SKILLS
I am able and prepared to:
CREATIVITY: Successful ideas that I have implemented.
2017 novel, Ahgottahandleonit published by Cinco Puntos Press. Musical renditions of the embedded poems can be heard at donovanmixonwriter.com. Presently in process of writing a collection short stories and a memoir.
Recordings
Jazz-Play Studio Istanbul/Evanston: Monthly concerts of local artists. Private & group lessons in guitar, electric bass, music theory, ear training and jazz improvisation.
Istanbul Bilgi University (music department): Created and coordinated core curriculum studies, student concerts, instituted comprehensive guitar and ear training programs, wrote and implemented an Aural Perception Test for department entrance exam.
Berklee College of Music: Conducted pedagogical experiments in musical aural perception, helped to reorganize the college audition process, created the ‘Big Ears Olympics’, a musical game show where student teams competed on music theory and ear training questions.
Recent and Current Activities
Employment History
Performance
Reviews
http://www.jazzchicago.net/reviews/2010/QuickHits21.htmlchicagojazz.com
http://www.chicagojazz.com/cd-reviews.php?SEARCH=review&REV=149
http://www.chicago-splash.com/publish/Entertainment/cat_index_chicago_entertainment/donovan-mixon.php
reverbnation.com/hybridproject
Hurriyet Daily News: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/default.aspx?pageid=438&n=mixon-jazzes-up-istanbuls-music-scene-2008-02-29
Bodrum Jazz Festıval: http://www.myspace.com/asenag/photos/37470766
Izmir Jazz Festival: http://www.last.fm/festival/154468+14+th+İzmir+European+Jazz+Festival
Ankara Jazz Festival: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/default.aspx?pageid=438&n=ankara-international-jazz-festival-starts-on-nov.-6-2003-11-02
Foggia Jazz Festival: http://www.foggiajazzfestival.com/altro/19edizione1998/stampa.html
Guest Music Lecturer/Clinician
Publications
Author Appearances
Special Projects
Awards/Distinctions
Education
M.M. Jazz/Commercial Music, Manhattan School of Music, 1985
o Composition: Michael Gibbs
B.A. Music Education, Jersey City State College, 1978
o Permanent K-12 Teaching Certification /Classic Guitar
Temple University, 1983
o Graduate studies, 20th Century Composition & Piano
Private Guitar Studies: Ted Dunbar, Harry Leahey, Jimmy Ponder.
Improvisation concept: Dennis Sandoli, Charlie Banacos.
LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS
I am able and prepared to:
- Provide a strong faculty profile as a professional performing guitarist.
- TEACH: guitar in various styles, all levels: jazz, world, classical, blues, R&B, pop &rock, Electric bass, Music theory and ear training, Improvisation, ensembles, Beginner keyboard
- Attract and Recruit students as a music clinician, public speaker & recruiter. Communicate well with the wider artistic community locally and internationally.
- Produce and manage concerts/concert recitals.
- Work comfortably with computers and digital technology, such as:
- Create and edit with the following programs: Protools, Final Cut Pro, Finale
- Efficiently analyze and prioritize tasks.
- Collaborate effectively.
- Create and organize systems for auditions, student and faculty evaluations, admissions.
CREATIVITY: Successful ideas that I have implemented.
2017 novel, Ahgottahandleonit published by Cinco Puntos Press. Musical renditions of the embedded poems can be heard at donovanmixonwriter.com. Presently in process of writing a collection short stories and a memoir.
Recordings
- August 2013, We Play When We Play: cdbaby.com http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/donovanmixon3
- February 2013, İstanbul'un İzleri (Asena Akan): https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/istanbulun-izleri/id598544441
- Culmination cdbaby.com http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/donovanmixon 2010 Top Chicago Recordings:http://www.jazzchicago.net/reviews/2011/Bestof2010.html
- 2005, The Dance Of Life, DMC Records, Istanbul
- 1999, Language Of The Emotions, Philology Records
- ·1995, Lee Konitz, Free With Lee, Philology Records – http://philologyjazz.wordpress.com/studio-catalogue/
- 1993, Look Ma, No Hands!, Philology Records
- It’s Been Good – Original song currently in production.
Jazz-Play Studio Istanbul/Evanston: Monthly concerts of local artists. Private & group lessons in guitar, electric bass, music theory, ear training and jazz improvisation.
