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Donald Lawrence Appert has appeared as a guest conductor in Japan, Australia, Central America, and throughout Europe. In Italy La’ovadese wrote, “…the performance of the ‘Serenade in C Major’ of Tchaikovsky, under the exceptional direction of Appert, was in such a style that it brought out the elegance and grace of the melodic lines with Mozartian inspiration. …The L’Orchestra Sinfonica Città di Grosseto… performed the Barber ‘Adagio’ with rare effectiveness, emphasizing its intrinsically rich melody.” Giornale di Sicilla praised his interpretation of Nielsen’s First Symphony as “lyrical with an airy freshness,” and his conducting as “precise, painstakingly accurate, and diligent.”
In the United States, he has appeared as a guest conductor of the Vancouver (Washington) Symphony, the University of Texas – Arlington Symphony Orchestra, the Eastern Washington University Symphony Orchestra, and the University of Central Arkansas Symphony. In a concert that featured his Concertino for Bass Clarinet and String Orchestra, Dr. Appert guest conducted the Satu-Mare Philharmonic in Romania.
As one of only five musicians chosen, Dr. Appert received the 2015 Honored Artists of The American Prize, the Honored Artists being "...individuals who have proven themselves to be musicians of "sustained excellence" over a number of seasons as contestants in the competitions." Adding to this distinctive honor is his 2011 The American Prize in Orchestral Programming/Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award for his work with the Oregon Sinfonietta.
For the 2019 – 2020 competition, Dr. Appert has won The American Prize in Orchestral Programming for his work with both the Clark College Orchestra and Jewish Community Orchestra. The Clark College Orchestra has also been named as a Finalist for both Orchestral Performance and the Ernst Bacon Memorial Award for Performance in American Music. Results for previous years include Dr. Appert tying for 3rd place in 2018 – 2019 for Orchestral Programming for his work with the Jewish Community Orchestra. That same year the Oregon Sinfonietta and Clark College Orchestra placed as Finalists for Orchestral Performance, with Clark College also receiving Finalist Honorable Mention in the Ernst Bacon Memorial Award for their performance of Dr. Appert's Concerto for Cello and Orchestra.
In 2017 – 2018, the Oregon Sinfonietta received Finalist Honorable Mention in the Ernst Bacon Memorial Award for their performance of Dr. Appert's Concerto for Viola and Orchestra, with world-renowned violist Brett Deubner as soloist, and the orchestra was also a Finalist in Orchestral Performance. (Performance of the viola concerto may be viewed via our Videos/Recordings page.)
Also in 2017 – 2018, Clark College Orchestra placed as a Semi-Finalist in the Ernst Bacon Memorial Award for their performance of Dr. Appert's Sacred Song Cycle and as a Semi-Finalist in Orchestral Performance. Through the years The American Prize has honored Dr. Appert and the orchestras many times, including Dr. Appert placing as a Semi-Finalist in Orchestral Composition – Professional Division for his Fantasy for Contrabass and Orchestra and Northwest Triptych.
Dr. Appert is a recipient of the 2019 – 2020 Clark College Exceptional Faculty Awards, which recognizes faculty members for their exemplary work performance, positive impact on students, professional commitment, and other contributions to the college. "He doesn't just 'talk the talk.' He truly embodies everything he teaches his students, from being punctual for class to practicing his instrument every day. He puts his students before himself and goes out of his way to create the best learning experience. He expects a lot from his students, but expects even more from himself."
Dr. Appert's other awards include the 2015 ASCAPLUS Award in recognition of his performances in Italy and the United States; his awards in previous years were for performances in Romania, Qatar, Europe, Central America, Japan, and the United States.
In 2014, Dr. Appert received the Clark County Arts Commission Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award, and in 2009, he received the Washington Community College Humanities Association Exemplary Status Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the Humanities.
