Dan Galat

Dan Galat is a Chicago-based violinist and violist, a classically trained performer comfortable across a wide range of styles and techniques. Working primarily with living composers, Dan can be found with Chicago's new music ensembles such as Fulcrum Point New Music or as the concertmaster of Chicago Composers Orchestra. Dan Galat is the founding member of Missing Piece with cellist Kelly Quesada, a Chicago music ensemble that endeavors to commission new musical works and works from other artistic disciplines on themes that inspire others to connect with their community, care for our environment, listen deeply to ourselves and others, and speak out against injustice. Since its founding in 2022, Missing Piece has premiered 29 new works by composers such as Ben Zucker, Danny Clay, Shi-An Costello and has toured the US.

Dan Galat is active across a variety of styles, including Baroque music with the Bach Cantata Vespers, or as a recording musician, (Manuel Cinema), or with Icelandic  band Sigur Ros. In 2024, Dan was the violinist, violist, and backup vocalist for the 24-show premiere in Chicago at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre of Illinoise, the adaptation of Sufjan Stevens's album into a narrative told in dance. Dan has freelanced with many orchestras including Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, Louisiana Philharmonic, and Columbus Indiana Philharmonic (concertmaster). Dan received his BM and MM at Indiana University, studying with Kevork Mardirossian, Desiree Ruhstrat, and Joseph Swensen.

In 2024, Dan received a Creative Catalyst grant from the Illinois Arts Council for Missing Piece's Thirdstream project. This project explores the intersection of jazz and classical styles and features premieres of new works for violin, cello, and saxophone performed with saxophonists/composers Hunter Diamond, Mai Sugimoto, and Fred Jackson Jr. These pieces premiere at Constellation March 16th 2025 in Chicago.