Daniel Leese

Daniel Leese is a budding vocal artist from Los Angeles, California. Daniel’s guiding passion is group vocals: any creative scenario where we use our voices together, whether or not it's “musical!” He is also deeply passionate about improvisation and live performance. He views each performance as an opportunity to be unapologetically present.

Daniel graduated from USC Thornton in 2024 with a BA in Jazz Vocal Performance. Since 2018, he has studied vocals with Dr. Tram Sparks, Jeffrey Allen, Kathleen Grace Schorsch, Katie Thiroux, Sara Gazarek, Charlie Kim, and Michael Mayo; he also studied composition with Vince Mendoza and Frank Ticheli. During his undergrad, Daniel joined as many vocal groups as possible at USC, such as Exilio (contemporary choral octet), the Chamber Singers, the Gospel Choir, and Troy Tones a Cappella.

As a professional, Daniel has released original music as DanDan, curated experimental live music shows, provided arrangements and vocals for film, mentored young singers privately and in the National Children’s Chorus, arranged pop tunes a Cappella for The Sex Lives of College Girls, and sang in Sunday morning church services since 2019. With what creative energy is left, he loves to write songs with his friends.