DONALD BOOTHMAN Bio

Bass-Baritone DONALD BOOTHMAN's varied career as singer, teacher and musical commentator includes performances in opera, oratorio and concert in forty-six of the United States and in thirty-eight countries in Europe, Asia, Australia and South America. Through Voice of America broadcasts he has also reached audiences in eastern Europe, singing in Russian, Czech and Hebrew.

Earliest vocal study with William Albert Hughes concentrated on Oratorio and Welsh Song. Following formal education at Princeton University and Oberlin College, and with a degree in Music and in English Literature, Mr. Boothman joined the United States Air Force Band and Singing Sergeants as Soloist and Announcer. At this time he began private study with the great American baritone, Todd Duncan. Following his enlistment, he became leading baritone with the Washington Civic Opera and a commentator on Washington good-music radio. He also joined the faculty of The American University and continued extensive private teaching. For many years he was the Cantorial Soloist at the Washington Hebrew Congregation.

A thorough background in foreign languages and a taste for new styles has made Mr. Boothman a favorite collaborator of many composers in the first performances of their works. Always the musical and textual values are held in equal measure in achieving a living and persuasive experience.