Donald Sorah
Distinguished Educator | Learning Coach
ISTE Certified Educator
Associate Professor of Music
Innovator | Educator | Author | Podcaster
Composer | Trumpeter | Conductor
- I’ve just added some new cinematic music to my YouTube channel. Take a listen, give a like, leave a comment. 😁 youtube.com/@donaldsorah
- A highlight of conducting the Mountain Empire Band was spending time with former students. Will & Austin Farmer have established themselves as great music educators. Their students were fabulous and so kind. One in particular said it was so great to meet Mr. Farmer’s conducting teacher. 😆
- I had a blast conducting the Mountain Empire Honor Band in Wytheville, VA over the past two days! The students and directors were incredibly welcoming. In just a few hours of rehearsal, we brought together 75 individually talented musicians into a cohesive ensemble and performed five compositions.
- It was truly beautiful to see so many smiling faces—eager to learn, grow, and make music together. One of the highlights of the event was the directors’ combo, who performed a few selections for the students during a break. What a fantastic idea!
- I also had the joy of sharing the program with one of my best friends of many years, Bob Ballengee, who conducted the junior band and led them to an outstanding performance.
- We closed the concert with the world premiere of my newest composition, Radiant Revelry, and those young musicians played their hearts out. Watching them beam with pride as they brought a new piece of music to life was incredibly inspiring.
- A big thank you to Dave Eggar and Yifei Xu for premiering my piece “Shadows and Dreams” for cello and piano. Their joyful and passionate performance was a special gift. I’m so thankful to have been part of such an engaging program, and I appreciate Pro-Art Association for supporting this concert.
- Enjoyed a visit with the Wired Educator himself, my friend @kellycroy.bsky.social, in Wise today as he was en route back to his home in Ohio. It’s always inspiring to spend some time with this guy. As a bonus, I had the honor of being sniffed by the rock star pup, Jedi! #WiredEducator #ADE
- Second composition of the year just completed. I am always so inspired by the wintry landscape.
- A frigid start to the day, but I do love the magical landscape of the snow. ❄️
- Grateful for my wife for spending part of her snow day helping me create my digital book shelf outside my office door. Now students (or anyone) can scan these QR codes at any time to download each book. #AppleBooks #AppleDistinguishedEducator #AppleEDU
- First completed composition of 2025, a work for solo trumpet with string orchestra. Also finalizing a trumpet and organ reduction.
- Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! We’ve put together a little arrangement and video to share as our video Christmas card this year. youtu.be/Ez8FIId3P6I?...
- We enjoyed sharing some Christmas music with others on our annual Random Acts of Caroling day. This year, we performed at Wise Heritage Hall, Norton Hi-Rise, GoodTimes Coal-Fired Pizza & Pub, Big Stone Gap Food City, and Big Stone Gap Heritage Hall. Our hearts are full and our chops are tired! 🎶🎺🎄🎅
- I have enjoyed spending some quality time in the kitchen this week making sweet treats for the family. Mom would have already made a dining room table full of goodies for us all, as she did every year. It just wouldn’t be Christmas without her peanut butter candy and peanut butter balls.
- Now that the holiday performances are over, I am enjoying spending some time in the kitchen. Today’s sweet treats include Scottish shortbread (thanks, @rooferburnett.bsky.social) and cuernitas (thanks, Carrie)! The shortbread is 100x better than Walker’s! And the kitchen smells so amazing!
- A few of my friends and colleagues from the Johnson City Symphony concert tonight. So honored to share the stage with them.
- Teaching trumpet lessons during Christmas parade season. 🎄
- Had a fantastic time at #VSTE24! Day 2 was about making connections, attending inspiring sessions, and a powerful closing keynote by @cinehead.bsky.social I also lead a session on composing w/ found sounds, enjoyed excellent coffee, & took a quick walk to the beach.
- Great first day at VSTE! Two presentations, supporting my exceptional colleague Heather B. Askea as she won the Leader of the Year award, hanging out with Michael Hernandez, and some amazing pasta for dinner.
