08/28/2026
50 Stories for 50 Years | Story #1: Danielle Maddon
For 26 years, Danielle Maddon has helped lead the New England Philharmonic from the concertmaster's chair.
But her NEP story began with an audition—and a very challenging piece of music.
After studying violin performance at Boston University and learning the ropes of concertmaster leadership at Tanglewood and the LA Philharmonic, Dani auditioned for NEP with Witold Lutosławski's Chain 2, Dialogue for Violin and Orchestra. Richard Pittman, then NEP's Music Director, knew Danielle's playing from Tanglewood and other Boston performances and invited her to try out.
She got the job.
Since then, Dani has performed 26 violin concertos with NEP, founded the NEP Chamber Players, collaborated with composers and guest artists, and helped lead the orchestra through the transition from Richard Pittman to Music Director Tianhui Ng.
For Dani, NEP's commitment to adventurous music has provided an ongoing opportunity to learn, grow, and take on new challenges.
And after all these years?
"The NEP feels like home to me."
We're beginning our 50 Stories for 50 Years series with Danielle because an orchestra's history isn't just about the concerts it has performed. It's about the people who have spent years making those concerts possible.
Read Danielle's full story: https://nephilharmonic.org/news/50-stories-for-50-years-danielle-maddon