As a member of ASCAP, most of Dr. Appert's compositions have been published and his works have been performed throughout the world. TAP Music Sales published two of Dr. Appert's most recent works: Contrapunctus (Mirrors) for Flute and Trombone, commissioned by Dr. Philip Martinson and Dr. Shelly Martinson, faculty members of Southwest Oklahoma University and members of the Oklahoma City Symphony, and Cortege for Low Brass and Percussion, commissioned by the Clark College Concert Band, Dr. Doug Harris, Director. (These two works, along with other works by Dr. Appert, are now available through Hickey's Music Center at https://www.hickeys.com/search.php?q=Donald+Appert.)
The world première of Contrapunctus (Mirrors), slated to be performed during the July 2020 International Trombone Festival in Osaka, Japan, was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. The work was to have been featured in the University Faculty Showcase Recital Series that focuses on new and emerging repertoire. The world première of Cortege was on June 15, 2019. Composed expressly for the Oregon Sinfonietta's concertmaster, Darrell Hunt, the world première of Dr. Appert's Violin Concerto was performed by Mr. Hunt on November 3, 2019 in the opening concert of the orchestra's 47th season. The audience's response to the concerto and Mr. Hunt's performance was fantastic. (To hear an audio recording of Mr. Hunt performing the concerto, please go to the Videos/Recordings page.) Dr. Appert's Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, commissioned by, and for, Jeffrey Butler of the Houston Symphony, had its world première to great applause on June 17, 2018, with Mr. Butler as soloist and the Clark College Orchestra accompanying him.
In 2016, the world première of Dr. Appert's Concerto for Viola and Orchestra was performed by acclaimed violist Brett Deubner and the Oregon Sinfonietta. Mr. Deubner also performed Dr. Appert's Fantasy for Viola and String Orchestra with the Clark College Orchestra. Internationally acclaimed bass clarinetist Rocco Parisi and his Bass Clarinet Quartet commissioned Dr. Appert's Quartetto Basso, which the quartet premièred in June 2013.
Other works by Dr. Appert include Nara Variations, In the Similitude of a Dream, Thru a Glass Darkly, Elegy, and Who Shall Know? for a cappella choir. An early work of Dr. Appert's, Sehnsucht for Trombone and Harp (1981), was recorded by Louis Setzer in a project of recording works for trombone and harp.
(To hear a video recording of Sehnsucht by the JOLO Duo from their CD The Bounds of Spring, please click on the following link, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dt_H7DnjsQ. The CD may be purchased through iTunes/CDBaby, as well as the website https://www.louissetzer.com/joloduo/bounds.)
Dr. Appert's music can be heard on his publisher's website at http://harmonicservicesgroup.com/c/donaldappert/orchworks.html. His music can also be heard on his website at http://www.maestrodonappert.com.
Dr. Appert received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music in Trombone from the New England Conservatory of Music, and he earned his Doctor of Musical Arts in Orchestral Conducting at the University of Kansas. Dr. Appert has studied conducting with Riccardo Muti, Otto Werner Mueller, Maurice Abravanel, Daniel Lewis, Fredrik Fennel, George Lawner, and Richard Pittman.
He was one of fourteen conductors chosen to participate in Helmuth Rilling’s Master Class at the 1992 Oregon Bach Festival. His trombone teachers include Ronald Barron, John Coffey, and Tyrone Breuninger. He has performed as a trombonist with the Kansas City Symphony, the Virginia Symphony, the Virginia Opera Orchestra, and the Springfield (Massachusetts) Symphony.
The fall of 2020 marks Dr. Appert's 31st year at Clark College, Vancouver, Washington, where he is a Full Professor of Music and Chair of the Music Department, in addition to being the Music Director and Conductor of the Clark College Orchestra. Fall 2020 also marks Dr. Appert's 19th season as the Music Director and Conductor of the Oregon Sinfonietta and 9th season as the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Jewish Community Orchestra, both orchestras performing in Portland, Oregon.
Dr. Appert lives in Vancouver, Washington with his wife Linda, a coloratura soprano and active voice teacher. They have two daughters: Laura, a violist, and Rebecca, a violinist. Both are graduates of the University of Cincinnati College – Conservatory of Music.
