He received the Specialist in Music degree from the University of Michigan, Master of Arts in Music from the University of Iowa, and Bachelor of Music from Ball State University. His primary teachers were David Greenhoe, Richard Giangiulio, and Armando Ghitalla. Mr. Daniel previously held tenured positions at Penn State University and Abilene Christian University. While attending the University of Michigan on full scholarship he won the graduate concerto award and was principal trumpet of orchestras in Ann Arbor and Saginaw, Michigan.