Don Shabkie — an active composer, and classical and jazz pianist — is a versatile musician located in Greenville, South Carolina. Traveling across the state to perform and teach, his extensive education, experience, and skills establish him as an artist who can serve many communities in a number of ways. To begin, please visit Don's Youtube page and Facebook music page. On those sites you can find videos of his classical piano playing.
At present Don serves as dance musician for the ballet and modern dance progam, as well as accompanist for the Drama program, at South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts. He is also organist/pianist at Memorial Methodist Church in Greer, and plays for a variety of events in the Greenville area.
In May, 2019, Don completed renovations of the music studio in his back yard at 214 Darlington Avenue, Greenville. He has either performed in, or hosted, six house concerts in the building, which seats 30 to 40. In response to the changes wrought by Covid-19, Don has begun a concert series on Facebook Live, so that friends in the community can still enjoy live performances without the concern of social interaction.
On May 22, 2019, Don performed at at Greenville's Peace Center with the SC Governor's School Dance ensemble. He performed one original work, "Fantasy on Themes from Carmina Burana", and another original work, "Tempest". He composed "Tempest" in collaboration with choreographer Tracy Vogt, who choreographed the work. The Governor's School junior class dancers were the performers.
On November 7,2019, Don performed at the SC Governor's School 20th year celebration in Hilton Head. He performed his original work, "Tempest", again, with the dancers, and accompanied the performing theater students as well.
In March, 2016 Don served as artist-in-residence at Beaufort Middle School, which is an arts-integrated school. Follow this link to see a video the school prepared. go to video
Don has performed many concerts as a solo pianist. Visit his bio and calendar pages on the menu.
In May of 2016, Don performed at at Greenville's Peace Center with the SC Governor's School Dance ensemble. He performed a work with the dancers, and, for program interludes, he performed works by Ravel, Scriabin, Gershwin, and an original work. This marked the sixth time he had played at the Peace Center with the GS dancers on similar programs, and this has happened twice a year since then.
In February 2010 he performed in a celebration of Chopin's 200th birthday. The concert, sponsored by Carolina 1st, was at the Westin Poinsett Hotel.On November 4th, 2011, Don traveled with Selkie Celtic band to Augusta, Georgia, where the group appeared on the Covenant Presbyterian Concert Series. In addition to the Celtic music on the program, Don performed a Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody.
On March 27, 2011 at 4 PM, Don perfomed a solo piano concert at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Travelers Rest, SC. This event raised over $750 for the Triune Mercy Center. For future concert information
Most recently, Don served as accompanist for two of the area's finest singers: Lisa Barksdale/soprano, and Lucie Svatonova Hughes, mezzo soprano. They performed a duet recital on September 30th, 2012, at the Daniel Recital Hall at Furman University, and then performed the same program on October 2, 2012 at the concert hall at Presbyterian College. Ms. Barksdale is on the voice faculty at Furman, and Ms. Svatonova Hughes is on the voice faculty at Presbyterian College.
Included in the program were works by Handel, Brahms, Dvorak, and Hensel. Also included was the premiere of an original work by Mr. Shabkie, Nova Politica.
As a composer he has received many commissions, and composed numerous works of church music, as well as works for piano and chamber ensembles.