Dan Gilanyi

Director of Wausau Symphonic Band

Dan Gilanyi is the current band director at West De Pere High School, a position he has held since 2014. He holds a bachelor of music from UW-Stevens Point as well as Masters of Music Education with a conducting certificate from UW-Stevens Point. A core element of his philosophy is the lifelong love and participation in music and the constant pursuit of growth in all settings. As an active educator and clinician, he has commissioned original and arranged works for jazz band and concert band, seeks out new and original works for band, and is a member of multiple professional organizations. Bands under his direction have been recognized in both concert and jazz settings as exemplary and have been featured guest performers.

Daniel Larson

Director of the Wausau Symphony Orchestra

Daniel was raised in a musical family – all had a love of singing, and his mother was the first piano teacher for all three children. Daniel graduated from UWSP in 1984 with a Bachelor Music Degree in Vocal Music Education, and a minor in Piano and Organ. After four years as a Vocal and General Music instructor in Marion, Wisconsin, Daniel joined the Wausau School District as a Vocal Music instructor in 1989. In 1993, he joined the faculty at Horace Mann Middle School, and has been teaching music there ever since. In 1994, he completed a Master’s of Education Degree from Marian University, Fond du Lac, WI.

Daniel has accompanied and directed pit orchestras for a number of musicals for Wausau Community Theater, Mosinee Community Theater, Central Wisconsin Children’s Theater, and Wausau East End Players. He currently works as musical director/accompanist for Tommy’s Playhouse, Summer Theater Company (Hazelhurst), Summer 2017 – present, and is acting as music director for the upcoming CWCT production of “Newsies”.

From 2001 - 2011, he collaborated with Janne Dean, founder and artistic director for Allegro Dance Theater. This collaboration resulted in 5 original scores that he composed for her ballet company (Beauty and the Beast, The Ugly Duckling, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, and Pinocchio). It was during this time he began working as conductor of the Wausau Symphony (2004).

Daniel has served as conductor for the River Valley Harmonizers in Wausau, and the Central Wisconsin Master Chorale in Stevens Point. He remains an active member of the Wisconsin Choral Directors’ Association, where he served on the board of directors for 6 years. He also has served as accompanist for Honors Choirs for WCDA conventions for the past 3 years.

Daniel is an active church musician (Organist, First English Lutheran Church, 1990 – present) and jazz musician. He performs solo piano and with his trio at a variety of venues in Wausau and central Wisconsin.