Donald Lawrence Appert has appeared as Guest Conductor in Japan, Australia, Central America, and throughout Europe. In Italy L’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 Citta di Grosseto…performed the Barber Adagio with rare effectiveness, emphasizing its intrinsically rich melody.” Giornale di Sicilia praised his interpretation of Nielsen’s First Symphony as "lyrical with an airy freshness" and his conducting as "precise, painstakingly accurate, and diligent”. He received The American Prize in Orchestral Programming—Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award in 2011 for his work with the Oregon Sinfonietta. In 2009 He received the Washington Community College Humanities Association Exemplary Status Award. In the United States he has appeared as guest conductor of the Vancouver (WA) Symphony, the University of Texas - Arlington Symphony Orchestra, the Eastern Washington University Symphony Orchestra, and the University of Central Arkansas Symphony.
Dr. Appert is a member of ASCAP with most of his works published. In May of 2012 he conducted the premiere of his Concerto in Mi for piano and strings with Maurizio Barboro and Atelier d’archi della Valle d’Aosta in Italy. Northwest Triptych was premiered by the Oregon Sinfonietta in November of 2010 and performed by state orchestras in Romania, El Salvador, and Slovakia in 2011. ABEditore (Milan, Italy) has agreed to publish his Concertino for bass clarinet and string orchestra and Vignette for string quartet or string orchestra this coming year. Nara Variations received its world premiere in December of 2007 by the Ashiya Chamber Orchestra in Kobe, Japan. Additional performances of this work for string orchestra in 2008-9 were by the El Salvador State Symphony, the Orchestra Sinfonica Citta di Grosseto (Italy), Filharmonica “Mihail Jora” Bacau (Romania), and the Orquestra Simfonica de Sant Cugat (Spain) with the composer conducting. In October of 1998 the Ashiya Chamber Orchestra performed the Japanese premiere of In the Similitude of a Dream. This piece for string orchestra was recorded by the Clark College Orchestra on its first compact disc and received its Australian premiere in August of 1999. The Ashiya Chamber Orchestra also gave the Japanese premiere of Thru a Glass Darkly in October of 1999 and on their November 2001 concert they gave the world premiere of Elegy, a work they commissioned from the composer. The composer has since conducted this work with orchestras in the US, Italy, the Czech and Slovak Republics, France, Romania, and Portugal. The Audienda-Chor premiered Who Shall Know? for a capella choir in Krefeld, Germany in November of 2002. He received an ASCAPLUS Award in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011 for recognition of the performances of his music in Europe, Central America, Japan, and the US. His music may be heard via the Internet on his web site at www.maestroappert.com or either of his publisher’s web sites at http://harmonicservicesgroup.com/c/donaldappert/orchworks.html and www.redhouseartspace.com/choral-music.html.
Donald Appert has been Music Director/Conductor of the Clark College Orchestra since 1990. Dr. Appert received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music in Trombone from the New England Conservatory. 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. Dr. Appert has performed as a trombonist with the Kansas City Symphony, the Virginia Symphony, the Virginia Opera Orchestra, and the Springfield (MA) Symphony. Currently he is a Professor of Music and Head of the Music Department at Clark College in Vancouver, Washington. In addition he is the Music Director/Conductor of the Oregon Sinfonietta, Artistic Director and Conductor of the Jewish Community Orchestra (both in Portland, Oregon), and the Sanctuary Choir Director for the First United Methodist Church of Vancouver, Washington.
He lives in Vancouver, Washington (USA) 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.
Originally from Utah, Cindy is a graduate of the University of Utah in both conducting and education and then continued to develop her conducting skills with Kurt Masur, Riccardo Chailly and Maren Alsop - selected as apprentice for special projects in New York City, Chicago and Baltimore. Cindy has taught music in the public and private education systems for over 20 years and has conducted orchestras throughout the world. This will be her 11th season with the Jewish Community Orchestra.
In Utah Cindy served as the Music Director and Conductor of the Granite Youth Symphony, Jordan Symphony Orchestra, and the Lincoln Youth Symphony; performed with the Utah Philharmonia, the Salt Lake Symphony and The Orchestra on Temple Square. In 2001 Ms. Petty moved to Oregon where she served as the Principal Conductor of the Portland Youth Philharmonic Conservatory Orchestra; as the Music Director and Conductor of The Oregon Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra; the Oregon Pro Arte Youth Chamber Orchestra; the Pro Arte Conservatory Strings; The Jewish Community Orchestra; The Portland Mormon Symphony and the Portland Adventist String Orchestra; As guest conductor of the Rose City Chamber Orchestra and the Newport Symphony; and performed as acting Concertmaster of the Columbia Symphony Orchestra. Working closely with the Portland-Sapporo Sister City Association, Cindy traveled to Japan appearing as Guest Concertmaster, Soloist, and Guest Conductor of the Sapporo Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition she maintained a private studio specializing in violin / viola instruction and coaching small chamber ensembles. In 2007, Ms. Petty was knighted by the Royal Rosarians, under the banner of the rose “Artistry” for her extensive contributions to the community through music.
As a violinist, Cindy currently performs with the Newport Symphony Orchestra (Oregon)and the Chandler Symphony (Arizona). As a Conductor, she continues to serve as Principal Guest Conductor of the Sapporo Philharmonic Orchestra, The Tempe Youth Chamber Orchestra, the Jewish Community Orchestra, and the Oregon Arts Orchestra who have recently returned from a successful performance tour of Austria and the Czech Republic. Ms. Petty has also made guest conducting appearances with numerous orchestras in Chicago, New York, Washington D.C.; North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Michigan, California, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah, and is sought after as a clinician and adjudicator for National Music Festivals, All-State Orchestras and Youth Honors Orchestras throughout the United States.
Recently Maestra Petty has accepted a position with Music Celebrations International producing orchestral and choral concerts worldwide for the concert series: “American Celebration of Music” throughout Europe, and Asia and also for the series: “National Festival of the States” which appears in Washington D.C. Chicago, New York and Los Angeles and includes performances in the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C, Orchestra Hall in Chicago, Benaroya Hall in Seattle, and Music Center’s Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.
Ms. Petty firmly believes that music is essential to and complements every other area of our lives. It is cognitive, physical, expressive, goal oriented, aesthetic, exciting and rewarding. Music must be accessible to everyone to truly touch lives. Music is an aural sport, a lifelong skill which ensures the human element of life! It is work and recreation at the same time. It requires a high level of commitment and dedication to excellence! As stated by Ms. Petty, “Music is not just my profession.....it is my passion!”