In the United States, he has appeared as a guest conductor of the Vancouver (Washington) Symphony, the University of Texas – Arlington Symphony Orchestra, the Eastern Washington University Symphony Orchestra, and the University of Central Arkansas Symphony. In a concert that featured his Concertino for Bass Clarinet and String Orchestra, Dr. Appert guest conducted the Satu-Mare Philharmonic in Romania.
As one of only five musicians chosen, Dr. Appert received the 2015 Honored Artists of The American Prize, the Honored Artists being "...individuals who have proven themselves to be musicians of "sustained excellence" over a number of seasons as contestants in the competitions." Adding to this distinctive honor is his 2011 The American Prize in Orchestral Programming/Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award for his work with the Oregon Sinfonietta.
For the 2019 – 2020 competition, Dr. Appert has won The American Prize in Orchestral Programming for his work with both the Clark College Orchestra and Jewish Community Orchestra. The Clark College Orchestra has also been named as a Finalist for both Orchestral Performance and the Ernst Bacon Memorial Award for Performance in American Music. Results for previous years include Dr. Appert tying for 3rd place in 2018 – 2019 for Orchestral Programming for his work with the Jewish Community Orchestra. That same year the Oregon Sinfonietta and Clark College Orchestra placed as Finalists for Orchestral Performance, with Clark College also receiving Finalist Honorable Mention in the Ernst Bacon Memorial Award for their performance of Dr. Appert's Concerto for Cello and Orchestra.
In 2017 – 2018, the Oregon Sinfonietta received Finalist Honorable Mention in the Ernst Bacon Memorial Award for their performance of Dr. Appert's Concerto for Viola and Orchestra, with world-renowned violist Brett Deubner as soloist, and the orchestra was also a Finalist in Orchestral Performance. (Performance of the viola concerto may be viewed via our Videos/Recordings page.)
Also in 2017 – 2018, Clark College Orchestra placed as a Semi-Finalist in the Ernst Bacon Memorial Award for their performance of Dr. Appert's Sacred Song Cycle and as a Semi-Finalist in Orchestral Performance. Through the years The American Prize has honored Dr. Appert and the orchestras many times, including Dr. Appert placing as a Semi-Finalist in Orchestral Composition – Professional Division for his Fantasy for Contrabass and Orchestra and Northwest Triptych.
Dr. Appert is a recipient of the 2019 – 2020 Clark College Exceptional Faculty Awards, which recognizes faculty members for their exemplary work performance, positive impact on students, professional commitment, and other contributions to the college. "He doesn't just 'talk the talk.' He truly embodies everything he teaches his students, from being punctual for class to practicing his instrument every day. He puts his students before himself and goes out of his way to create the best learning experience. He expects a lot from his students, but expects even more from himself."
Dr. Appert's other awards include the 2015 ASCAPLUS Award in recognition of his performances in Italy and the United States; his awards in previous years were for performances in Romania, Qatar, Europe, Central America, Japan, and the United States.
In 2014, Dr. Appert received the Clark County Arts Commission Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award, and in 2009, he received the Washington Community College Humanities Association Exemplary Status Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the Humanities.
As a member of ASCAP, most of Dr. Appert's compositions have been published and his works have been performed throughout the world. TAP Music Sales published two of Dr. Appert's most recent works: Contrapunctus (Mirrors) for Flute and Trombone, commissioned by Dr. Philip Martinson and Dr. Shelly Martinson, faculty members of Southwest Oklahoma University and members of the Oklahoma City Symphony, and Cortege for Low Brass and Percussion, commissioned by the Clark College Concert Band, Dr. Doug Harris, Director. (These two works, along with other works by Dr. Appert, are now available through Hickey's Music Center at https://www.hickeys.com/search.php?q=Donald+Appert.)
