Dr. Raymond A. Donato holds a Bachelor of Music in Education and a Master of Arts in Music from Florida Atlantic University, as well as a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Central Florida.  After his collegiate musical studies with Seth Wexler of the Florida Philharmonic and Dr. Michael Parola of The Harid Conservatory, he gained 13 years experience as a percussion instructor and arranger for various South Florida school music programs, before moving to the Orlando area.

Dr. Donato was a member of the Florida Wave Drum and Bugle Corps from 1989-1990, and the Concord Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps from 1991-1992.   He then served as front ensemble technician and/or arranger for: Suncoast Sound, Florida Guardsmen, Heatwave Senior and The Magic Drum & Bugle Corps, which included the role of Caption Head for the 2006 competitive season.

Previously, Dr. Donato served as the Marching Band Director and Percussion Coordinator at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida, followed by Director of Bands at Eustis High School and Music Director at Groveland Elementary School in Lake County, Florida.  Currently he is the Music Specialist at Round Lake Charter School in Mt. Dora, Florida.

Dr. Donato is one of the four initial founders of STRYKE Percussion, which is a WGI Independent World Finalist as well as a former Open Class Bronze & two-time Silver Medalist.  Over the course of 10 seasons, Dr. Donato served in such roles as Ensemble Director, Board Member, Show Designer, Music Arranger and Program Coordinator.  Additionally, Dr. Donato served as the Program Coordinator / Music Arranger for RPT Percussion and Program Coordinator/Front Ensemble arranger for INFINITY 3, the 2016 WGI Percussion Independent A Class Silver Medalist.  More recently, he was the Front Ensemble Arranger / Show Designer at Unity Percussion from Gainesville Florida, the 2018 WGI Percussion Independent A Class Silver Medalist and 2019 WGI Percussion Independent A Class Gold Medalist.

Dr. Donato is a member of The Florida Music Educators Association, The Florida Elementary Music Educators Association and The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).  Dr. Donato is also endorsed by Vic Firth Drumsticks, and is a member of their Education Team as a Marching Percussion Specialist.  He is an active Music and Percussion Adjudicator with the both the Central States Judges Association, where he served as the Percussion Caption Head from 2009-2012, as well as the Florida Federation of Judges Association.