Don Ross: Composer

01/18/2026

How very sad to learn of the passing of the great composer/guitarist/pianist Ralph Towner. Julie Malia and I just befriended Ralph in the past year, visiting him at his home in Rome. Julie made Ralph cry tears of joy when he heard her play his music. That’s a gift neither of us will ever forget. Love and condolences to his wonderful wife Mariella.

Once again, here is Julie’s performance of Ralph’s landmark composition, “If.” This performance led to her and I performing together and becoming the closest of friends. I owe that debt of gratitude to Ralph. It also led to Ralph contacting Julie and inviting us to visit him this past November in Italy.

It was great to meet you, dear Ralph. I’ve been a fan and admirer since my teens. We will work hard to keep your music alive so that it will be celebrated for generations to come. ❤️

Ralph Towner is a one of my favorite composers. I am enjoying to play his tune "If" a lot. In July 2022 I played a wonderful guitar festival in Neuburg "BARO...

01/14/2026

So this happened

09/30/2025

Today is a special and sombre holiday in Canada: The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, where we pause to remember the unfortunate legacy of aspects of the relationship between Indigenous and Settler communities in Canada. Most especially we reflect on the injustices committed through aspects of the Indian Act and the residential school system.

Recently, I composed a piece of music, especially for this day. Simply titled “Reconcile," it's my attempt, in an instrumental piece, to convey some of the soul searching that we must do on this day and throughout our continuing effort toward reconciliation. I say this as someone having both Indigenous and Settler heritage.

I play all the instruments and scored the orchestration.

Final mix and master of "Reconcile," for Mother Earth drum, dobro slide guitar & orchestra. Composed and recorded September 27-28, 2021

04/01/2025

I guess I forgot to wear my glasses the other day, and I made a couple of mis-trakes while composing my monthly newsletter! So here it is again. Most notably, the Shawinigan concert is this SATURDAY (not Sunday), and I mention the show in St Andrews, NB on April 19 (but alas, it’s sold out already!).

Hope you can make it to one of the shows in Montreal, Shawinigan, Hunter River, Truro, Lunenburg, Halifax or Dartmouth!

03/22/2025

The Don Ross April Newsletter!

02/14/2025

NEW SINGLE RELEASE! On February 28, I’ll be releasing a new guitar/vocal duet with the fabulous Julie Malia. It’s a cool new arrangement of my tune “Wave From Your Window.” Use this link to pre-save it!

Stream and Pre-save Wave From Your Window (feat. Don Ross) - Distributed by DistroKid

02/04/2025

It’s ON! The 2025 DON ROSS GUITAR WEEKEND is slated to take place in in sweet burg of Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada from October 3-5, 2025, in prime Fall Colour Season. Includes two nights’ private accommodation in a historic inn, full catering from a local fine restaurant, multiple workshop sessions with Don, private mini-lessons, and a local public concert.

Windsor is located 40 minutes’ drive from both downtown Halifax and the city’s Stanfield International Airport (airport code YHZ).

The cost is $825 USD (approximately $1150 CAD). You can reserve and pay for your spot NOW by training your smartphone at this QR code! Alternately you can click on this link:

https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/7DA67YLCPDV5W

You can pay with PayPal, Apple Pay, Debit or Credit Card.
Last year’s event in Ontario was a blast. This one might be even better! See you this October in Windsor, Nova Scotia!

02/03/2025

Putting together ideas for another Don Ross Guitar Weekend this fall. We had a great time in Ontario last September. Giving some serious thought to mixing things up and having the Guitar Weekend in Nova Scotia this October…within an easy commute of Halifax. Let me know if that’s something that you might want to attend. The package would normally include two night’s accommodation at a beautiful historic inn, and all meals from Friday evening to Sunday lunch. Lots of learning, jamming and talking music, music, music. Also a public concert at a local venue!

So, just taking the pulse at this point: does an October get-together in the beautiful autumn colours of Nova Scotia sound like the kind of thing you’d like to attend? Let me know in a comment or in a direct message. Thanks!

02/02/2025

Well! My Kickstarter campaign has officially ended. It's pretty incredible to look and see that it ended up being funded to the tune of 122%. Mind-boggling.

To those of you who came along towards the end, thanks for getting in under the wire and thank you so much for getting behind this project. As I've explained in previous updates, in this ever-changing music landscape, direct support from fans in the form of this kind of investment has really become the way to go.

This project and my last one will end up being two of the best-funded projects I've done in my entire career, ironically enough! You've helped prove once again that direct contact between artist and fans makes all the difference. I try to make myself as available to my fans as I possibly can, doing regular public streaming on YouTube and Facebook, posting as many videos as I possibly can, and getting out and playing live around the world. Thank you for providing fuel for that fire!

I'm really looking forward to getting this project put together for you guys. The rest of the world will thank you too.

Peace from Nova Scotia,

Don

photo: Max Bollow

02/01/2025

Last 24 hours of my current Kickstarter campaign, to fund my new vocal album. It’s already successfully funded, but there’s still a bit of time to edge the number higher and insure the best album possible!

Once again, thanks to my amazing supporters. People like you keep the music alive in this ever-changing internet landscape.

Thanks for whatever awareness you can add to the campaign...letting friends know either by word of mouth or by posting something online. Much appreciated!

If you’ve been thinking about it, the support tiers start at $12 CAD for an advanced digital download, all the way up to the $2500 CAD tier which includes ALL of a download, a CD, an LP, a T-shirt, a USB collection of everything I've ever recorded, AND a private concert in your home!

Thanks for helping in the last 24-hour push! 🙂

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/donross/the-new-don-ross-vocal-album

The campaign officially ends Sunday at 9:22 am Eastern time (6:22 Pacific / 14:22 UTC / 15:22 CET), so as of this writing, that's just over another 24 hours. Thanks again for whatever you can do to spread the news.

Peace from Nova Scotia,

Don

Don does his first all-vocal album since 2009, focusing on songs by Canadian songwriters

01/31/2025

Join me for an online streaming concert Saturday at 1 PM Eastern/1800 UTC/1900 CET!

Don does a mixture of instrumental and vocal tunes for your jollification!Support Don's Kickstarter:https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/donross/the-new-don-...

01/30/2025

KICKSTARTER 100% FUNDED!

Thank you so much to all of you amazing people who backed my vocal LP project. I’m so GOSHDARNED pleased!

There are still three days left, though! Every little bit of help helps more than just a little bit. Last time I used the extra investments to fund an orchestra, a string quintet and BRUCE COCKBURN! So, the better the budget, the better the record.

Tiers start at $12 CAD for an advance digital copy of the new album all the way up to a $2500 CAD tier that gets you LP, CD, USB collection, T-shirt and a PRIVATE CONCERT IN YOUR HOUSE.

Thanks again to those who have supported the project already and huge thanks in advance to those of you who will support it between now and the deadline of this coming Sunday morning!

:-)

Don does his first all-vocal album since 2009, focusing on songs by Canadian songwriters