Scottish violinist Daniel Stroud is a London-based freelance musician working across orchestral, chamber, solo, and recording projects. He performs regularly in concert halls around the UK and Europe, in West End productions, and in London’s top recording studios.

Daniel studied at the Royal Academy of Music under Michael Foyle and Ying Xue, where he also benefited from extensive artistic mentorship from leading musicians including James Ehnes, Tasmin Little, Roman Simović, and Eszter Haffner. Upon graduating from the Royal Academy with Distinction, he was awarded the coveted Regency Award for Outstanding Achievement, the DipRAM, the James Wright Award, and the highest violin mark in his year for his final recital. He also holds a First-Class Honours degree and was supported throughout his studies by scholarships.

Daniel is currently freelancing with major orchestras in the UK, including the Sinfonia of London, English Chamber Orchestra, Oxford Philharmonic, and London Mozart Players, contributing to a wide range of live concerts and recordings. He recently worked with the Scottish Ensemble on a project performing Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings and Shostakovich’s Chamber Symphony from memory in collaboration with Örjan Andersson, and looks forward to further international projects with the ensemble later in 2026. He also regularly performs in the West End, appearing in productions including Hamilton, The Phantom of the Opera, and Paddington the Musical.

Daniel has recorded and performed in some of London’s most prominent studios, including Abbey Road and AIR Studios, and has recorded the soundtrack to films such as Disney’s Snow White, Danny Boyle’s 28 Years Later, and KPop Demon Hunters. Daniel was also part of Abbey Road’s Stories from the Studios, performing music from Abbey Road’s recording history in the newly refurbished Abbey Road Studio One. He is featured on live album recordings including RAYE’s 21st Century Symphony and St. Vincent’s Live in London, and has collaborated with other artists such as Ed Sheeran, Louis Cole and Ella Henderson.

During his studies, he was a semi-finalist in the Royal Overseas League International Competition and a prize-winner in the Winifred Small Violin Competition. He is a recipient of the Tunnell Trust Young Artist Award, the Manoug Parikian Award, and the Harrison Frank Foundation Award. Daniel had the privilege of playing a fine Nicolò Gagliano violin (1755), on generous loan for several years from the Academy’s fine instrument collection.

As a recitalist, he has given recital tours across Scotland as a Tunnell Trust Artist with pianist Hanzhi Zhang, performing works by MacMillan, Mozart, Brahms, Strauss, and Ravel. He has given recitals at festivals such as the Petworth Festival, Edinburgh Festival, Hellensmusic and Brighton Festival, as well as at venues including the V&A Museum and Regent’s Hall in London. He has also appeared as soloist with orchestra, performing Saint-Saëns’ Rondo Capriccioso and the Barber Violin Concerto. He was invited to perform The Lark Ascending in the home of the world-renowned conductor Georg Solti, in a commemorative concert celebrating his life.

Daniel's musical journey began learning piano aged seven, and later, violin lessons at age ten at his local primary school in South Queensferry, Edinburgh. His talent and aptitude for music quickly blossomed, and at age fourteen, joined the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Junior Department, where he led all of the orchestras and won several awards. He later led the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland.

Daniel is deeply appreciative of the generous support that he has received from the Countess of Munster, Help Musicians, the St Marylebone Educational Fund, The Dewar Trust, The Caird Trust, The Cross Trust, the NYOS Endowment Trust, The Waddell Prize, Stephen Bell Charitable Fund.

Daniel plays a fine 18th Century Italian violin.