A winner of several notable vocal competitions, she was best known for her portrayal of Clara in Porgy and Bess and for her work as an exponent of American art song.
[2] She made her professional recital debut at Carnegie Hall in 1959 with The New York Times stating "[Daniel is] a vocalist who has something to say in song repertory, and the voice and the technique with which to say it.
[4] A graduate of the Juilliard School, in 1961 Daniel won both the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and the Town Hall Recital Award .
[5][6] That same year she portrayed Clara in the New York City Center revival of George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess with William Warfield and Martha Flowers in the title roles.
[7] In 1962 she performed the world premieres of Claude Debussy's Les papillons and William Flanagan's Moss with pianist Lowell Farr at the Town Hall in New York City.