Donal Fox facts for kids

Donal Fox (born July 17, 1952) is an American musician who is famous for his work in jazz and classical music. He is a talented composer, pianist, and improviser. An improviser is someone who creates music on the spot, without reading from a score. Donal Fox was the first African-American composer to work with the St. Louis Symphony orchestra for a whole year, from 1991 to 1992. He has also been a special guest artist at Harvard University and a visiting scholar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Donal Fox is recognized as a Steinway Artist, which means he plays pianos made by the famous Steinway company.

Donal Fox: A Musical Journey

Donal Fox has had his music performed in many important places. One of these is Carnegie Hall, a very famous concert venue in New York City.

Amazing Performances and Compositions

In 2009, Donal Fox played his own piano concerto called "Peace Out" at Zankel Hall. A concerto is a piece of music for a solo instrument, like a piano, and an orchestra. He was the piano soloist for this performance. The American Composers Orchestra asked him to write "Peace Out" and then performed it.

Another one of his pieces, "Hear De Lambs A-Cryin'," was performed in 2011. The Albany Symphony Orchestra played this work at Stern Auditorium, which is also part of Carnegie Hall. These performances show how important Donal Fox's music is in the world of classical and jazz music.

Awards and Special Recognition

Donal Fox has received several important awards for his musical talents. These awards recognize his skill as a composer and musician.

• In 1997, he received a Guggenheim Fellowship. This is a special award given to people who show outstanding ability in arts, sciences, and other fields.
• In 1998, he received a Fellowship from the Bogliasco Foundation. This foundation supports artists and scholars.
• In 2008, Donal Fox was given the American Academy of Arts and Letters Academy Award in Music. This is a very high honor for musicians in the United States.