Inspiring lives through music.
D&D Music
About D&D Music
Owned and run by real-life duo Daniella Theresia and David Finneran, we know first-hand the difference that music can make in a person’s life. In fact, we met each other thanks to a shared musical experience! When we met, David was singing lead tenor in a local choir, and Daniella happened to stand-in for the alto lead.
This fortuitous meeting blossomed into a friendship, then a partnership, and finally, a business!
We look forward to inspiring your life through music.
-Daniella & David-
Daniella Theresia Teodoro-Dier
My affinity for music began at the young age of 3, when I requested violin lessons after attending a violin concert with my family. Over the years, my thirst for musical expression expanded to include lessons in piano, flute, voice, and viola. I attended Lawrence University (Appleton, Wisconsin, U.S.A.) from 2004-2009, during which time I received a solid foundation in theory, sight singing, ear training, and music history. I also sang with Cantala (Lawrence University's Treble Choir) from 2004-2008. I loved the diverse range of choral works that I sang with Cantala and I was thrilled when we were chosen as one of five choirs to sing at the North Central-American Choral Directors Association convention in 2006. From 2007-2008, I served as a Soprano II section lead and Vice President of the Cantala Board.
In my final year of university, I spent a term studying abroad at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, where I further developed my language and performance abilities. This experience was pivotal in my decision to pursue music as a career. In 2009, I graduated from Lawrence, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in music with voice as my primary instrument. I continued to seek out performance opportunities and operatic training, attending programs in the United States and Europe. From 2013-2016, I lived in Tel Aviv (Israel), where I studied with internationally-known vocal pedagogue Professor Tamar Rachum-Roth.
In 2017, I re-located to Canada where I have since been serving the Greater Toronto Area as a soloist, professional ensemble member, and music instructor. I have performed in opera productions by Toronto Masque Theatre, Toronto City Opera, and Opera Sustenida, of which I was also a founding member. I am also the co-host of and contributor to The Art Song Podcast. I have held lead vocal positions at such established professional ensembles as the Toronto Oratory Choir at Holy Family Roman Catholic Church (under the musical direction of Aaron James), the Etobicoke Centennial Choir (Henry Renglich), Beth Sholom Synagogue in Toronto (Brahm Goldhamer), and the Beth Tikvah Singers (Alexander Veprinsky). I am currently the Alto lead at St John's United Church in Oakville (Svetlana Kotliarenko).
As a teacher, I help my students explore their relationship with their instrument in a healthy and nurturing manner, letting their musical passions fuel their desire to practice and perform. My practical approach to music-learning gives musicians of all ages useful tools to learn repertoire more quickly and efficiently. I am a strong advocate for creating intelligent body awareness in musicians and I incorporate my own personal knowledge and experience from methods like the Alexander Technique, the Grinberg Method, and yoga with my students.
I look forward to empowering musicians of all ages to become their best possible musical selves.
Daniella offers lessons in voice, piano, and theory to students of all ages, abilities, and styles!
David Finneran
I have been involved in music since age 8, when I began attending St Michael's Choir School (SMCS). At St Michael’s, I received extensive musical training and I toured frequently as a choirboy, performing in places like Rome, Vatican City, Trinidad and Tobago, as well as numerous cities in Canada and the U.S. On numerous occasions I was a featured soloist for annual SMCS Christmas concerts at the legendary Massey Hall Theatre, which provided me with unparalleled performance experience. Other highlights included singing for Pope John Paul II with the choir during the World Youth Day 2002 Mass service, filming episodes of Daily Mass for Vision TV, and performing at many weddings and funerals at St. Michael's Cathedral.
My knowledge and enjoyment of many genres of music moved me to learn guitar, drums, and organ. I also studied piano through Grade 10 at the Royal Conservatory of Music. To further my education, I moved to Ottawa and completed a Bachelor of Music at Carleton University (CU). At Carleton, I focused on classical piano performance and composition while rounding out my knowledge in jazz theory and music history. I was also a member of three choirs: The Canadian Centennial Choir, The Carleton University Choir, and The Capital Vox Choir, a jazz choir led by Elise Letourneau. In 2011, I represented Carleton along with two other students at the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards where William Shatner received his lifetime achievement award. In my fourth year, I co-founded the Carleton Music Showcase Radio show on CKCU 93.1 where I hosted a 30-minute (now 1-hour) program that highlighted the lives and works of music students at CU.
Upon receiving my degree in 2013, I honed my teaching skills with the aim of making a career out of music. Now with over seven years of experience, I have filled my schedule with private music students and live performances. I was also an instructor at Grand Staff School of Music (Thornhill, ON) from 2014-2020.
Outside of teaching, I continue to perform in ensembles in the GTA. Previously, I sang in the Toronto Oratory Choir at The Holy Family Church in Parkdale and at St John's York Mills Anglican Church. Today, I can be heard singing for services at St John’s United Church in Oakville and as Tenor II Lead in the Etobicoke Centennial Choir.
David offers lessons in piano, guitar, and theory to students of all ages, abilities, and styles!