Donetta is a pianist who started lessons at 9, eventually studying under the late Claire West and Mary Rae Johnson. She received her Bachelor of Science in Piano Performance from Weber State University in Ogden, Utah.

She started accompanying choirs in school and church meetings on the organ and piano at the age of 11. She continued as the go-to accompanist through college graduation and beyond. She started teaching piano at the age of 15. She also directed a special church choir that performed throughout the Scottsdale area and later became the rehearsal accompanist for the vocal students at Memphis State University.

Through school, she played for numerous musicals, instrumentalists, singers, and congregations, and also sang with the vocal jazz choir Choralition, and the Concert Choir under the direction of the head of the Weber State University music department- Ronald L. Wooden. With the choir, she traveled abroad to London- studying while performing around the U.K. At Weber State, she also accompanied the Opera Workshop under Evelyn Harris.

She served an LDS mission to Fukuoka Japan, and later returned to live there for what turned out to be 30+ years. During that time, her focus on music was mostly turned to focus on the Japanese language, becoming an interpreter/translator. During this time, Donetta had the opportunity to teach occasionally, and a highlight was accompanying Richard Vincent of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra for a performance on Culture Day in Japan and playing professionally in a restaurant. She remained the church organist, chorister, and choir director there.

In Japan, she taught English to students of all ages and levels and especially enjoyed teaching kids. She also very much enjoys teaching Japanese to English speakers. Donetta’s teaching philosophy is to have fun while learning accuracy, putting emotion into your music, and correcting with kindness.