Donna Conaty has performed as principal oboe of ProMusica Chamber Orchestra since 1991. Other performance credits include the San Diego Symphony, California Chamber Orchestra, seven seasons in the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music Orchestra under the music direction of Marin Alsop; principal oboe of the Lancaster Festival Orchestra; Artist Fellow in the Bach Aria Festival, NY, NY; Spoleto Festival Orchestra; principal oboe of the Evansville Philharmonic; and principal oboe of the Breckenridge Music Festival Orchestra. Her artistic interests are oriented toward championing new works and performing in chamber music settings.
Donna has performed or presented master classes for numerous professional music conferences and university audiences. Many of her oboe students are active as leading performers, university faculty, teachers, and arts professionals throughout the U.S. and abroad. During her academic career her leadership background included serving as a School Director, Associate Dean, and Interim Dean at San Diego State University where she worked from 2007-2020. Donna was a faculty member at Ohio University from 1989-2007 where she had earned the faculty rank of professor, received recognition for her outstanding teaching and served in multiple leadership roles.
Donna left academia in 2021and she and her husband Brig recently moved to Santa Cruz, California. When not performing or making copious amounts of reeds, she enjoys the 12 month gardening season that California offers and not needing to own an ice scraper or a snow shovel!