Daniel Myssyk has served for over 15 years as Artistic Director and Conductor of the Appassionata Chamber Orchestra. In 2007, shortly after completing his conducting studies at Rice University in the United States, he obtained the position of Professor and Director of Orchestral Activities at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. As of 2018, he serves as both Professor at VCU and Assistant Conductor of the Richmond Symphony, with whom he enjoys a most harmonious relationship.
Recent engagements have taken him to the helm of the Orchestre des Grands Ballets Canadiens, the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra (TX), the Connecticut All-State Orchestra, the Orchestre de la Francophonie, the Orchestre symphonique de Trois-Rivières, and the Guanajuato Symphony Orchestra (Mexico).
Daniel Myssyk approaches works from the classical, romantic, modern and contemporary repertoires with an equal concern for the stylistic considerations of each of these periods. In recent years, he has maintained an ongoing engagement with the operatic repertoire, moving from Mozart to Menotti with equal ease. Under his guidance, three recent VCU Opera productions, The Gondoliers (2015), The Old Maid and the Thief (2012), and Hansel & Gretel (2011) were awarded top honors in the National Opera Association's annual competition.
His involvement with young people is relentless and is reflected in the way he passes on his passion for classical music. In addition to his teaching and conducting activities at VCU, he regularly collaborates with the All-Virginia State Orchestra, the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Hampton Roads Chamber Players, to name a few. He is the resident conductor of the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra.
His CDs with Appassionata have received excellent reviews: Czech Serenades, recorded in 2012, was nominated for Best CD of the Year at the ADISQ and at the Prix Opus of the Conseil québécois de la musique.
