A Passion for MusicDanielle Grace’s passion has always been music. It began with her formal piano lessons at age six when she showed early musical talent that took many forms throughout school and her career.
At age seven, Danielle began studying alto saxophone making the grades 3-5 elementary school's “A” band in third grade. Throughout the years that she was studying piano and saxophone, Danielle also developed a love of vocal music. At Hightstown High School, Danielle’s musical talents were in full bloom. She was first chair alto sax in the high school wind ensemble, sang in the audition-only “Schola Cantorum” and sang in the NJ All-State Choir both years she auditioned. When not singing, she was accompanying the choirs on the piano. As a member of the jazz ensemble, she garnered state-wide solo awards on saxophone. In her senior year, Danielle was chosen as drum majorette leading the high school marching band on the football field, as well as at the Harrogate Music Festival in England. Also in her senior year, she acted and sang the lead role of Reno Sweeney from the hit musical “Anything Goes.” Danielle has extensive lifelong experience with musical theater as it combines her musical and thespian talents. Throughout her school years, Danielle was continuously developing her skill on the piano. In preparation for a career in piano performance, she studied under Ena Bronstein Barton at Westminster Choir College Conservatory (WCCC) in a program of juried private instruction. During summers, Danielle participated in intensive piano camps at WCCC and the prestigious Oberlin Conservatory of Music. While at WCCC she entered competitions and earned two nominations for the distinguished Merit Award Scholarship, where she succeeded in capturing first prize during her second year competing. |
As a prospective piano performance major (BM) in college, Danielle was accepted at Oberlin Conservatory and Ithaca College which offered her an unprecedented on-the-spot acceptance and a performance-based scholarship. She began her studies at Ithaca and later transferred closer to home at Mason Gross School of the Arts of Rutgers University where she studied music education, also a BM program. After completing school, Danielle began teaching piano and was hired as music director for seven NJ community theater productions. She was the vocal coach, organized the pit orchestra/bands, and played the piano/keyboards while conducting the show from the pit. Her love of the piano took her into a career in selling pianos for the local Steinway & Sons and Yamaha piano dealer. Danielle served on the Board of Directors of the Princeton Steinway Society. After ten years in piano sales and a move to Maryland, Danielle applied her talents to teaching students in her Grace Note Studies home studio while raising her two children. She is a regular performer and accompanist at her UU church, has been hired as the accompanist for the premier auditioned mixed chorus The Frederick Chorale where she formerly served as alto section leader and vice president, and is the accompanist for the BC Singers; additionally, she sang in a vocal trio called Euphoria, played piano in a classical instrumental trio, and played keyboards and sings in a pop/rock cover band and is currently co-writing music in an original rock band. Danielle’s musical tastes are eclectic, including a love of jazz and contemporary/popular music, but she believes a good foundation in music education must begin with mastery of the classics. She is a firm believer that music has many benefits for people of all ages. |
This was taken at the Frederick Keys baseball stadium
as Danielle was about to sing the National Anthem before the game.