e-mail: donwilner@hotmail.com

Bi-lingual- English/Spanish
 

I. EDUCATION
· Doctor of Musical Arts – Joint Major- Studio Music and Jazz & Classical Applied Music- Double Bass (First Doctoral Double Major in UM Music School)
University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida (1995)
Dissertation Title: Interactive Jazz Improvisation in the Bill Evans. Trio (1959-61):  A Stylistic Study for Advanced Double Bass Performance
· Master of Music in Jazz Composition
University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida (1991)
Studies included Jazz Arranging, Orchestration, MIDI, Film Scoring, Conducting, Audio for Producers 
· Bachelor of Music – Joint Major- Studio Music and Jazz & Classical Applied Music- Double Bass (First Double Major in UM Music School)
University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida (1988)
PRIMARY INSTRUCTORS: 
Lucas Drew, Ed.D, Donald Coffman, Ronald Miller, Gary Lindsay, Vince Maggio (UM) 
ADDITIONAL STUDIES: 
· Jazz Bass Master Classes with Bernard “Bunny” Bernell (Los Angles freelance), Eddie Gomez, John Clayton, Micheal Moore
· Jazz Master Classes with Monty Alexander, Bill Dobbins, Dave Liebman, Gene Bertoncini, Michel Petruciani, Bob Brookmyer, Wynton Marsalis
· Double Bass Master Classes with Brad Opland (Chicago Symphony), James Clute (Minnesota Orchestra) 

II. PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT
MUSICAL DIRECTOR
 -Upstairs at the Van Dyke Café
  
The Van Dyke Café (Miami Beach, 1994-2006)
  
 Responsibilities: Set up, promoted, administered, and sustained an award-winning jazz music program.  My jazz program there regularly featured the best local groups (many of which I created and arranged for) as well nationally and internationally renowned jazz artists, with whom I also performed, including Joe Williams, Ceder Walton, George Coleman, David ‘Fathead’ Newman, Houston Person, Toots Thielemans, John Abercrombie, Tania Maria, Tom Harrell, Adam Nussbaum, Slide Hampton, Eddie Henderson, Frank Wess, James Moody, Randy Brecker, Claudio Roditi, Roseanna Vitro, Bob DeVos, Joe Cohn, Brian Lynch, Ken Peplowski, Grady Tate, Mark Murphy, Joe LaBarbera, Dena DeRose, Rosa Passos, Pery Ribeiro, Harry Allen, Norman Simmons, Freddy Cole, Mose Allison, Andy Laverne, John Bunch, Don Friedman, Richie Cole, Scott Hamilton, Dave Valentin, Mike Renzi, Bob Mover, Tommy Smith, Fred Hersch, Bobby Watson, Kenny Drew, Jr., Bill Charlap, Ray Vega, John Colianni, Dave Frishberg, Vincent Herring, Barry Ries, Gerry Brown, Johnny O’Neil, Eric Alexander, John Hicks, Danny Gottlieb, Bobby Shew, Pee Wee Ellis, Claudia Acuna, Jerry Weldon, Joe Farnsworth and many others.
In addition to the need for excellent management skills, my position as music director also required maintaining a good relationship with the local press, community, and radio.  Under my direction, the music program of the Van Dyke Café became internationally known, was regarded as the best jazz club in Miami and one of the top jazz spots in the country for its thirteen-year existence, winning many awards.  The inclusion of many quality sub-genres of jazz into the program (Latin, Brazilian, blues, straight-ahead, etc.) helped to attract a substantial amount of attention and community involvement.  Additionally, The Van Dyke Cafe was chosen by the JVC Jazz Festival to host the most straight-ahead concerts for its jazz series since the first JVC-Miami festival. 
My responsibilities also included installation and maintenance of the stage, lighting, and electronic equipment to facilitate a high level of performance, as well as budgeting, booking, advertising, and payroll.
Working with the staff and management and gaining their understanding and cooperation was a vital aspect of producing the highest quality musical performances and maintaining the reputation of the program as South Florida’s finest live jazz venue.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
· Private Lessons in double and electric bass (1980- present)
· Lecturer, Miami-Dade Comminity College 2006
Responsibilities: History of Jazz, Class Piano
· Doctoral Teaching Assistant, University of Miami -1992-1995
Responsibilities: Double Bass Lessons, Theory and Ear Training, Orchestral Bass Section Coaching, Double Bass Orchestral Excerpts Class, Class Piano, UM Symphony Pricipal Bass
· Lecturer, University of Miami -1990-1992
Responsibilites: Jazz Bass Lessons, Juries, Jazz Ear Training, Jazz Combo and Bass Ensemble Coaching
· Lecturer, Florida Atlantic University 1992-1993
Responsibilities: Jazz Arranging, Jazz Ear Training, Jazz Bass Lessons, Jazz Styles and Analysis, Juries
· Lecturer Palm Beach Community College 1991
Responsibilities: Music Appreciation

PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE (highlights):
· Southwest Florida Symphony- Erich Kunzel, conductor
· Symphony of the Americas- Jame Brooks, conductor
· JVC Jazz Festival- Miami Beach 2001-2006
· Carol Sloan Brazilian Tour 2001
· Jacksonville Symphony- Jazz Bass, Michell LeGrand, conductor 1999
· Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz 1999
· Eddie Higgins Japaneese Tour 1999
· Floating Jazz Festival- SS Norway 1997, 1998, 1999
· Ocho Rios and Montego Bay Jazz Fesivals 1999
· Jack Jones American Tours 1998-1999
· Florida Philharmonic- Peter Nero, conductor
· Palm Beach Pops- Jazz Bass Soloist, Mike Renzi- conductor 1994-1998
· Miami City Ballet- Principal/Assistant Principal Bass 1993-1997
· Boca Raton Symphonic Pops- Jazz Bass, Principal/Assistant Principal Bass 1987-1997
· National Broadway Touring Productions: Ain’t Misbehavin’, Jerry’s Girls with Jerry Herman, Andrea McArdle, West Side Story, City of Angles, Phantom of the Opera, The Enchanted Garden, Grease, Kiss of the Spider Woman with Chita Rivera, Singin’ In The Rain, Stop The World with Anthony Newley, and many others

ADDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT:
· Adjudcator- National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts ( NFAA) 1985- 1990
· MIDI Production 

FREELANCE ENGAGEMENTS WITH:
Dizzy Gillespie, Mongo Santamaria, Mose Allison, Nat Adderley, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Anita O’Day, Tom Harrell, Ray Charles, Anthony Newley, Eddie Higgins, Harry Allen, Rosemary Clooney, James Taylor, Hubert Laws, Della Reese,  Jerry Lewis, Vic Damone, Buddy DeFranco, John Hicks, Eddie Henderson, Ceder Walton, Connie Francis, Marvin Hamlisch, Shirley Jones, Maureen McGovern, Grover Washington, Jr., Bernadette Peters, Bucky Pizzarelli, Nelson Riddle Orchestra, Doc Severinsen, Roger Williams, Byron Stripling, Ira Sullivan, Toni Tenille, Clark Terry, Roger Williams, Henry Mancini, Judy Collins, Fifth Dimension, Victor Borge, Pete Minger, Barry Reis, Michael Feinstein, Barbara Carol, and many others.

III. ACHIEVEMENTS
PUBLICATIONS:
· Don Wilner, Intermediate and Advanced Studies The Etude Book For Double Bassists – Complied and Edited by Lucas Drew,  Masters Music Publications, Inc. (1997)

SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY (CDs):
· Don Wilner*, Estrada Do Sol (2006) with Duduka Da Fonseca, Harry Allen
· Don Wilner*, Figments of My Imagination (2004) with Kenny Drew, Jr., Eric Alexander, Sammy Figueroa, Bob DeVos
· Don Wilner*, Adam Nussbaum, Gary Campbell, Mike Orta Live- Upstairs at the Van Dyke Café (2001- not yet released)
· Don Wilner*, Raul Midon with the Don Wilner Trio -Live at the Van Dyke (2000)
· Don Wilner*, Ceder Walton, James Martin South Florida Friends of Jazz (2001- not yet released)
· Eddie Higgins and Don Wilner*, Live- Upstairs at the Van Dyke Café (1999) 
· Don Wilner*, Mysterious Beauty (1998) with Mike Renzi, Grady Tate
· Annette Sanders, Everything I Love (1997)with Mike Renzi, Dennis Mackrel, Harry Allen, Jay Berliner
· Eddie Higgins, Picture in Black and White (1996)
*producer, arranger, bassist

AWARDS:
· Miami New Times Magizine- Best Jazz Club 2002, 2005
· Miami New Times Magizine- Best Jazz Musician 2003
· Miami New Times Magizine -Best House Band  2001
· Miami Sun-Post- Best Jazz Club 2004

MASTER CLASSES, SCHOLARLY PRESENTATION,S AND LECTURES (selected):
· Master Class, Brazilian Music Workshop- The Double Bass in Brazilian Jazz- Antonio Adolfo Presents, Hollywood, FL.  2007
· Master Class, Conservatorio de Musica Souza Lima, Sao Paulo 2006
· Master Class, University of Miami-  with Grady Tate & Mike Renzi 2000
· Southern Arts Federation, Jazz South Guest Speaker  1999
· Master Class, University of Miami-  with Mark Murphy 1998
· Master Class,  Miami Dade Community College, How To Practice Effectively 1994
· Master Class, University of Miami- Interactive Improvisation 1994

IV. PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:
· International Society of Bassists- Life Member 
· Applied Microphone Technology (AMT)- Endorsed Artist 
· Miami Musicians Union (Local 655)

V. REFERENCES:
· Lucas Drew, Ed.D  Professor of Music Emeritus, University of Miami, Principal Bass Emeritus, Florida Philharmonic Orchestra 
PO Box 1798, Flagler Beach, FL 32136  386-445-6917
· Michael Orta, Director of Jazz Performance, Associate Professor, Florida International University, 180 N. Esplinade Drive, Miami Springs, FL 33166 786-493-1690
· Larry Epstein, Associate Principal Bass, San Francisco Symphony
73 Holly Park Circle, San Francisco, CA 94110 415-826-9643
· Kris Chesky, Ph.D, Director, Texas Center for Music & Medicine, Associate Professor, College of Music, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas 76209 940-565-4126
· Mark Soyka, President, News Café/Van Dyke Café, 800 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach, FL 33139 305-759-8227

VI. MISCELLANEOUS:
· American Council on Exercise (ACE) Certified Personal Fitness Trainer
· Bi-Lingual- English/Spanish