Meet Dan Weiss | Bassoonist & Artistic Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dan Weiss and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dan, how does your business help the community?
One of the things I care about most with Left Coast Quintet is making sure we’re not just performing at a community, but actually serving it.

On the nonprofit side of LCQ, our focus is on access. Classical music can sometimes feel exclusive or inaccessible, whether that’s financially, culturally, or just because people don’t see themselves represented in it. We intentionally perform in places where live music isn’t always easy to come by — retirement communities, faith spaces, public libraries, parks, community centers, and schools. Some of my favorite concerts we’ve ever done have been for seniors who can’t easily get to a symphony hall, or for kids hearing a live bassoon or French horn for the very first time.

We also design programs that are culturally intentional. Whether it’s a heritage concert at a local synagogue or a themed program that highlights music from around the world, we want audiences to feel seen and connected to the music, not intimidated by it. Music is one of the most powerful tools we have to build understanding across generations and backgrounds, and I take that seriously.

Personally, I’ve spent over 20 years in emergency services and disaster management. Service has always been at the core of what I do. LCQ is an extension of that, just in a different form. Instead of responding to crises, we’re building connection, joy, and shared experience before and after the hard moments of life.

At the end of the day, if someone leaves one of our concerts feeling a little more connected, a little happier, or simply reminded that beauty still exists in the world, then we’ve done our job.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Most people, when they think of live classical music for an event, immediately picture a string quartet. And I get it, strings are beautiful and they’ve kind of cornered the market on weddings and galas, especially with the Bridgerton trend.

But a wind quintet is a completely different animal, and we are absolutely awesome at what we do.

With flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, and bassoon, you’re getting five totally distinct voices. It’s closer to a cast of characters than a blended section sound. Sure we can be elegant and refined, but we can also be playful, jazzy, cinematic, folk-inspired, even a little quirky when the moment calls for it. There’s a color palette in a wind quintet that surprises people. It’s not background wallpaper, it’s engaging without being overwhelming.

What I’m most proud of with Left Coast Quintet is that we’ve built something that lives in both worlds. We perform traditional chamber repertoire at a high level, but we also arrange pop, film scores, Broadway, cultural heritage programs, and custom sets for private events. We’re classically trained musicians who don’t take ourselves too seriously.

Professionally, it definitely wasn’t “easy.” Like most musicians, I’ve pieced together a career from multiple streams: performing, freelancing, running the administrative side of the group, website design marketing, networking, driving to gigs, loading gear, you name it. There’s no straight-line path in this field. I’ve also spent over 20 years in emergency services and leadership roles, and that shaped how I run LCQ more than anything. Planning, logistics, risk management, and communication all transfers. When you’ve managed incidents and led teams in high-pressure environments, running a concert feels pretty manageable.

The biggest challenges have been sustainability and perception. Wind quintet isn’t always the first thing people think to hire. So we’ve had to educate audiences and planners, and show them what’s possible. We’ve had to build relationships instead of waiting for the phone to ring. And we’ve had to be adaptable, especially through things like COVID, when live performance just stopped overnight.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that talent matters, but consistency matters more. Be communicative, show up prepared, be easy to work with. Treat every performance, whether it’s a retirement home or a high-end corporate gala, with the same level of professionalism. Relationships are everything.

What I want the world to know about LCQ is this: we’re not just five musicians playing notes. We’re five personalities creating an experience. We care about the audience, we care about the craft, and we care about building something that lasts. It’s not just a performance, but a reputation for quality, creativity, and integrity.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m absolutely going into full tour-guide mode. I love this city, and I love showing it off from every possible angle.

First rule: we’re getting views early. I’m taking them out to Point Loma so they can see the coastline the way it’s meant to be seen, cliffs, ocean, horizon forever and then turn around and you get epic views of downtown and Coronado. Then we’re driving up to Mount Soledad for that panoramic city view, and at some point during the week we’re hiking Cowles Mountain. You earn your tacos in this town.

Food-wise, we’re doing this right.

Dinner at Arrivederci Ristorante in Hillcrest is excellent. It’s old-school Italian, it’s warm, it’s loud in the best way, and it feels like you’ve stepped into a neighborhood spot in another country. On another night, we’re heading to Coyote Cafe in Old Town for Mexican food because you can’t come here and not lean into that history. Plus it’s just a fun area to walk around, explore haunted buildings, and see the history of San Diego.

At some point, we’ll head to La Jolla and grab a burger and chips/guacamole Jose’s Courtroom, which feels like the most San Diego thing ever: laid back, unpretentious, full of locals. It’s an easy walk around La Jolla and to check out the seals, and a stop by La Valencia is always fun too. At some point in the week, probably late night, we’re getting pizza at Lefty’s Chicago Pizzeria. It’s the right amount of chaos and comfort food.

For wandering, we’re walking through Mission Hills, with its beautiful homes, quiet streets, classic San Diego charm. We’ll spend a solid afternoon in Little Italy just people-watching and grabbing coffee. And of course, you can’t beat Balboa Park. The architecture, the museums, the performers, it’s one of the most unique urban parks anywhere.

And if I’m being honest, the best neighborhood in the city is University Heights. It just feels like community. Walkable, great food, good energy. It’s San Diego without trying too hard.

By the end of the week, they’d understand why I love it here. It’s not just the beaches. It’s the neighborhoods, the views, the small businesses, and the fact that you can hike a mountain in the morning, hit the beach in the afternoon, grab world-class food at night, and run into someone you know in between.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
None of us do this alone.

I’d dedicate this shoutout to the musicians of San Diego, the freelancers, the pit players, the studio players, the educators, all of them. This is a small but incredibly talented community, and I’ve learned something from almost every person I’ve sat next to. There’s a level of professionalism and generosity here that people on the outside don’t always see. We sub for each other, recommend each other, cover gigs when someone is sick, and celebrate each other’s wins. That kind of culture doesn’t happen by accident.

And especially, I want to recognize the four other members of Left Coast Quintet: April Leslie, Jenny Shippee, Erica Gamble, and RB Anthony. They aren’t just colleagues; they’re friends and collaborators who have trusted me and gone along with this idea and the crazy things I ask us to do. Chamber music is vulnerable and sometimes there’s nowhere to hide. Every entrance, every breath, every musical decision is shared. The fact that we’ve built something that has lasted this long says a lot about their musicianship and character.

They show up prepared, care about the audience, and they’re willing to try weird programming ideas. They give honest feedback. And they genuinely want each other to succeed, not just within LCQ but in all of the other groups and projects we’re part of.

If anything I’ve built has worked, it’s because I’ve been surrounded by people who are better musicians than me and good humans on top of it. I’m really proud to be part of this community.

Website: https://www.leftcoastquintet.com

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