Donald Stewart was born in Seattle on June 6, 1970. Soon thereafter, his family moved to Arlee, Montana where they still reside. Donald's musical training began in Arlee, where his music teachers often selected Donald to sing solos and duets at school and community concerts. Donald began piano lessons at the age of 5, saxophone lessons at the age of 10 and later guitar lessons at the age of 13. Donald began formal training in counterpoint and voice leading while in advanced harmonization class in high school. At that time, he began composition lessons by arranging and writing small pieces for piano, the choir and the school band.

Donald then attended Gonzaga University, where he majored in both music composition and broadcast studies, studying composition under J. Kevin Waters, S.J. While in college, Donald continued his piano studies and played piano, saxophone and percussion in numerous ensembles. Donald helped make ends meet by writing music for radio commercials and station promotion. He also created background music for University events such as slide shows and other presentations. He wrote and arranged pieces for the Gonzaga University Wind Ensemble as well as a musical for the drama department. Donald's talent and accomplishments drew the attention of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) who awarded him the Raymond Hubbell Scholarship for young composers. Outside the University, Donald was twice awarded the American Guild of Organists Spokane Chapter composition prize. The winning pieces were among his works performed in local churches and cathedrals.

Some of his most interesting work has been created in the last seven years, including the orchestral pieces RITMI and LECTIO DIVINA, two ballets, an opera, and numerous chamber pieces. After studying with Allen Sapp at the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music, Donald finished his Masters program in 1995. Donald's composition blossomed while he studied in Italy at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena under Franco Donatoni and at the Gruppo Aperto Musicale Oggi in Florence under Sylvano Bussotti. Donald was the only American among 15 young composers selected from all over the world to participate in Maestro Donatoni's program. His tuition and living expenses while attending the accademia were paid as a prize. At the program's end, eight pieces written during the program were selected for the final concert, including Donald's piece entitled ASCENSIONE. That fall, Donald had an unusual experience when he applied and was accepted by Bussotti to participate in a five-week conference among twelve young Italian composers to discuss the state of contemporary music in Italy.

The Italian influence infused an international element in Donald's musical style. From Donatoni he learned a European cosmopolitan style and from Bussotti he gained an appreciation for composition that does not conform to strict academic style.

Collaboration with the Ballet Bellevue resulted in the creation of two new ballets, ORPHEE and FEATHERTOP. These pieces incorporate a new "biological" approach to composition technique comprised of rhythmic and harmonic "cells" that Donald began experimenting with in ASCENSIONE. These cells of repeating pitch groups and rhythmic patterns create the form of the piece providing a cohesive element to the soundscape. Other elements of the music such as dynamics, articulation and instrumentation change and develop around these patterns of pitch and rhythm.

During his two-year residency as composer in residence of the Northwest Symphony Orchestra, he began a large four part orchestral piece titled LECTIO DIVINA. The separate parts, titled lectio, meditatio, oratio and contemplatio have "connective tissue" that joins the parts together in any combination yielding a variety of shorter pieces for performance. contemplatio is written around a removable flute solo (os jústi), which emerges from material in oratio.

He is currently working on a multimedia chamber opera titled PERPETUA, made possible by a grant from the King County Cultural Commission. Recent works include aurolac for solo cello, EMMAUS, for saxophone quartet, cello and 8 instruments; mordecaiAWAKE, a commission from the St. James Cathedral and a set of three chamber pieces gleaned from PERPETUA titled CONVOLVE.

Donald lives in Bellevue with his wife Kyra, and when not writing music enjoys gourmet cooking, playing basketball, mountain biking, snowboarding and traveling. In 1999, they started a costume rental business called A Masquerade, where Kyra devotes her energy. Donald teaches at the Bellevue School of Music and guest lectures at area schools and colleges.

• Music Teacher, Bellevue School of Music, Bellevue, WA (5/03-present).

  Instructed students in composition, theory and piano performance.

• Guest Presenter, BC Composers Workshop, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC (9/06).

  Presented techniques and analysis of my own music to BC composers.

• Featured Composer, Washington Composers Forum Composer Spotlight, Jack Straw Productions, Seattle, WA (8/06).

  Presented performance of PERPETUA excerpt and CONVOLVE.3 including techniques and analysis to Seattle public.

• Composer in Residence, Northwest Symphony Orchestra (NWSO), Seattle, Washington (2003-05).

  Featured composer, creating 4 pieces for the orchestra in conjunction with leading workshops and giving lectures on contemporary music in local schools, community groups and concerts.

• Guest Lecturer, Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington (5/04, 5/01, 5/00, 5/99).

