Danae Venson is a composer and multi-instrumentalist from Houston, Texas. Starting as a singer in church at four years-old, Danae pushed forward in her attempts to harness the power of music–culminating in her current studies at The Juilliard School under the guidance of Dr. Amy Beth Kirsten.  In 2020, upon closely examining troubling events of racial violence, Danae concluded that she wanted to find a way to “speak without words.” Since then, she has afforded the attention of collaborators and commissioners nationwide. Venson is a recipient of an ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composers Honorable Mention and has gained the experience of working with the MATA Festival, New York Youth Symphony, the Houston Ballet Academy, Castle of our Skins, The Juilliard School, and up-and-coming film and play directors in New York City. She has also received the privilege of having her pieces read and/or workshopped by Decoda Chamber Orchestra, Pierrot Ensemble, and Andrew Yee.  Danae draws inspiration from Jazz and Gospel music, and intends to embrace other non-classical influences in the near future.