Dr. Daniel B. Stevens

Daniel Stevens proudly serves with the faculty of Mississippi State University as the Department Head and Professor of Music.

Prior to MSU, Daniel enjoyed a lengthy tenure at two higher education institutions: first, at Southwestern College (Winfield, KS) for eight years as the Mazie Barnet Kilmer Chair for String Education and conductor of the South Kansas Symphony; and most recently as Professor of Music, Music Director and Conductor of the Shoals Symphony Orchestra, Director of the Peery Center for Orchestral Studies, and applied viola studio teacher at the University of North Alabama.

As a conductor, he has been a guest clinician/adjudicator for state honor festivals in Alabama, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Daniel is regularly invited to clinic/present at universities, recently including Rice University, the University of Alabama, the Georgia Institute of Technology, Northern Arizona University, the University of Tulsa, and Idaho State University. 

As a professional musician, Daniel had a 15-year career as violist with the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra and has recently performed with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra and Huntsville Symphony Orchestra. He has held esteemed positions in the Aspen Music Festival Orchestra, the Wintergreen Music Festival Orchestra, and the Colorado Springs Music Festival Orchestra. As a soloist, Daniel was an MTNA Regional Runner-Up, and has been a feature chamber musician in the Ameropa International Chamber Music Festival in Prague, Czech Republic.  In March 2010, Daniel performed in a Carnegie Hall debut through Distinguished Concerts International, New York.  Daniel’s acclaim led to an instrument sponsorship from K.C. Strings Violin Shop. His professional violin and viola are premiere custom instruments made by Anton Krutz and family.

As an educator, Daniel received the 2016 UNA College of Arts and Sciences – Faculty of the Year Award, as well as the 2008 United Methodist Exemplary Teacher Award from Southwestern College.  He has founded two successful youth symphony programs (Tulsa Youth Symphony - Concert Orchestra and the Southwestern College Youth Symphonies), was a Graduate Teaching Fellow at the University of North Texas and Oklahoma State University, and was the Instrumental Director at Central Christian School in Kidron, Ohio.

Daniel Stevens had been recognized by his peers within the University of North Alabama by nomination and appointment as the 2020 Provost Fellow, Chair of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee, representative to the UNA Faculty Senate, and appointment as a member of the Graduate Faculty. Within his tenure, the Shoals Symphony Orchestra had received national acclaim in a brief “USA Today” article highlighting the UNA Honor Orchestra Festival.

When asked about most memorable performances, Daniel has fond memories of appearing on a PBS special, Music for Life, with Bob McGrath of Sesame Street fame, playing with musicians from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the NY Metropolitan Opera at the Aspen Music Festival, performing in an orchestra to accompany Luciano Pavarotti’s farewell tour in a 10,000-seat arena, and most recently, conducting sell-out performances (1,650+ in attendance) of Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean, The Jungle Book, Home Alone, and Raiders of the Lost Ark LIVE with the Shoals Symphony Orchestra.