About Daniel

Daniel Volovets is a guitarist, composer, arranger, and instructor specializing in classical, flamenco, Latin American, and jazz music. Although born in the United States, his music is informed first and foremost by his Russian heritage. He was raised in a household of almost constantly reverberating musical notes -- passionate melodies of Russian and Ukrainian folklore, gently swaying Brazilian rhythms intermingled with the nearly-untranslatable sentiment of saudade, fiery strumming of flamenco masters, soulful fado, and wistful yet playful chansons of French bards. Daniel began his studies at the age of 7 with the renowned Russian classical guitarist Anatoly Shapiro and subsequently studied with classical/flamenco guitarist Tony Hauser and legendary flamenco guitarist "El Payo" Humberto Wilkes. Daniel's mastery of many genres and aesthetics is evident in the breadth of his extensive repertoire, which spans numerous countries and eras. He is an accomplished arranger and composer, utilizing the harmonic possibilities of the guitar in arrangements and compositions for solo guitar and various ensembles. Daniel is a prolific performer, giving concerts regularly throughout the Twin Cities at a wide range of venues and with the sponsorship of various organizations, including the Cedar Cultural Center, the Landmark Center, the Museum of Russian Art, the Saint Paul Public Library, the Dakota Jazz Club, the Minnesota Guitar Society, Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theatre, and Casa de España. Daniel also maintains an active teaching practice, working with students of all ages and skill levels. Daniel has recorded seven albums - Watercolors of the World (2008), Silhouette (2009), Rite of Passage (2011), Rainy Highway (2014), Wistful Tendrils (2015), Echoes of Love (2016), and Masquerade (2019). He primarily plays guitars built by luthier Stephen Kakos. Daniel graduated from the University of St. Thomas with a B.S. in Neuroscience and the University of Minnesota Medical School with an M.D. He balances careers in medicine and music, now as a psychiatry resident at the Hennepin-Regions Psychiatry Training Program, inspired by the jazz pianist/psychiatrist Denny Zeitlin and pianist/composer/otolaryngologist Krzysztof Komeda.