A former member of the world famous Glenn Miller Orchestra, Daniel Puckett is in great demand as a freelance woodwind musician and teacher in the Maryland, D.C., and Virginia Area. Puckett has performed at the Kennedy Center, Hippodrome Theatre, Strathmore PAC, San Francisco Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, Meyerson Symphony Hall, the Rainbow Room at NBC Studios, the Georgia World Congress Center, and numerous, theatres, universities and schools across the country. He’s shared the stage with such artists as Johnny Mathis, Ruben Studdard (American Idol), Debbie Boone, Buddy DeFranco, Buddy Morrow, Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Harry James Orchestra, Betty Buckley, the Unexpected Boys, and Dale Underwood. Since returning from a performance tour of the U.S. and Canada in 2009, he has shared his passion for music with youth throughout the region as a teacher. He currently teaches instrumental music at Eastern Middle School in Silver Spring, Maryland. The ensembles he leads have consistently earned superior and excellent ratings at district, state, and regional adjudications.
Daniel previously taught at Bates Middle School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Annapolis, Maryland where he served as a department chair for the PVA and Music Departments. His students have been accepted into the Maryland All-State Band, Maryland All-State Jazz Band, Georgia All-State Band, a variety of District Honor Bands, and as music majors at recognized universities.
As a UMBC Faculty member, Puckett teaches the woodwind methods courses. He holds an M.M in saxophone performance from the University of Maryland and a B.M in music education, cum laude, from the University of Georgia.