Istanbul Bilgi University (music department): Created and coordinated core curriculum studies, student concerts, instituted comprehensive guitar and ear training programs, wrote and implemented an Aural Perception Test for department entrance exam.
Berklee College of Music: Conducted pedagogical experiments in musical aural perception, helped to reorganize the college audition process, created the ‘Big Ears Olympics’, a musical game show where student teams competed on music theory and ear training questions.
Recent and Current Activities
- Present: Music Lecturer/Clinician: Domestically/Internationally,
- 2017- Present: Teaching Artist: Allegro Music, Park Ridge, IL
- 2018 Vandercook College, Performance Ear Training
- 2017-Preset Niles Township D219, Substitute Teaching
- 2017 Performance Ear Training presentation. Jazz Educator’s Network, New Orleans, LA
- 2017 Straight Ahead Jazz Camp presentation. Jazz Institute of Chicago
Employment History
- 1993 – Present: Performing musician/recording artist, Music lecturer/clinician – Domestically/Internationally. http://donmixon.com/reference-letters---endorsements.html
- Present: Novelist of young adult literature, author of short stories.
- 2016 - Present: Teaching Artist – Home Studio and for Allegro Music – Park Ridge, Il.
- 2015 – Present: Substitute Teacher — Niles District 219
- 2015 - 2016: Teaching Artist, Brown Elementary School – C.W. Arts - Chicago
- 2014: Teaching Artist - Musicianship/Ear Training: Chicago Jazz Philharmonic Outreach Jazz Camp
- 2006-2010: Proprietor - Jazz-Play Studio: Istanbul, Turkey
- 1993 – 1994: Adjunct faculty, D.A.M.S. Universita' di Bologna Discipline delle Arti,
- 1986 – 1993: Associate Professor, Berklee College of Music (full-time)
Performance
- Elastic Arts, Chicago
- Noyes Cultural Arts Center, Evanston, IL
- Whiskey Lounge, Evanston
- First Night Evanston
- Festival of the Wall – Rogers Park Hybrid Project Chicago. https://youtu.be/r9wFttkVxPE
- Twenty-Two: Concert at Jazz-Play Studio, Evanston: https://youtu.be/nJ7ZXX10paU
- Israeli Jazz & World Music Festival: https://youtu.be/xTnxC0iR7Ok
- Jazz Oasis – Chicago Jazz Festival: Montage, Donovan Mixon
- Lakeshore Festival Dawes Park – Evanston: Montage, Donovan Mixon
- Uncommon Ground – Devon: Donovan Mixon Quintet
- The Green Mill – Chicago: Donovan Mixon Quintet (Chicago Jazz Composers Collective)
- Marion Street Market – Chicago: Montage. Donovan Mixon
- Room Forty-Three – Chicago: Featured soloist with The Most Wanted
- Katerinas – Chicago: Featured soloist with Lucy Smith
- ETA – Chicago: Featured soloist with ‘The Boss 8’
- Serbian Village Restaurant – Chicago: Featured soloist
- Jazz Institute 2012 Club Tour, Chicago: - Donovan Mixon’s Hybrid Project http://www.jazzinchicago.org/presents/jazz-club-tour
- Southside Community Arts Center – Chicago: Donovan Mixon’s Hybrid Project http://www.southsidecommunityartcenter.com/joomla/index.php/sscac/current-show.html
- Morseland – Chicago: Donovan Mixon’s Hybrid Project,
- Annual performance tours (Italy) 1995 – Present: Donovan Mixon’s Quartetto Italiano http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsIiuFiEKPw
- Bodrum Jazz Festival – (Turkey): Donovan Mixon & Asena Akan Quartet
- http://www.turkishliving.com/forums/things-going-your-area/48696-three-evenings-jazz-bodrum-19-21-may.html
- 2005, Istanbul Group, Hybrid Project: 12th International Istanbul Jazz Festival: http://caz.iksv.org/en/archive/photoarchive/51/808
Reviews
http://www.jazzchicago.net/reviews/2010/QuickHits21.htmlchicagojazz.com
http://www.chicagojazz.com/cd-reviews.php?SEARCH=review&REV=149
http://www.chicago-splash.com/publish/Entertainment/cat_index_chicago_entertainment/donovan-mixon.php
reverbnation.com/hybridproject
Hurriyet Daily News: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/default.aspx?pageid=438&n=mixon-jazzes-up-istanbuls-music-scene-2008-02-29
Bodrum Jazz Festıval: http://www.myspace.com/asenag/photos/37470766