- 🎶 The Music of Andalusia is here! 🎉 Explore the music of Semana Santa, Flamenco, and Paco de Lucía, with videos, activities, and pronunciation guides. 💡 Free on Apple Books: books.apple.com/us/book/musi... #AppleBook #Andalusia #Spain #WorldMusic #AppleTeacher #AppleEDU #EduSky #AppleEduSky
- Excited to share my FREE ebook, The Ins and Outs of Audio! Perfect for music educators, students, anyone curious about audio, it covers MIDI, mics, cables, interfaces, & more—engaging and easy to understand. 💡 Download: books.apple.com/us/book/the-... #AppleEDU #EduSky #MusicTechnology #AppleBook
- Excited to attend my first #VSTE Conference in Virginia Beach next week. It will certainly be a busy couple of days, bookended by symphony rehearsals and concerts. #VSTE24
- 1/3 The first ebook in my Fall 2024 sabbatical series, 'Basic Acoustics for Musicians,' is now available for FREE on Apple Books! 📖✨ 💡 Start learning today! Download your free copy here: lnkd.in/emZ7kG7r #AppleDistinguishedEducator #AppleTeacher #AppleEDU #AppleEDUCommunity #Acoustics #AppleBooks
- 2/3 This book unpacks the fundamentals of acoustics, helping musicians and educators explore how sound is created, shaped, and experienced. From vibrations and resonance to the colors of sound, this resource is perfect for deepening your understanding of music.
- 3/3 Stay tuned this week for more free ebooks designed to inspire creativity and empower musicians and educators alike. I would love to know how Basic Acoustics for Musicians supports your learning! 🎶 #AppleDistinguishedEducator #AppleTeacher #AppleEDU #AppleEDUCommunity #Acoustics #AppleBooks
- 🎵 My new book 'Basic Acoustics for Musicians' is here! 🎉 Dive into the science of sound—vibrations, resonance, timbre—perfect for musicians & educators. FREE on Apple Books! 📖 ✨ books.apple.com/us/book/basi... #AppleEDU #AppleTeacher #Acoustics #ADE #FreeBook #AppleBooks #Acoustics #Sabbatical
- 1/4 Just finished ‘Insanely Simple by Ken Segall,’ a book about how Apple made simplicity its core principle under Steve Jobs. It’s a powerful guide for education too. Here’s how I connected each chapter to teaching:
- 2/4 Think Brutal: Honest feedback drives growth—superfluous pleasantries don’t. Think Small: Small groups=focused, impactful results. Think Minimal: Use a few versatile tools. Think Motion: Progress>perfection. Iteration leads to growth. Think Iconic: Memorable lessons create lasting impact.
- 3/4 Think Phrasal: Clear, concise language simplifies complexity. Think Casual: Supportive, low-stakes environment sparks creativity. Think Human: Relationships come first; tech should enhance connection.
- 4/4 Think Skeptic: Challenge tools that add complexity without value. Think War: Stay focused and committed to your vision. This book inspired me to embrace simplicity in teaching, streamlining tools and fostering curiosity and creativity. Highly recommend it!
- Congrats to all involved with the UVA Wise production of 9 to 5! We were thoroughly entertained this evening! 👏
- Such a great session with a great partner presenting at the #GLOWedu conference on Wednesday. Looking forward to many more international collaborations.
- Just finished “Creative Schools” by Ken Robinson. He makes a strong case for moving beyond standardized ed to create environments that value creativity, curiosity, and individuality. As a music professor, I’ve seen how SS light up when they’re given the chance to take ownership of their learning.
- At UVA Wise, we use iPads to help make that happen. SS compose music, create podcasts, and collaborate on alternative assessment projects that encourage them to explore and grow. This book is a great reminder of why meaningful, student-centered learning matters…at all levels of education.
- Join us today at 2:00 EST for our presentation at the Global Learning For An Open World virtual conference. Individual registrations range from FREE to $25. #AppleEDU #AppleDistinguishedEducator #GarageBand #EveryoneCanCreate #iMovie #MusicComposition events.ringcentral.com/events/2024-...
- Reposted by Donald SorahDon’t be afraid to dive in and start connecting here with the #EduSky community! “I don’t understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I’m frightened of the old ones.” - John Cage Whew…that hits home… #tlap #leadlap
