Donald Wolcott

Biography

Donald Wolcott began training as a pianist at age five. He initially studied classical piano, but became more interested in jazz by the time he reached middle school. In high school, he was the pianist for the jazz ensemble, a position he held until graduation. He formed the rock band "Three Easy Payments," and performed with them over the next four years, singing lead vocals, playing bass and keyboards, and writing songs. In addition, he served as the producer and manager for the group. He is also self-taught in bass, guitar, and drums.

In 2005, Wolcott received acclaim from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia as a top soloist in their annual jazz festival. In 2006, he was accepted as a bassist into the Montgomery County Honors Jazz Ensemble. In 2007, he earned an honorable mention for jazz performance in the National Distinguished Scholar Competition, and in 2008, he received the "Maestro Award" at the Washington D.C. Heritage Music Festival.

Wolcott graduated from Rockville High School in Maryland in 2008. He accepted a scholarship to Towson University, where he majored in Jazz/Commercial Performance. He now works professionally as a pianist in the Baltimore/Washington D.C. area and teaches music at Saint James Academy in Monkton, MD.

The Diamond Star Project

The Diamond Star Project is a collaboration between the rock band Point Valid and American mezzo-soprano and science fiction author Catherine Asaro. It resulted in Point Valid's second CD, Diamond Star (Starflight Music, April 2009), which is a soundtrack for Asaro's novel Diamond Star (Baen Books, May 2009).

Donald Wolcott joined the Diamond Star Project in 2009, after the members of Point Valid dispersed to pursue their education. He arranged and consolidated the songs from the CD so they could be performed by a duo ensemble in concert, with Wolcott on keyboard and Asaro as the vocalist. Wolcott toured until 2011 with Asaro, where she performed as the Guest of Honor at science fiction conventions, including venues in the United States, at the Danish National Science Fiction Convention and at the New Zealand National Science Fiction Convention In 2011, Greg Adams replaced Wolcott as the pianist and band leader for the Diamond Star project.

Debut album

In 2009, Wolcott signed with Starflight Music, an independent music label. He and Asaro cut an EP titled Goodbye Note (January 2010) of jazz and pop songs, with Asaro on vocals. Wolcott plays every instrument on the EP, including keyboard, bass, guitar, and drums. He also sings the original song "My Favorite Memory."

Discography

All song arrangements by Wolcott. An earlier version of No Answers with in Paradisum appeared on the CD Diamond Star, by Point Valid with Catherine Asaro, 2009. Music by Point Valid, David Michelsohn and Catherine Asaro; words Catherine Asaro. The music was rewritten by Asaro and Wolcott for Goodbye Note.