Daniel Dorsett is a music educator, percussionist, and composer based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Born and raised in the city, he currently serves as Band and Orchestra Director at Harshman Middle School, where he has spent the past seven years rebuilding and expanding the instrumental music program.
Since joining Harshman, Daniel has helped grow student participation in instrumental music to nearly half of the school’s approximately six hundred students, with a focus on access, consistency, and meaningful performance opportunities.
Students regularly perform beyond the classroom through community events, districtwide festivals, university collaborations, and pep band performances — experiences designed to foster connection, pride, and a strong sense of belonging through music.
In 2025, Daniel participated in the Changemakers Teacher Fellowship through the Peace Learning Center, collaborating with educators across Indianapolis to deepen his practice in social-emotional learning, community-centered teaching, and student advocacy. This work continues to shape the culture of his classroom, emphasizing listening, empathy, perseverance, and shared responsibility as essential parts of music-making.
In addition to his work as an educator, Daniel is an active composer whose music has been performed by school, community, and professional ensembles. His compositions are known for their rhythmic drive, expressive clarity, and accessibility for young musicians, while still offering depth and musical payoff for more advanced ensembles.
Recent highlights include orchestral premieres with the Circle City Orchestra and an upcoming featured performance at the Indiana Music Education Association Professional Development Conference in 2026.
Daniel also performs regularly as a percussionist with the Indianapolis Symphonic Band, maintaining a strong connection to performance alongside teaching and composing.
Daniel holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Indianapolis and remains deeply committed to creating inclusive, student-centered music programs where all students can experience success, community, and joy through music.
Whether in the classroom or through composition, his work is guided by the belief that music is most powerful when it is collaborative, purposeful, and rooted in the people who bring it to life.
Many of Daniel’s pieces grow out of specific places, people, and shared experiences — moments of teaching, collaboration, travel, and community that shape the music long before the first note is written.
If you’re interested in commissioning a new work, collaborating on a project, or simply starting a conversation, Daniel would love to hear from you.
He typically responds within 48 hours.