Donnie Fernandez's legacy lives on

Our featured artist for today is late violinist Donnie Fernandez. Donnie began studying violin at the age of six. She won first prize for solo instrument at the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (Namcya). Donnie moved to the US in 1976, to attend the Julliard School's pre-college division. She completed her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Julliard School, then took post-graduate training at Yale College of Music and at Mannes School. She won in the Bruch and Mendelssohn Violin Competitions held at Julliard School of Music in 1981 and 1982 respectively.

Donnie began her professional music career in Florida, where she was a violinist with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. She also spent time at the Cleveland Institute of Music working on chamber and quartet music. In 1994, after setting in the Washington, DC area, she became a long-time member of the US Army String Orchestra.