I’ve been working with students for more than 20 years. Music and Stage Performance has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I love helping my students unlock their full potential.
Credentials
- Master of Music in Voice and Opera Performance, Yale University
- Bachelor of Arts in Music, Abilene Christian University
- Member, National Association of Teachers of Singing
- Member, Greater Houston Chapter of National Association of Teachers of Singing
- Lifetime Member, National Federation of Music Clubs
- Professional Teaching License, Music EC-12 and Theatre EC-12, State of Texas
- Mu Phi Epsilon, National Music Honors Society
Teaching
Dan works with professional working singers and actors, prepares high school singers for performances, competitions, and auditions, teaches undergraduate voice majors and students pursuing other degrees who are looking to continue private vocal studies while in college, and helps vocational adults fulfill their dreams of learning to sing. He also enjoys working with highly talented and motivated younger students.
Dan’s students have been selected for All-State and regional honors choirs, successfully auditioned for high school and college-level select ensembles and community choirs, earned lead roles in local musical theater productions, been accepted to prestigious summer programs, and joined college music and theater programs such as those at New York University, Boston University, Baylor University, Texas State University, Sam Houston State University, and more.
In addition to managing his growing private lessons studio in the Brenham and Bryan-College Station areas, Dan also teaches for area colleges and universities (voice, opera, choir), as well as community organizations (musical theatre classes, choirs, etc). Dan has taught for institutions throughout the United States and enjoys working with students from all backgrounds. He believes every human being has something valuable to share.
A Stage & Concert Singer
A classically-trained baritone with an engaging presence on stage, Dan is equally comfortable performing opera, musical theater, oratorio, and concert works.
Mr. Bircher has performed as a soloist or in an opera roles with professional and community organizations across the United States and in Europe and has won awards for his singing, including the Francesco & Hilda Riggio Award – Metropolitan Opera Auditions.
Dan is still a “working singer” and can frequently be seen performing concert works locally in the Houston, Brenham, and College Station areas and around Texas.
A Music and Stage Director
Dan has served in the capacity of artistic director, music, or stage director for a number of opera and musical theater productions at the emerging professional, college, and secondary level.
As Artistic Director of Resonance Opera Young Artist Program, Dan has directed opera scenes for college and emerging artists from The Chocolate Soldier, The Gondoliers, The Red Mill, Die lustige Witwe, Cosi fan tutte, Don Giovanni, Die Zauberflote, Le nozze di Figaro, La Traviata, and Il Trovatore.
As an opera and musical theatre director for college/university institutions, Dan has directed scenes for college artists from Thoroughly Modern Millie, Catch Me If You Can, Phantom of the Opera, My Fair Lady, Die Zauberflote, Trial by Jury, The Bartered Bride, Die lustige Witwe, Le nozze di Figaro, Cendrillon, Hansel und Gretel, Romeo et Juliette, The Gondoliers, Les Miserables, and more!
Dan has served as stage director or conductor for a variety of full length productions, regionally: West Side Story: in Concert (Lone Star College – Cy Fair), The Bohemian Girl (Houston Baptist University), Sweethearts (Blinn College), Riders to the Sea (Blinn College), Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (Blinn College), Back to the 80’s (Blinn College), Beauty and the Beast (Bellville High School), The Cricket on the Hearth (Bellville High School).
In recent years, the opportunity to conduct the Concert Choir at Lone Star College Cy Fair inspired Dan to work with college and community choral ensembles, as well.