Slim Version
Daniel's vibrant programming of classical music mixed with Latin Jazz and World Music engages audiences of all ages! Daniel Pardo, a Colombian/American flutist and former US Military musician, resides in Houston, TX, where he is professor of Flute at Prairie View A&M University. An award winning musician for his arrangement of world music with jazzy harmonies, Daniel is in demand as a presenter/performer in festivals, universities, conferences, and concert series in the US and abroad. His programs include 'The Flute Around the World', 'From Mozart to Corea', and 'Classical Boleros' in a combination of formats from flute and guitar, to flute and rhythm section with strings. His 2024 recording of Central American Boleros with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra and rhythm section was awarded Gold medals in the Instrumentalist and Album categories by the Global Music Awards.
Daniel has been featured at the National Flute Association Gala concerts on multiple occasions and in 2026, will serve as Program Chair for the NFA convention in Portland, OR. Daniel is a member of the Texas Commission on the Arts Texas Touring Roster, and a Yamaha Performing Artist & Clinician.
Extended Version
Daniel Pardo works regularly as a studio musician in orchestral and commercial settings, fusing Western Classical traditions with ethnic sounds and technology. Born in Bogota, Colombia, Daniel’s performer/producer roles have led to special collaborations in recordings and tours with L.A. producers K.C. Porter (Santana; Ricky Martin) and J.B. Eckl (Santana; En Vogue), and artists such as Jeff Coffin, Karen Briggs, Jake Shimabukuro, Steve Wiest, Bob Mintzer, Shango Dely, Rosana Eckert, Chris McDonald, Dan Rudin, Giampiero Scuderi, Tyler Mire, Sergio Pamies, Drew Zaremba, Kyle Gordon, Brasuka, Jose Aponte & Caribe Club, Keith Critcher & the EDCC Consert Series, Cesar Lopez (Non-Violence Messenger for the United Nations), and James Pankow, Jason Scheff and Keith Howland from the rock group Chicago. As principal flute, Daniel recorded the 50 year commemoration CD of West Side Story for the Bernstein Estate and The Children of Eden for Stephen Schwartz.
As an educator, Daniel presents in major conferences such as the International Society for Improvised Music, the National Flute Association (US), the Texas Music Educators Association Convention, the Jazz Education Network Conference, World Flute Society Conference, Music For All, and the International Low Flutes Conference; as well as universities in North and South America: The Boston Conservatory at Berklee College of Music, the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Longy School of Music, University of North Texas, University of Texas at Arlington, Texas State University, University of Northern Colorado, Oklahoma Baptist University, University of Denver, Universidad de Las Americas (Quito, Ecuador), Universidad Javeriana (Bogota, Colombia), and Universidad del Valle (Cali, Colombia), etc.
In 2016, Daniel won 1st prize in the UNT Sherman-Barsanti Inspiration Award; A campus-wide competition honoring creativity that carries a $10,000 prize, for his innovative World Fusion arrangements/performances with From A Land Far Away. In addition to earning national leadership awards in Colombia and the U.S., Daniel has been recognized for his contributions to the U.S. military with the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medal, Army Achievement medal, Army Commendation medal, and the Colonel George Howard Citation of Musical Excellence. Daniel holds music performance degrees from Texas State University (B.M.), and the University of North Texas (M.M. and D.M.A.); and music business and music production certificates from the Berklee College of Music. Daniel’s principal mentors include Fabio Londoño, Greg Patillo, Pedro Eustache, Adah Jones, and Mary Karen Clardy.
Daniel serves as adjudicator for local and national flute competitions and is coordinator for the Houston Flute Club Young Artist Competition and the Frances Blaisdell Scholarship Competition for the National Flute Association (USA). Aside from recording flutes, Daniel works from his personal studio as mixing and mastering engineer for choir, big band, and orchestral projects in the US and Europe.
Since 2024, Daniel is a member of the Texas Touring Roster as part of the Texas Commission on the Arts and Program Chair for the 2026 National Flute Association Convention in Portland, OR.
Featured appearances with original music in 2024 include The International Low Flutes Festival in Washington D.C., Music For All Festival in Indianapolis, IN, the World Flutes Society Convention in Eau Claire, WI, the National Flute Association Convention in San Antonio, TX, and the Silkroad Global Musician Workshop in Boston, MA.
Daniel Pardo is Assistant Professor of Flute at Prairie View A&M University and a Yamaha Performing Artist & Clinician.