kcbass History: Donovan was on the Faculty on the first two kcbass workshops in 2009 and 2010. He helped Johnny immensely in shaping the overall scope of the workshop to include Rock music along with the inspirational things the bass can do. Also Donovan is such a great person to help think about young bassists. KCBass would not be the same if it wasn’t for Dr. D’s great input.
Bassist Donovan Stokes enjoys a varied career of performing, composing, writing and teaching. Stokes is currently Professor of classical and jazz bass at Shenandoah University-Conservatory where he teaches bass, coaches chamber music, and directs the Bass Ensemble. He is a Board Member for the Virginia based Main Street Chamber Orchestra, a former member of the board of directors for the International Society of Bassists, Former President Elect and Editor of the Bass Forum for the Virginia String Teachers Association, former member of the National Editorial Committee for American String Teachers Association.
Although known for his use of amplification, EFX and loopers, his 2006 acoustic recording Gadahagarnered two JPF Music Award nominations and 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) who brings “the bass into yet another dimension of capabilities.” (Gary Karr). He also writes a bi-weekly column related to bass and performance atnotreble.com.
As a chamber musician he has had the honor of collaborating with wonderful musicians including Julian Schwarz, Fry Street Quartet, Agua Va!, Alaria Chamber Ensembles, members of the Audubon Quartet, Stuart Malina, Blanka Bednarz, Eriko Sato, John O’Connor , David Oei and Seymour Lipkin. As a composer he has enjoyed recent commissions from Barry Green, Blanka Bednarz, The International Society of Bassists Young Bass Division, the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra and Jerry Fuller, among others. He offers a range of online instruction in upright bass, alternative strings, chamber music and composition and has created an Upright Slap Bass Instructional Video available exclusively online. He also performs in Jazz, Gypsy Jazz and Americana styles, having appeared with the Four Star Combo, Jack Dunlap, members of The Woodshedders and the Greg Ruby Quartet, and others.
Dr. Stokes earned degrees from Vanderbilt University (B.M.) and Indiana University in Bloomington (M.M. and D.M.), where his major bass 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.