Daniel Shao is a versatile British-Chinese flautist who regularly performs with orchestras, ensembles, and as a soloist. Praised for showing “virtuosity, charm, and charisma in abundance” (Ivan Hewitt, The Telegraph), he has played guest principal with the Philharmonia, BBC Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Ballet Sinfonia, Royal Northern Sinfonia and Ulster Orchestra. Daniel was previously Associate Member with the Philharmonia (2019-2021), Principal Piccolo with the European Union Youth Orchestra, and a Fellow at Music Academy of the West in California. He has also performed with the London Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Bergen Philharmonic, Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Daniel’s awards include winning the Royal Over-Seas League Competition Wind Prize 2024, featuring as a Classic FM Rising Star 2023, and being televised as a BBC Young Musician Wind Finalist 2014. As concerto soloist, he has performed with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (UK premiere of Ma Shui-Long’s Bamboo Flute Concerto), Oxford Philharmonic, Czech National Symphony Orchestra, and has given many solo performances around China. He was selected for the Countess of Munster Recital Scheme and the Philip and Dorothy Green Young Artist Scheme, which led to recitals all over the UK, and recently performed with artists from the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Centre NYC for Brandenburg Concertos at Surrey Hills International Music Festival.

He has been invited for chamber events at at Presteigne, Leicester, Dublin, JAM, Newbury, and Buxton festivals, and at venues such as Wigmore Hall. Passionate about new music, he has worked with the London Sinfonietta, Manchester Collective and Riot Ensemble, studied contemporary techniques with Sophie Cherrier at Lucerne Festival Academy, and is a founding member of Tangram – Associate Artists at LSO St Luke’s. He also regularly records scores for Film and Television, with recent soundtracks including Alien: Romulus, and The End We Start From.

Daniel began the flute with Deanne Payne at primary school growing up in South London, later studying at the Purcell School, University of Oxford and Royal Academy of Music with Katie Bicknell and Samuel Coles, also taking classes with Clara Andrada, Emily Beynon, Kersten McCall and Emmanuel Pahud, graduating with first-class honours and DipRAM, and was elected an Associate of RAM in 2025.