Biography

Ben Dondanville is an accomplished composer, arranger, and trombonist. He earned a Bachelor of Music in Trombone Performance from the University of Southern Mississippi, working with Dr. Ben McIlwain, in May 2025. Currently based in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, he is pursuing a Master of Music in Trombone Performance at the University of Alabama, where he studies with Dr. Bruce Faske. He serves as the Graduate Teaching Assistant for the UA trombone studio and works as an adjunct GTA with the Million Dollar Band.

As a composer, Ben’s work spans multiple genres and has garnered significant attention. Prestigious ensembles have performed his music, including the USM Trombone Octet, the USM Wind Ensemble, and the Indiana State Wind Ensemble. Notable pieces include When Dreams Take Flight (2021), which received its world premiere conducted by Joseph Alessi; 3 Sketches for Wind Ensemble (2024), performed by the USM Wind Ensemble; Sycamore Fanfare (2023), composed during his residency with the Indiana State Contemporary Music Festival; and his recent centerpiece, the Sonata for Trombone and Piano—written for and premiered by Richard Horne in May 2025. Together, these works anchor a growing catalog of concert music for Bands, chamber ensembles, and soloists.

As an arranger, Ben has created a diverse range of work for brass ensembles, trombone ensembles, and marching bands.

Beyond writing, he remains an active performer with the University of Alabama Wind Ensemble, the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra, and the University of Alabama’s Trombone Ensembles.

Ben’s entrepreneurial spirit shines through his own business, Ben Dondanville Music, where he has successfully composed, published, and arranged nearly 20 original works. His company has also allowed him to collaborate with other musicians and provide commissioned works for individuals and consortium projects.