Donald Reid Womack

Donald Reid Womack is a Professor of Music and former Department Chair at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s Department of Music, affiliated with the College of Arts and Humanities. He holds a PhD in Composition from Northwestern University and is a leading composer specializing in intercultural music blending Eastern and Western traditions. His work emphasizes East Asian instruments like the shakuhachi, koto, gayageum, and pipa, creating a unique fusion of cultural influences. He has received over 100 grants, including prestigious awards like the Guggenheim Fellowship (2020) and two Fulbright Fellowships (Japan 2007-08, Korea 2021-22). Womack’s compositions have been performed globally by ensembles such as the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, Seoul National Gugak Center Orchestra, and the Honolulu Symphony. His research explores cultural interchange, with a notable article on Korean instrument composition published by the Seoul National Gugak Center.

Education: BA in Philosophy and Music Theory (Furman University), MM and PhD in Composition (Northwestern University). Notable works include After (shakuhachi, koto, orchestra), the Violin Concerto, and Intertwined (East-West string ensemble). His music is featured on labels like Albany Records and Synnara. Womack actively promotes contemporary music through festivals and lectures, emphasizing multicultural collaboration.