Donald Richard "Don" Whitton (August 2, 1923 – April 26, 2018) was a Canadian concert cellist, recording musician, and teacher, with a professional career in music spanning over 50 years.
Stationed in England until shortly after the D-Day invasion, Whitton and his unit joined the extremely heavy fighting during the Caen/Falaise battles in Normandy.
As part of the 2nd Infantry Division, 2nd Canadian Corps, 4RCA suffered heavy casualties in the terrible battles of Normandy, Belgium, the Netherlands (Woensdrecht), and the Rhineland (Hochwald).
Casualty rates among artillery observation teams were very high, but he survived the long odds to see VE day.
Whitton auditioned for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) in 1948,[2] and was awarded the position of principal's assistant the following year.
In 1970 Donald heard about the newly created National Arts Centre Orchestra, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and that it was in need of musicians.
Donald, without hesitation, left both Lighthouse, and the CBC radio orchestra to audition for the NACO, 450 km north-east of Toronto to Ottawa.
During this period Donald took up teaching, and taught some of Canada's current cellists, the most notable of these being; Julian Armour,and Jan Järvlepp.
[5] A CBC reviewer of the performing arts wrote about Whitton: Solo cello, Don Whitton, captured the tone, nuance and expressive beauty of the Andante’s opening theme with skill and artistry that solidifies his prime years leading the cellos of the National Arts Centre Orchestra.