Daniel Xu is a sophomore at Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School University Scholars Program. His musical journey started with piano at the age five and later found his passion for the clarinet. As a soloist, Daniel has competed and been recognized as top prize winner at numerous state, national and international level competitions. In 2024, Daniel was named the winner with Distinction of Classical Music Clarinet by the National YoungArts Foundation and was invited as the only clarinetist to perform during the National YoungArts Week at the New World Center in Miami. Recently Daniel has been invited to be featured on the NPR “From To Top” Daily Joy Series as a high school musician. As a chamber and orchestra musician, Daniel is currently performing with Philadelphia Youth Orchestra and has been a member with Delaware County Youth Orchestra for two consecutive seasons from 2022 to 2024. Daniel ranked 1st chair and played principal clarinet at PMEA District 12, Region 6 and All-State Concert Band in 2025. In the summer of 2024, Daniel was selected as one of the three clarinetists to travel with the National Youth Orchestra (NYO2) organized by Carnegie Hall and performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City and Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas. To share the joy of classical music and advocate for music education, Daniel has been tutoring free clarinet lessons to elementary students since 2023 and also founded a nonprofit organization, Empowering Woodwinds, which carries the same mission as Music Angels to bring the power of music to people who need the most using our musical talent and create positive impact to peoples’ life.