The world première of Contrapunctus (Mirrors), slated to be performed during the July 2020 International Trombone Festival in Osaka, Japan, was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. The work was to have been featured in the University Faculty Showcase Recital Series that focuses on new and emerging repertoire. The world première of Cortege was on June 15, 2019. Composed expressly for the Oregon Sinfonietta's concertmaster, Darrell Hunt, the world première of Dr. Appert's Violin Concerto was performed by Mr. Hunt on November 3, 2019 in the opening concert of the orchestra's 47th season. The audience's response to the concerto and Mr. Hunt's performance was fantastic. (To hear an audio recording of Mr. Hunt performing the concerto, please go to the Videos/Recordings page.) Dr. Appert's Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, commissioned by, and for, Jeffrey Butler of the Houston Symphony, had its world première to great applause on June 17, 2018, with Mr. Butler as soloist and the Clark College Orchestra accompanying him.
In 2016, the world première of Dr. Appert's Concerto for Viola and Orchestra was performed by acclaimed violist Brett Deubner and the Oregon Sinfonietta. Mr. Deubner also performed Dr. Appert's Fantasy for Viola and String Orchestra with the Clark College Orchestra. Internationally acclaimed bass clarinetist Rocco Parisi and his Bass Clarinet Quartet commissioned Dr. Appert's Quartetto Basso, which the quartet premièred in June 2013.
Other works by Dr. Appert include Nara Variations, In the Similitude of a Dream, Thru a Glass Darkly, Elegy, and Who Shall Know? for a cappella choir. An early work of Dr. Appert's, Sehnsucht for Trombone and Harp (1981), was recorded by Louis Setzer in a project of recording works for trombone and harp.
(To hear a video recording of Sehnsucht by the JOLO Duo from their CD The Bounds of Spring, please click on the following link, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dt_H7DnjsQ. The CD may be purchased through iTunes/CDBaby, as well as the website https://www.louissetzer.com/joloduo/bounds.)
Dr. Appert's music can be heard on his publisher's website at http://harmonicservicesgroup.com/c/donaldappert/orchworks.html. His music can also be heard on his website at http://www.maestrodonappert.com.
Dr. Appert received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music in Trombone from the New England Conservatory of Music, and he earned his Doctor of Musical Arts in Orchestral Conducting at the University of Kansas. Dr. Appert has studied conducting with Riccardo Muti, Otto Werner Mueller, Maurice Abravanel, Daniel Lewis, Fredrik Fennel, George Lawner, and Richard Pittman.
He was one of fourteen conductors chosen to participate in Helmuth Rilling’s Master Class at the 1992 Oregon Bach Festival. His trombone teachers include Ronald Barron, John Coffey, and Tyrone Breuninger. He has performed as a trombonist with the Kansas City Symphony, the Virginia Symphony, the Virginia Opera Orchestra, and the Springfield (Massachusetts) Symphony.
The fall of 2020 marks Dr. Appert's 31st year at Clark College, Vancouver, Washington, where he is a Full Professor of Music and Chair of the Music Department, in addition to being the Music Director and Conductor of the Clark College Orchestra. Fall 2020 also marks Dr. Appert's 19th season as the Music Director and Conductor of the Oregon Sinfonietta and 9th season as the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Jewish Community Orchestra, both orchestras performing in Portland, Oregon.
Dr. Appert lives in Vancouver, Washington with his wife Linda, a coloratura soprano and active voice teacher. They have two daughters: Laura, a violist, and Rebecca, a violinist. Both are graduates of the University of Cincinnati College – Conservatory of Music.
Music Links
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Chamber Music Society of Oregon
upcoming concert schedule Jewish Community Orchestra Clark College Music Department |
Publishing Links
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Harmonic Services Group
My publisher's website, where one can find information on parts for my compositions. Kagarice Brass Editions www.kagarice.com - Maskil for Alto Trombone and Piano Nichols Music Company http://enspub.com/nmc.htm - Lamentation for Trombone Choir and Threnody for Trombone Choir any work of mine that was published by TAP Music Sales is now to be found at Hickeys Music at this address: https://www.hickeys.com/search.php?q=Donald+Appert |