Brought up in Argyll on Scotland’s west coast, Donald was involved in all styles of music from an early age. Originally taught the accordion by his father, he won the All-Britain accordion championship at 16 performing ‘Paganiniana’, Hans Brehme’s renowned adaptation of Paganini’s ‘Theme and Variations’. A year later, whilst still at Oban High School, through his love of roots music he co-founded Scotland’s most famous Celtic band – Capercaillie, with whom he still writes, produces and performs. From small beginnings playing in village halls, Capercaillie went on to enjoy world-wide success, bringing Scottish music and the Gaelic language to more than 40 countries. They have recorded some 17 albums, with Silver and Gold album sales, and they had the first song in Gaelic to reach the UK top 40.Other highlights include performing and featuring in the United Artists epic movie “Rob Roy”. In 2004 he was commissioned to write Harvest, for the opening night of the Celtic Connections festival, which featured 80 young traditional Scottish musicians. Amongst many awards, the following year he won the Scots Trad Music Composer of the Year. Throughout his musical life Donald has been involved in composing for film and TV, including feature film ‘American Cousins’ (which he won best score at the Milan film festival). He also scored ‘One Last Chance’, a feature film written and directed by Stewart Svaasand on which he recorded with Lousiana musician Dirk Powell (‘Brother! Were Art Thou’) to create a score influenced by early Americana folk music. In 2002 he was rewarded with two Royal Television Society awards for Best Soundtrack and Best Theme in UK television for the BBC drama ‘Crowdie and Cream’(co-composed with Charlie McKerron), and his expansive score for the feature film ‘Transition’ (released in 2000) was BAFTA nominated for Best Soundtrack. In June 2011 he was honoured by Glasgow University with a Doctorate in music.
