Audition Cafe

Introduction

w B.S. University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign, 1993
 M.I.S University of Illinois-Springfield, 2007
Joined ISU Faculty in 2010
Donald Colby is the Principle Bassist with the Idaho State Civic Symphony (ISCS) and Adjunct Instructor of Double Bass at Idaho State University. Donald began his music career at the age of five, studying piano with Ms. Cleo Messner. He began his Double Bass studies at the age of ten and has studied with Dr. Hiram Pearcy, Professor Edward Krolic at the University of Illinois and at Northwestern University with the Chicago Symphony Assistant Principle
Bassist Warren Benfield.

Donald was previously the Adjunct Professor of Double Bass at the University of Texas at El Paso. His playing career includes classical and jazz, symphonies, small ensembles, and recital performances. He has served as Principle Bassist with the Symphonia De Camera, the Lafayette Symphony, the Danville Community Symphony, The Symphony of Central Illinois and the Champaign Urbana Symphony, as well as performing with the Indianapolis Symphony.

Donald has been a jazz bassist since his army days. In addition to performing with his own trio he has played with Dave Brubeck, Edie Arnold, Herb Albert, Ella Fitzgerald, Roy Clark and Bennie Goodman. In addition to his teaching and performing activities Donald is a former member of the Board of Directors of the ISCS. Donald has more than four decades of teaching experience with the double bass and the piano. Both classical and jazz methods are taught to interested students of all levels with emphasis on solo performance and ensemble work.

Donald believes that teaching must follow tried and true technique and literature studies, but with an approach that is unique to the students individual characteristics.