Dr. Donald E. Sammons PhD BMus HonVCM FVCM GLCM FLCM FTSC LMusTCL ACP FRSA LRSM
 

Born on 29th March 1940 Donald lived for most of his life in Wembley, Middx where outside of music, he was a keen fan of Speedway.

Following studies at the London College of Music he was awarded the GLCM (1968) and FLCM in General Musicianship in 1969. He also achieved the LLCM in Piano and in Recorder and ALCM in Piano, Recorder and Organ. he gained his Teaching Certificate from University of London in 1961 and his Associate of the College of preceptors in 1969. He went on to teach Piano, Recorder, Electronic Organ and Theory for over 50 years.  He was Head of Music at Copland School, Wembley from 1961-65 and then the Greenway School, Uxbridge 1968-71. He was in charge of Recorder Teaching at St Helens School, Northwood from 1984.

Further studies saw Donald receive two FVCM(Hons), one in General Musicianship in 1962 and one in Recorder Playing in 1968, the FTSC (Tonic Sol-fa College) in Theory of Music 1960 and LMusTCL in General Musicianship from 1970. He also holds the FMusNCM, FMusNCM and AMusNCM in Theory of Music. He received his PhD from the Central School of Religion in 1980 after graduating with the BA in Music. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 1963. 

 He served as organist at Ealing Road Methodist Church, Wembley for many years.

Donald holds the distinction of having been one of the longest serving examiners at Victoria College of Music throughout its entire history and for many years he both set and marked VCM Theory of Music papers including those taken at Kneller Hall. His compositions and arrangements have been included in VCM examination sheets for various instruments and still remain in use throughout the world.