Faculty

Daniel Neer enjoys a uniquely diverse career as a concert singer, stage actor, librettist, lyricist, choral clinician, and voice teacher. He has been on the Mannes Prep faculty since 2016, where he is on the voice faculty and teaches the Musical Theater: Acting and Public Speaking course elective. 

Recognized as an esteemed and distinguished instructor specializing in the development of young singers, Daniel’s unique teaching style focuses on a positive and spirited approach to singing, with personalized voice lessons that encompass elements of mindful breathing, ear training, improvisation, creative storytelling, and a solid vocal technique of the classical Bel Canto school. His core principle of teaching is to cultivate and foster the growth and potential of each individual student, regardless of background, in a supportive and constructive environment. Daniel’s expertise as a pedagogue ranges from the classical legit repertoire to commercial and contemporary music (CCM), including musical theatre, jazz, R&B and pop/rock genres. As a coach for audition preparation, his skill in navigating the college audition process has resulted in past students being accepted into prestigious conservatories of music and theater in America and abroad. 

Daniel studied music, theater and vocal pedagogy at The Royal Academy of Music in London, England (L.R.A.M., AdvDip.), the University of Michigan (S.M. Voice Perf.), and The Ohio State University (B. Mus). In addition to teaching at Mannes Prep, he also serves on the voice faculty of Temple University in Philadelphia, and is a frequent artist-in-residence at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio. He has served on the voice faculties of The Peabody Preparatory of Johns Hopkins University, Kenyon College, the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA), National Children’s Chorus, and Berkshire Choral International.  Past students have gone on to perform on Broadway and London’s West End, as well as regional theater, national tours, film and television, and the Vegas strip. For his extensive work with high school and college musical theater students in his home state of Ohio, Daniel recently received the honored distinction of Remarkable Attainment by the Ohio Senate and the 129^th General Assembly for his artistic achievements in teaching and mentoring young performers. 

As a skilled performer in art song, chamber music and oratorio, and with over 100 stage credits in opera and musical theatre, Daniel’s engagements have included performances at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, and on stage with Royal Opera House Covent Garden (ROH II), New York City Opera, Washington National Opera, American Repertory Theater, Gotham Chamber Opera, and with many regional theater companies, choruses and orchestras throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. Broadway credits include two original productions: Baz Luhrmann’s La Bohème and the UK’s National Theatre production of Coram Boy, directed by Melly Still, and his discography includes recordings for Dreamworks, Centaur, Naxos, Albany, Newport Classics, and Operetta Archives labels. 

Equally comfortable with vocal styles ranging from baroque to contemporary, Daniel’s distinctive versatility has led to collaborations with such distinguished organizations as Rebel Baroque Orchestra, Metropolis Ensemble, Experiments in Opera, American Opera Projects, Mark Morris Dance Group, Center for Contemporary Opera, Mantra Percussion, and Music-Theatre Group, to name just a few. As an active recitalist specializing in European and American Art Song, Daniel has been featured with The Phoenix Concerts, The Lotte Lehman Foundation, Salon Series at the Apollo Theater, Miller Theatre Composer Portraits, Guggenheim Museum Works & Process, ‘When Morty Met John’ at Carnegie Hall, New York Composers Circle, and Chicago Art Institute. Festival appearances include Aspen, BAM Next Wave, Prototype, Queens New Music, Brooklyn BEAT, White Light (Lincoln Center), New Territories (Glasgow), and Ostrava Days (Czech Republic).

Specialist in Music Degree - The University of Michigan

LRAM, AdvDip - The Royal Academy of Music (London, UK)

Bachelor of Music Performance - The Ohio State University