Donna Parkes*

A native of Australia, Donna Parkes is in her eleventh year as Principal Trombone of the Louisville Orchestra. During the summer, she serves as Principal Trombone at the Colorado Music Festival. She was a member of the Virginia Symphony from 2001-2007, following which she played with the San Francisco Symphony during the 2007-08 season. For two seasons, Ms. Parkes was a member of the New World Symphony under Michael Tilson Thomas. She has performed with other orchestras, notably the Chicago Symphony, London Symphony, National Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Sydney Symphony and the Australian Chamber Orchestra. Winner of the Australian National Trombone Competition and the Brisbane International Brass Competition, Miss Parkes has also appeared as soloist and clinician at the International Women’s Brass Conference and the Melbourne International Festival of Brass. She received her master’s at DePaul University, studying with Charles Vernon; other primary teachers include Michael Mulcahy and Ron Prussing.