The Black Rock Philharmonic is moving into the 2026 season at Burning Man with a new conductor. She’s a seasoned burner and a long time musician with the orchestra. Introducing… Danielle Mays! 

   In the late 1990’s, after getting a degree in Music Theory and Composition from Butler University and doing her graduate work at The University of Michigan, Danielle moved to California from Indiana, where she worked behind the scenes on camera in television, film, radio, stage and animation. She has recorded albums with Elektra Records, performed a summer on The Warped Tour, worked with new composers on film and ballet scores, performed in music videos, played rock, funk, jazz and indie music in all the famous LA clubs, and has done a variety of musicals where she has contributed her singing, dancing, and played multiple instruments in the orchestra pit. She even worked as the Directors Assistant to the director of The Simpsons Movie! While in LA, Danielle continued her passion for teaching working with Children’s Music Workshop, Key To Joy Music, Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles, Harmony Project, and many others. 

In 2011 Danielle was cast in a production of The Burning Opera, a rock opera by Mark Nichols about Burning Man. It was this production that Danielle was able to let all of her skills as consummate performer shine. Since then Danielle has attended the Burn every year, performing solos with the Black Rock Philharmonic and a live EDM orchestra with Miata Gami and Meir Briskman. 

She moved to the Bay Area in 2020, where she continues to perform in bands and orchestras, while teaching band and orchestra in the Oakland area. She has a collection of over 50 instruments in her home and teaches everything from beginning strings and brass, all levels of woodwind, band, choir, orchestra, music theory, STEAM and so much more.

She is the principal bassoonist with the Tierra Symphony and has performed at many notable playhouses, theaters, and performing arts centers around Northern California. 

Welcome to the Black Rock Philharmonic podium Danielle!