Danielle Ondarza portrait

Danielle Ondarza

Woodwinds, Brass, and Percussion Department Chair

Danielle Ondarza is a horn player based in Los Angeles. As a freelancer, she performs with many orchestras in Southern California, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Los Angeles Opera, and Pacific Symphony. She is a member of the orchestras for the Los Angeles Master Chorale and Opera Santa Barbara and she has performed as principal in musicals at major venues such as the Pantages Theatre and Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Her many film and television credits include Nope, Spider Man: Far From Home, The Tomorrow War, Coco, Finding Dory, Deadpool, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Orville, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

In the commercial world, Danielle has performed live with a variety of artists, including Billie Eilish, Andrea Bocelli, Mariah Carey, Natalie Cole, Frank Sinatra Jr., Lenny Kravitz, Alicia Keyes, Queen Latifah, Idina Menzel, Kanye West, and Juan Gabriel. Recording credits include dates for Mary J. Blige, Michael Buble, Barry Manilow, Madonna, Sia, and Justin Timberlake. Danielle has been seen and heard on the Academy Awards telecast, the American Music Awards, American Idol, and The Voice. Additionally, she played principal horn for Josh Groban on his Straight to You Tour, traveling for six months throughout the United States and Europe.

A dedicated teacher, Danielle is on the faculty of several respected musical institutions. Graduates from her studio have been accepted to schools such as the Eastman and Manhattan Schools of Music, San Francisco and Peabody Conservatory, USC’s Thornton School of Music, and UCLA’s Herb Alpert School of Music, all with significant music scholarships.

Danielle’s principal teachers were Richard Todd, Jerry Folsom, Vince DeRosa, Dr. Kristy Morrell, and James Decker. She earned her Bachelor of Music in Horn Performance and Master of Communication Management from the University of Southern California.