story
Daniel Zinn is an Israeli conductor based in Brooklyn, known for blending symphonic music with dynamic visuals. He founded the Fort Greene Orchestra and has a background as a professional violinist.
Daniel Zinn is an Israeli conductor and impresario based in Brooklyn, NY, known for his innovative concerts that blend symphonic music with striking visual elements, attracting remarkably young audiences to his Fort Greene Orchestra performances. He is the founder of several orchestras and companies, including the Fort Greene Conducting Workshop, Add Music Company, SO&SO, NewOrch, the Fort Greene Chamber Music Society, and the Fort Greene Orchestra.
Born in Jerusalem, Zinn began his musical journey as a violinist. As a recipient of the prestigious America Israel Cultural Foundation Scholarship, he toured with orchestras across Europe, gaining extensive experience in orchestral performance.
After completing his mandatory service in the IDF, Zinn earned his BA in Music at the Jerusalem Academy of Music. He soon turned his focus to concert production, which led him to New York in 2016 to pursue a Master’s degree in Violin with Maestro Aaron Rosand and further his career as both a performer and impresario. Since 2018 Zinn has been forming orchestras and conducting. Studying conducting with Symeon Ioannidis and Mark Shapiro, with various masterclasses around the world.
Under Zinn’s leadership and baton, the Fort Greene Orchestra is redefining the classical music scene in New York. In the first season and a half, they have sold over 20,000 tickets, attracting an exceptionally young audience. With its cutting-edge light design, concise concert formats, and Zinn’s signature jargon-free communication, the orchestra is successfully challenging long-held assumptions about the classical music audience.
Ergonomic concerts™
A Revolution in Classical Music Experience
Classical music concerts have long been bastions of cultural sophistication and artistic expression. However, as both a conservatory student and a seasoned concert producer, I've observed firsthand the dichotomy of experiences these events can offer. On one hand, there are performances that leave an indelible mark on our souls, shaping our very being with their beauty and resonance. On the other, there are evenings that test our patience, with uninspired renditions and excessively lengthy programs that feel more like ordeals than artistic endeavors. This disparity fueled my curiosity and led me on a quest to harness the magic of truly transformative concerts.
Through years of meticulous refinement and a deep understanding of the human attention span, I've developed a new genre of concerts, which I proudly term "Ergonomic Concerts™." This innovative approach is not just about music; it's about crafting an environment conducive to deep, unconscious listening, where every aspect of the concert experience is optimized for engagement and comfort.
Length:
Recognizing that our attention span averages around 45 minutes, Ergonomic Concerts are designed to captivate and maintain focus without the need to dilute the sophistication of the musical selection. By creating concise, one-hour concerts enriched with narratives and stories, I present sophisticated music in a format that respects the listener's cognitive limits, ensuring a riveting experience from start to finish.
Light:
Vision plays a crucial role in our engagement with the world around us. In Ergonomic Concerts, lighting is not just an afterthought but a central element of the narrative. Whether it's an intricate light design that dances with the music or a strategically placed spotlight that emphasizes the performer, every lighting decision is made to enhance focus and deepen the musical immersion. In a genre where compositions can span from a few minutes to over an hour, the thoughtful integration of lighting is paramount, providing musical genius a worthy visual platform.
Layman-Centric:
At the heart of every great composition is the desire to connect with the listener on a profound, often pre-textual level. Ergonomic Concerts embrace this principle by eschewing esoteric jargon in favor of simplicity and inclusivity. Drawing inspiration from my grandfather's saying, "If you truly understand something, you can explain it simply," I strive to demystify classical music, making it accessible to all, regardless of their musical education. By explaining complex concepts in simple terms, Ergonomic Concerts bridge the gap between the artist and the audience, fostering a welcoming environment for everyone to explore the depths of classical music.
Ergonomic Concerts represent the culmination of my journey in the classical music world—a journey marked by a relentless pursuit of excellence and connection. By focusing on the nuances of concert length, lighting, and accessibility, I've crafted an experience that not only respects the audience's physiological and psychological needs but also elevates the music itself. Join me in embracing this revolutionary approach to classical music, where every concert is an opportunity to connect deeply with the art form we love.