Daniel Commerford has trained and guided numerous students and future music professionals during his many years of service. Dan earned his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Music Degrees from Kansas State University. He has taught thirty-seven years in Kansas, including twenty-two years at Manhattan High School and most recently at Washburn Rural High School in Topeka, Kansas. He also taught at Wamego and Colby High Schools.

In 1982, Dan's Colby High School Choir participated in the International Youth and Music Festival in Vienna, Austria. Under his direction, his choirs performed eight times in Orlando, Florida, at the Walt Disney World "Magic Music Days." Dan's choirs were also selected five times to perform at the KMEA In-Service Workshop.

Dan has served as an adjudicator and clinician for various music festivals in Kansas and Nebraska. He has also served on the staff of the Kansas State University Summer Choral Institute. In 2001, he was presented the Master Teacher Summer Choral Institute Director Award. Dan has taught hundreds of students during his years as a music educator with many of his former students choosing to pursue professions in the musical world.

After Dan retired from Manhattan High School, the KSU Music Department was privileged to have him step in for a year while the University conducted a national search for a new KSU choral director. During that year, Dan served as the director of the K-State Men's and Women's Choirs and the K-State Singers.