After studying at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Don returned to the Portland area and established a career as a professional freelance guitarist.

For 12 years, Don was the Oregon Symphony’s first-call guitarist, performing with film composer and songwriter Randy Newman, trumpeter Doc Severinsen, composer and singer Anthony Newley, Broadway star Carol Lawrence, vocalist Frankie Laine, and pianist Roger Williams.

Don has performed at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival with vocalist Diane Schuur, and Keller Auditorium with Norman Leyden and the Woody Hite Big Band. Other appearances include the Waterfront Blues Festival with vocalist Curtis Salgado and the Oregon Zoo Concert series featuring pianist Tom Grant with the Carlton Jackson/Dave Mills Big Band.

As a theater guitarist, he has played on touring productions of Broadway musicals including “Zorba the Greek” with Anthony Quinn, “Hello Dolly” with Carol Channing, “Fiddler on the Roof” with Theodore Bikel, and “Man of La Mancha” with Robert Goulet. In addition, he was the guitarist for the traveling casts of Broadway’s “Showboat” and “A Chorus Line.”

Known for his versatility, Don has performed in a wide range of musical settings. For example, he played a luncheon for Luciano Pavarotti and, in the same week, an evening concert with singer Bobby Vinton.