Donald W.

Sorah

Donald W. Sorah is Professor of Music at The University of Virginia’s College at Wise, where he integrates technology, creativity, and project-based learning into music education. With more than 25 years of experience as an educator, conductor, composer, and performer, he empowers students to demonstrate musical understanding through authentic, creative work rather than traditional, high-stakes testing.

Dr. Sorah is an Apple Distinguished Educator and an ISTE Certified Educator. He is a two-time recipient of the Outstanding Use of Technology in the Classroom Award at UVA Wise and was honored with the 2026 Outstanding Faculty Award by the State Council for Higher Education for Virginia. He is the author of several open-access books available on the Apple Books store, including The Ins and Outs of Audio, Basic Acoustics for Musicians, The Music of Andalusia, Composing with Found Sounds in GarageBand, Everyone Can Create Music with iPad Curriculum Guide, and the Book of Rhythms and Melodies series. His students regularly create original music, books, podcasts, and multimedia projects that are published on platforms such as Apple Music and Apple Books.

A prolific composer, Dr. Sorah’s music has been performed by ensembles across the United States, including the Symphony of the Mountains, University of Florida Symphonic Band, University of Louisville Symphonic Band, Dordt University Wind Symphony, Nicholls State University Symphonic Band, and by the Grammy-nominated duo Dave Eggar and Tasha Warren. His composition The Trestle Tree raised more than $5,000 to support young musicians and flood-relief efforts in eastern Kentucky, reflecting his commitment to community engagement through music. He remains active as a trumpeter with the Symphony of the Mountains and is the founder and conductor of Winds of the Mountain Empire, a community wind ensemble he has led for nearly two decades.

Courses Taught

• MUS 1001: Music Departmental
• MUS 1040: Introduction to Music Technology
• MUS 1070/3070: Everyone Can Create Music With iPad
• MUS 1123/3123: Jazz Ensemble
• MUS 1125/3125: Brass Ensemble (High Brass)
• MUS 1311: Applied Music Secondary Trumpet
• MUS 1312: Applied Music Secondary Horn
• MUS 1371: Applied Music Secondary Composition
• MUS 1411/2411/3411/4412: Applied Music Principal Trumpet
• MUS 1412/2412/3412/4412: Applied Music Principal Horn
• MUS 1471/2471/3471: Applied Music Principal Composition
• MUS 1552: Aural Skills I
• MUS 1554: Aural Skills II
• MUS 2030: Music Appreciation
• MUS 2038/3038: Popular and World Music
• MUS 3520: Beginning Conducting
• MUS 3523: Advanced Conducting & Literature
• MUS 3540: Advanced Music Technology
• MUS 3611: Improvisation
• MUS 3651: Orchestration and Arranging
• MUS 3900: Junior Lecture Recital
• MUS 4900: Senior Recital

Research Interests

• Educational Technology
• Music Technology
• Music Education
• Music Composition/Arranging

Professional Memberships

• Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
• Apple Distinguished Educator
• International Society for Technology in Education - Certified Educator
• International Trumpet Guild
• Pi Kappa Lambda
• Pi Delta Kappa
• Virginia Society for Technology in Education