Have fun while developing technical mastery and musical freedom. All ages and levels are welcome. Violin and Viola lessons are available with Don Power.

Don is from the Battle Ground, La Center area. He won the Arion Award in 1988 given to one graduating senior at Battle Ground High School for musical excellence and community involvement. He studied private vocal lessons from Iva Lindsey for 13 years and toured Europe with the American Boyʼs Choir in collaboration with the Vienna Boyʼs Choir in 1980. As a young singer, Donʼs leading roles were Amahl in Amahl and the Night Visitors and Daniel Boone in “Daniel Boone” in 1982 and While at Mt. Hood Community College, the lead in “Hair”.

As a violinist, Don began studies in 1977 with Ruth Petrasso. He won the annual regional Solo and Ensemble Contest in 1987 on violin and 1988 on violin and voice. Don went on to receive full scholarships from Mount Hood Community College and then Eastern Washington University to complete his Bachelorʼs in Music Education (K-12) and Bachelorʼs in Violin performance.

While at Eastern Washington University, Don performed with the Spokanne Symphony 1991-1996 and studied violin with Kelly Farris, former student of famous Julliard teacher Ivan Galamian.

Don continued his graduate studies on the violin at Portland State University with Carol Sindell, star pupil of Jascha Heifetz. As a graduate assistant on full scholarship, Don received a Masters in Violin Performance in 2001. While attending school, Don began a teaching studio at Music World in Battle Ground, accepting violin and viola students where he still teaches.

There are many opportunities to catch Don in performance. He plays in the First Violin section of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra after becoming a member in 2002. He is also Assistant Concertmaster of the Oregon East Symphony beginning in 2007 and Principal Second Violin of the Oregon Mahler Festival beginning in 2015. As a substitute, Don has performed with Columbia Symphony Orchestra, Portland Festival Symphony, Willamette Falls Symphony, Columbia Gorge Symphony, Southwest Washington Symphony, Tualatin Valley Symphony, Newport Symphony Orchestra, Washington Idaho Symphony, Juneau Symphony, and the Oregon Repertory singers.

Donʼs chamber music performance includes the Onyx Trio, Leviathan Piano Trio, Unstrung Quartet, guest appearance at Music on the Mountain series in Camas, and currently the Wine & Roses Duo.

Outside of teaching at Music World, Don welcomes students at a home studio and another at Musikhaus in Portland.