Donovan Stokes enjoys a varied career of performing, composing, writing and teaching. His solo recording Gadaha garnered two JPF Music Award rankings for Best Album and Best Instrumental Song. Described as a musician who “paints primary colours and subtle shades to considerable effect” (The Double Bassist), Stokes is also noted for his “eye-popping display of technical wizardry and showmanship” (Madison Jazz).

Stokes has given classes and performed as soloist throughout the United States, in Mexico, Norway, Italy, England, France and the Czech Republic. He is regularly seen at the Richard Davis Bass Conference in Madison, Wisconsin, the International Society of Bassists Conference and at the Milt Hinton Institute (Oberlin). The 2017/18 season will mark his first appearances in South America.

A full professor at Shenandoah Conservatory of Shenandoah University, he teaches jazz and classical bass, and acts as coordinator of strings. He offers a range of online instruction and has created an Upright Slap Bass Instructional Video available exclusively online. As a composer he has enjoyed commissions from Barry Green, Blanka Bednarz, The International Society of Bassists Young Bass Division, the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra and Jerry Fuller, among others. He is also and expert in the life and work of bassist Rodion Azarkhin and writes a regular column on the double bass at www.notreble.com.

As a chamber musician he has had the honor of collaborating with musicians Clyde Thomas Shaw, Fry Street Quartet, Agua Va!, members of the Audubon Quartet, Stuart Malina, Blanka Bednarz, Eriko Sato, John O’Conor , David Oui and Seymour Lipkin, among others. Stokes also performs Jazz, Americana, Rock and Gypsy Jazz regularly and is one-half of the jazz bass duo Two Bass Hit.

Stokes earned degrees from Vanderbilt University (B.M.) and Indiana University (M.M. and D.M.), where his major instructors were Lawrence Hurst, and Edgar Meyer. He studied fiddle styles with Crystal Ploughman and Mark O’Connor, string pedagogy with Lawrence Hurst, Helga Winold, Inez Wyrick and Mimi Zweig, and composition with Michael Alec Rose, Michael Kurek and Mary Jeanne Van Appledorn.

Stokes is also a board member for the International Society of Bassists, past-president of the Virginia String Teachers Association, and artistic director of the Bass Coalition and its annual Bass Workshop where he head a highly selective a one-week Intensive Program for advanced bassists. Learn more at www.donovanstokes.com or find him on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and Periscope.

Shenandoah Conservatory is committed to fostering a safe environment for our students and faculty during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are equally committed to providing exceptional opportunities for our students aligned with preparation for 21st century careers in the arts. This commitment begins with your audition! As the arts industry has responded to our current reality by modifying rehearsal and audition practices, Shenandoah Conservatory has also adopted the most recent industry standards, while maintaining a commitment to innovation and collaboration. Visit the Ensemble & Production Auditions webpage for the most up-to-date information about auditioning for our music, theatre and dance ensembles and productions.

Ensemble & Production Auditions

SHENANDOAH CONSERVATORY INVITES provides instrumental high school students multiple opportunities each year to make music with Shenandoah faculty, students and ensembles. Musicians playing string, brass, woodwind and percussion instruments will find events enabling intensive study with Shenandoah’s world-class faculty and the opportunity to make music alongside current conservatory students. Each of these events take place on Shenandoah’s beautiful Winchester campus.

Explore Upcoming Opportunities