As a choral educator, McDaniel has taught for over twelve years across three districts, serving thousands of students and helping them achieve excellence and create lifelong memories through music. Choirs and students under his direction have competed in Texas All-State ensembles, earned Sweepstakes at UIL competitions, and won top regional and state solo and ensemble awards.

 

 

A Houston native, McDaniel holds degrees from the University of North Texas and the University of Houston.