Donald Wolcott

Donald Wolcott (April 13, 1990) is a jazz musician from Rockville, Maryland.

Biography

Donald Wolcott began training as a pianist at age five. Described as a prodigy, he plays a range of genres. He initially studied classical piano, but became more interested in jazz by the time he reached middle school. In high school, he was the pianist for the jazz ensemble, a position he held until graduation. He formed the rock band “Three Easy Payments,” and performed with them over the next four years, singing lead vocals, playing bass and keyboards, and writing songs. In addition, he served as the producer and manager for the group. He is also self-taught in bass, guitar, and drums.

In 2005, Wolcott received acclaim from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia as a top soloist in their annual jazz festival. In 2006, he was accepted as a bassist into the Montgomery County Honors Jazz Ensemble. In 2007, he earned an honorable mention for jazz performance in the National Distinguished Scholar Competition, and in 2008, he received the coveted “Maestro Award” at the Washington D.C. Heritage Music Festival.

Wolcott graduated from Rockville High School in Maryland in 2008. He accepted a scholarship to Towson University, where he majors in Jazz/Commercial Performance and is the pianist for the Towson University Big Band, the school’s premiere jazz ensemble. He works professionally as a pianist in the Baltimore/Washington D.C. area, performs with local jazz combos, and plays for weddings, parties, corporate events, musical theatre, and vocal accompaniment. He also composes and arranges music, works as the keyboard teacher at the Dayjams rock and roll camp in Rockville, and teaches private piano, bass, guitar, and drum lessons.

Current Work

The Diamond Star Project

The Diamond Star Project is a collaboration between the rock band Point Valid and American mezzo-soprano and science fiction author Catherine Asaro. It resulted in Point Valid's second CD, Diamond Star (Starflight Music, April 2009), which is a soundtrack for Asaro's novel Diamond Star (Baen Books, May 2009).

Asaro and Wolcott|right

Donald Wolcott joined the Diamond Star Project in 2009, after the members of Point Valid dispersed to pursue their education. He arranged and consolidated the songs from the CD so they could be performed by a duo ensemble in concert, with Wolcott on keyboard and Asaro as the vocalist. Asaro and Wolcott have been touring with the material, presenting it at concerts and science fiction conventions.

Debut Album

In 2009, Wolcott signed with Starflight Music, an independent music label. He and Asaro cut an EP titled Goodbye Note (October 2009) of jazz and pop songs, with Asaro on vocals. Wolcott plays every instrument on the EP, including keyboard, bass, guitar, and drums. He also performs the male backup vocals and the original song, "My Favorite Memory."