Donald Meyer

Donald Meyer is Professor of Music at Lake Forest College, currently serving as Associate Dean of the Faculty for Student Success and Co-Chair of the Self-Designed Major. He holds a PhD in Music from the University of California, Davis, and has been affiliated with Lake Forest College since 1995, progressing from Assistant to Associate and then full Professor. His academic roles have included Music Department Chair (2005-2014) and Dean of the Faculty.

• Key roles: Professor of Music, Associate Dean for Student Success, Co-Chair of Self-Designed Major
• Dean of the Faculty

Education:

• PhD, Music, University of California, Davis
• MA, Music, University of California, Davis
• BA, Liberal Studies, magna cum laude, University of California, Santa Barbara

Research Interests: Meyer specializes in composition, music theory, and music history, with a focus on electronic music, music in film/media, rock history, and American cultural studies. His work bridges traditional music scholarship with modern interdisciplinary projects, including collaborations with film, digital humanities, and experimental soundscapes.

Recent Articles & Work: Meyer’s recent works span album productions (e.g., Children of the Sun), film scores (e.g., Blackout), and scholarly articles on film music archetypes and historical music events like the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition.

Awards:

• Bird Award (2019) for intellectual commitment
• Charlotte Simmons Prize (2011) for fostering community relations
• Great Teacher Award (2008)

Grants & Collaborations: He led the Mellon Digital Humanities Grant project Souvenir Music of the World’s Columbian Exposition (2018) and has advised numerous student projects. His compositions span film scores, electronic music, and choral works.

Labs/Teams: Active in the Lake Forest College Moving Picture Orchestra and collaborates with artists like Jean DeTheux and the Muttering Sickness collective.