Team Donnellan

PLEASE READ THE LATEST UPDATE BELOW POSTED 04/18/20

Glenn Donnellan, husband, father, member of the National Symphony Orchestra, and creator of the "Electric Slugger" baseball-bat violin, is my colleague as a section violinist with the NSO.

Glenn is recovering after undergoing major brain surgery Feb. 27, 2019, to remove a large tumor. While his complete recovery is expected, it has been slow-going due to complications encountered at the end of his surgery.  At this point, Glenn is still in the Neuro-ICU and  will likely be in the hospital for weeks, needing time for treatment and rehab, and his family is facing mounting costs.

His wife, Jan Chong, also a violinist, is unable to work during this difficult time as she navigates the health care system and stays with Glenn, overseeing his care.  Less than six months ago, Jan lost her father and, 30 days later, Glenn lost his father.  While still recovering from those losses, Glenn was experiencing symptoms from the tumor unbeknownst to him.

Glenn and Jan's children,  Aidan (18)  and Katherine (15), are both high school students. They are resilient, hopeful, and a great source of strength to their parents.  In order to be near Glenn, Jan is staying in a hotel near the hospital, a 90-minute drive from their home, while family members are in town to stay with Aidan and Katherine.

Any donation you can give will help with medical costs not covered by insurance as well as hotel and travel expenses for Jan. Since she is helping with Glenn's care and rehabilitation, she is unable to earn her usual income as a professional violinist.

Glenn is not only greatly missed by his kids, but also by his fellow National Symphony Orchestra musicians at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., as well as in the many area schools where Glenn's educational concerts have been enjoyed by school children for the past 20 years.

For the past decade, Glenn has also delighted baseball fans at Nats Park, Camden Yards, and other ball parks with his "Electric Slugger," performing the National Anthem and "God Bless America" for Major League Baseball games.

I've known Glenn and Jan for 20 years. I've had the pleasure of performing with both of them.  They contribute so much to our community as musicians, educators, parents, good friends and neighbors.  I'm hoping this campaign will ease some of the financial stress on their family as Glenn recovers.