Daniel Marschak

Daniel Marschak is a Los Angeles-based composer, jazz pianist, and educator. His music reflects his love of both improvised music and contemporary classical music, with extended harmonies and an improvisatory approach. Marschak earned both his BA in music (piano) and his Masters degree in music composition from UCLA. His composition teachers include Paul Chihara, Ian Krouse, David Lefkowitz, and James Newton; and piano studies with Tom Rainier and Tamir Hendelman. Dan’s works have been performed by the UCLA Philharmonia, the UCLA Chorale, and the UCLA Wind Ensemble. Marschak’s debut album Likewise (2010) was heralded as “adventurous and well developed” by Lalo Schifrin. Steering clear of conventional formats, the album explores an array of genres, instrumentations, and textures, while maintaining a unique compositional sensibility. In addition to his career as a composer/performer, Marschak is currently on faculty at UCLA where he teaches a music theory class concentrating on classical music as well as jazz, pop, and non-western styles. Marschak also maintains an interest in music for visual media, and has scored several short films and one feature. In 2011, he co-founded Well Versed Productions, a music composition/production company.

Two Rivers
Marschak’s Two Rivers takes inspiration from his late Russian-Jewish grandfather Jacob, who emigrated from Russia during the Communist revolution to Germany, then to England, and ultimately to the United States. The work uses the imagery of two flowing bodies of water converging and separating as a representation of Jacob’s journey from hardship to salvation.