Bio

Donald Pinson maintains a full schedule as both a performer and educator. His experience spans wide-ranging styles, from classical orchestral, solo, chamber, and early music concerts to jazz, rock, salsa, and more. A versatile instrumentalist, he performs regularly on alto, tenor, and bass trombone and euphonium.

As an orchestral musician, he performs regularly as principal trombonist in both the Victoria Symphony Orchestra and the Mid-Texas Symphony, and he has also performed with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, the Houston Symphony Orchestra, and the San Antonio Symphony, among others. 

Active as a chamber musician, recitalist, and clinician, he has been a featured soloist with numerous ensembles in both classical and jazz idioms. He has taken a particular interest in performing the literature for solo trombone and organ, and his first solo recording, Fantasia, a collaboration with organist Damin Spritzer, is now available on the Raven CD label. He has performed concerts and educational programs throughout the South Texas region with the Del Mar Brass Trio and the Corpus Christi Brass Quintet. He has also performed and lectured at venues such as the International Trombone Festival, the Texas Music Educators Association Convention, the Big XII Trombone Conference, and the Texas Jazz Festival. 

In 2009, Dr. Pinson joined the faculty at Del Mar College, where he is currently Associate Professor of Trombone/Low Brass. An active member of the International Trombone Association, he is the Competitions Coordinator for the ITA, responsible for the implementation of fourteen annual competitions with an international pool of applicants and judges. He holds degrees from Texas Christian University, Southern Methodist University, and the University of North Texas, and his mentors have included Vern Kagarice, John Kitzman, Dennis Bubert, Barney McCollum, and Ron Wilkins.

Donald Pinson is an artist for Michael Rath Trombones, England.