Dan Curro

Dan Curro is an accomplished cellist known for his eclectic musical interests and dynamic performance style. He began his cello studies with Helen Holt before continuing with Matthew Farrell, Roseanne Hunt, and later with Howard Penny. At the Queensland Conservatorium, Dan studied contemporary improvisation under John Rogers and Ken Edie, shaping his distinctive and versatile approach to music-making. Throughout Dan’s career he has displayed remarkable diversity, embracing a wide range of genres and styles. He has recorded two albums with his contemporary vocal group, Plub, and was hailed as a “star performer” for his collaboration with avant-garde electronic musician Oxford Parker. In this innovative performance, Dan improvised on a 6-string fretless bass guitar while completing Super Mario Bros. on the Nintendo Entertainment System—projected live for the audience—in just six minutes. In 2009, he performed in the Australian premiere of Louis Andriessen’s string quartet Facing Death at the Australian National Academy of Music. As a historically informed performer, Dan has a particular passion for 19th-century Western art music. He regularly plays baroque cello with ensembles including the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Badinerie Players, and Pinchgut Opera. Throughout his career, Dan has explored an abundance of musical styles, including baroque, classical, Latin, tango, jazz, hip hop, and contemporary music. Recently, his focus has been on performing new music with Black Square Quartet, collaborating with local composers such as Thomas Green and Robert Davidson. His work with the quartet reflects his commitment to innovation and his passion for expanding the boundaries of string quartet repertoire.

Bio Updated September 2025