  Lectures to students pertaining to 'Music since 1950', 'Analysis of New Music' and techniques and analysis of my own music.

• Workshop Facilitator--Group Composition Project, Pacific Middle School, (3/04-5/04).

  Develop and present group composition workshop for wind ensemble, incorporating students' ideas while presenting techniques and elements of compositional process culminating in performance of work.

• Guest Lecturer, Seattle Central Community College, Seattle, Washington (2003).

  Lectures to students pertaining to 'Music since 1950', 'Analysis of New Music' and techniques and analysis of my own music.

• Touring Arts Roster Juror, King County Arts Commission, Bellevue, Washington (5/01).

  Classical music Juror for the auditioning of the touring arts roster talent.

• Music Director, Ballet Bellevue, Bellevue, Washington (5/98, 10/97).

  Music Director for the preparation, rehearsal, recording and performance of the ballets ORPHEE and FEATHERTOP.

• Workshop Facilitator, Eton School (K-8), International School (9-12), Kamiakin Junior High School (7-9), (9/97-6/98).

  Develop and present interactive music workshops for students, incorporating composition, drama, choreography and performance.

• Music Arranger, Crossroads Community Theater, Bellevue, Washington (4/98).

  Arrangement and Recording of music for The Wizard of Oz.

• Music Director, University of Cincinnati College--Conservatory of Music, Cincinnati, OH (9/93 to 6/95).

  Created and served as music director for the liturgical drama MYSTERIUM.

• Graduate Composition Assistant, University of Cincinnati College--Conservatory of Music, Cincinnati, OH (9/93 to 6/95).

  Instructed graduate and undergraduate students in composition.

• Liturgical Music Minister, Bishop White Seminary, Spokane, Washington (9/91 to 6/93).

  Accompanied and led congregation in weekly services.

• Music Director, Gonzaga University Theater Department, Spokane, Washington (9/88 to 6/93).

  Created, rehearsed and performed original music for production of The Little Mermaid.

• University of Cincinnati College--Conservatory of Music, Cincinnati, Ohio (9/93 to 12/96).

  Masters of Music degree in Composition.

• Fondazione Accademia Musicale Chigiana, Siena, Italy (6/95 to 9/95).

  Attestato di Frequenza (Diploma), Allievo Effettivo nel Corso di Perfezionamento in Composizione (Course of Perfection in Composition) under Maestro Franco Donatoni.

• Gruppo Aperto Musica Oggi (Group Open to the Music of Today), Florence, Italy (9/95).

  Diploma, Corsi di Perfezionamento sulla Musica del Novecento in Composizione (Course of Perfection on the Music of the 1990's) under Maestro Sylvano Bussotti.

• Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington (9/88 to 6/93).

  Bachelor of Arts with two majors: Music Composition and Broadcast Studies.

• ASCAPLUS Award Recipient, American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (1998-2006)
• Selected by Washington Composers Forum as featured composer for Composer Spotlight at Jack Straw Productions (8/06).
• LECTIO DIVINA, selected for submission to ISCM World New Music Days 2006 (6/05).
• Commissioned for the composition project at Pacific Middle School for a piece for multiple ensembles PARTITA, Northwest Symphony Orchestra (9/03).
• Commissioned for the orchestral work LECTIO DIVINA, Northwest Symphony Orchestra (9/03).
• Commissioned for the opera PERPETUA, King County Arts Commission (7/99).
• Commissioned for the ballet score FEATHERTOP, Ballet Bellevue (1/98).
• Commissioned for the organ and percussion score mordecaiAWAKE, Cathedral of St. James (3/98).
• Commissioned for the ballet score ORPHEE, Ballet Bellevue (7/97).
• University Graduate Scholarship, University of Cincinnati (9/93- 6/95, 6/96).
• Commissioned for the choral pieces O MAGNUM MYSTERIUM and HODIE CHRISTUS, John Haughey (12/95).
• Borsa di Studio (Full Scholarship plus stipend), Accademia Chigiana (6/95).
• First Prize Composition Contest for choral and organ piece For the Lord is Good, American Guild of Organists (5/93).
• Commissioned for the musical The Little Mermaid, Gonzaga University Theater Guild (12/92).
• First Prize Composition Contest for the organ piece Soli Deo Gloria, American Guild of Organists (5/92).
• Dean's List, Gonzaga University (Spring 1991, Fall 1991).
• Raymond Hubbell Scholarship, American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (Academic year 1991-92).
• Music Scholarship, Gonzaga University (9/88 through 6/93).
• Academic Scholarship, Gonzaga University (9/88 through 6/93).