Izmir Jazz Festival: http://www.last.fm/festival/154468+14+th+İzmir+European+Jazz+Festival
Ankara Jazz Festival: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/default.aspx?pageid=438&n=ankara-international-jazz-festival-starts-on-nov.-6-2003-11-02
Foggia Jazz Festival: http://www.foggiajazzfestival.com/altro/19edizione1998/stampa.html
Guest Music Lecturer/Clinician
- October 2018: Old Town School (Fingerboard Clinic, Guitar/Electric Bass)
- July 2017: Straight Ahead Jazz Camp, Music Institute – Chicago, IL
- January 2017: JEN Conference – New Orleans, LA,
- Columbia College, Chicago – Il
- University of Illinois, Chicago – Il
- Old Town School of Folk Music Chicago – Il
- Evanston High School Jazz Festival, Evanston - Il
- New Trier High School Jazz Festival, Northfield - Il
- Mohawk College, Hamilton – Ontario, Canada
- Uskadar American School, Istanbul – Turkey (high school)
- Bilkent University, Ankara - Turkey
- Scuola Comunale di Musica "G. Sarti", Faenza - Italy
- Jazzschule Basel: Basel, Switzerland
- Scuola di Musica Moderna, Ferrara – Italy
- Kadir Has University, Istanbul – Turkey
- Istanbul International Community School, Istanbul – Turkey (high school)
- Robert College, Istanbul – Turkey
- Shanghai American School, Shanghai – China (elementary, middle and high school)
- Berklee College of Music On the Road Program: Umbria Jazz Festival
- Nuova Academia di Musica Moderna, Milan – Italy
- Centro Professione Musica, Milan - Italy
Publications
- 2000: Performance Ear Training, Advance Music http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_14/191-0549880-3487814?url=search-alias=stripbooks&field-keywords=performance+ear+training&sprefix=performance+ea,stripbooks,240
- February 2017: Young Adult novel, “Ahgottahandleonit” - Cinco Puntos Press. https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/donovan-mixon/ahgottahandleonit/ LINK: donovanmixonwriter.com
- July 2011: Short story Buona Sera Tutti: http://www.redochrelit.com/red-ochre-lit-archives.html
- 1996-1999, Nine Joe Diorio solo transcriptions, Casa Musicale Tarasconi s.r.l., Milan
- 1993 – 2000, Contributing author, Guitar Club Magazine, Milan
Author Appearances
- Evanston Library
- 2017 ALA Conference, Chicago
- Niles North High School
- Chicago Young Adult Book Festival
- Elgin High School
- Waubonsie Valley HS
- Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore, August 2017
- ALA-CBC Joint Committees panel, YA Services Symposium in Louisville, KY. November 2017
- ALAN Conference St Louis, MO November 2017
- University Nebraska, Omaha October 2017
Special Projects
- October 2017, Dramatic Reading for Her Story Theatre: Ahgottahandleonit, MCL Theatre
- July 2011, Short story Buona Sera Tutti: http://www.redochrelit.com/red-ochre-lit-archives.html
- YouTube performance videos: channel Dmix22
- 2003, Artistic Director, “Kas N’ Jazz”, International Jazz Festival, Kas, Turkey
- 2001, Language Of The Emotions, Multi-media concert, Koc Alliance Auditorium, Istanbul
Awards/Distinctions
- 1989: NEA Grant: Jazz Composition http://www.nea.gov/about/AnnualReports/NEA-Annual-Report-1990.pdf P. 198
- 1988: Original composition, Culmination performed by the Boston Orchestra and Chorale
- Jazz Education Network: Member
- Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators: Member
Education
M.M. Jazz/Commercial Music, Manhattan School of Music, 1985
o Composition: Michael Gibbs
B.A. Music Education, Jersey City State College, 1978
o Permanent K-12 Teaching Certification /Classic Guitar
Temple University, 1983
o Graduate studies, 20th Century Composition & Piano
Private Guitar Studies: Ted Dunbar, Harry Leahey, Jimmy Ponder.
Improvisation concept: Dennis Sandoli, Charlie Banacos.
LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS
- Illinois Professional Educators License, 2024
- Illinois Substitute License, 2023
- M.M. Jazz/Commercial Music, Manhattan School of Music, 1985
- B.A. Music Education, Jersey City State College, 1978