Daniel Southerland   Principal Conductor

Daniel’s musical training started in the 5th grade when he joined the school band as a saxophone player. Though he hated band (and practicing) at first, he quickly fell in love with the idea of creating and playing real music. In 2006 he was accepted to the Millikin School of Music and studied music education.

While at Millikin, Daniel’s real musical achievements began. In 2008, he was commissioned by the Millikin High School Honor band to write a piece that would highlight the group’s musicality and sound. This piece – Fanfare Agnitio – was premiered by the Honor Band under the direction of the composer himself. It was Southerland’s conducting debut and first major commission.

Daniel received several other commissions at Millikin including a piece for the biology department titled Salticidae (the musical depiction of a spider). In 2009, Daniel was commissioned by the brothers of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia to write a piece titled “Air for Four Musicians” – A piece that was in honor of a revered staff member at Millikin. Daniel’s composition teachers include John Stafford II and Robert Sheldon.

In addition to his composition credits at Millikin, Daniel is certainly no stranger to the podium or to education. He has taught musicians in several schools in the Decatur Public School District. In 2008, Daniel was hired as an assistant conductor for the Decatur Youth Symphony. In 2009, the Millikin University Concert Band awarded him an assistantship as conductor as well. In the summer of 2008, Daniel was hired as the orchestra conductor for the Urbana Summer Youth Theatre. His conducting teachers have included Dr. Neal Smith, Dr. Sharon Huff, Dr. Bradley Holmes, and Jim Culbertson.

Daniel is also an active martial artist, teaching the Japanese art of Aikido in the Central Illinois area.

Contact Daniel by email: daniel@urbanapops.org

Stephen Larson   Associate Conductor

Stephen L. Larson, a local educator, vocal coach, conductor, and performer, received his bachelor degree in music education from Millikin University.  Before his current post as Director of Choirs at Champaign Central High School, Larson taught music at all grade levels throughout Central Illinois.  In addition to co-founding Urbana Pops Orchestra, Larson directed Urbana Pops Voices, a choral ensemble that performed with the orchestra for the holiday concert in December 2010.

Larson draws on his extensive background in musical theatre as the music director for the Urbana Park District Youth Summer Theatre program.  He has also provided musical direction at the Champaign Park District, Urbana High School, St. Joseph-Ogden High School, and this past year for Champaign Central High School's productions of Hairspray, Urinetown, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

An active performer, Larson sings with the BACH choir, Decatur's Opus 24, and area church choirs.  He also plays piano for community events, including the summer 2010 UPO concerts.

Contact Stephen by email: stephen@urbanapops.org