About
David Onderdonk was born in Evanston, IL. He began playing guitar at the age of eight. His Early interests were in folk , bluegrass and rock music. In 1974 he was accepted into the classical guitar program at the University of Illinois. In addition to his classical studies he also played in the U of I Jazz Band under John Garvey.
He started his career as a classical guitarist in a duo with dancer Patricia Hruby called “One Plus One”. From 1976-1980 he played concerts in Europe, Central and South America and throughout the United States. He has taken classical guitar master classes with Manuel Barrueco, Eliot Fisk, Eduardo Fernandez, and Turibio Santos.
Since moving to Chicago in 1981 he has been active in the jazz clubs performing and touring with numerous groups. 
In 1984 and 1985 he recorded two albums of original guitar music for Quaver Records. (”Close Call” and “Lookout”) In 1993 he recorded a duo album of original music with drummer Mark Walker for Southport Records. (”Loose Contact”). Most recently, he recorded an album of renaissance guitar music as an independent project. He has toured and recorded with Fred Simon, Marlene Rosenberg, Fareed Haque, Kurt Elling (three grammy nominated albums), Terry Callier, and Grazyna Auguscik. He has also appeared on recordings with Pharoah Sanders, Mavis Staples,Cassandra Wilson, Mike Stern, Paul Wertico, and Paul McCandless to name a few.
For over thirty years he has done studio work including CDs, TV jingles, documentaries (A&E with Bill Kurtis) and movie soundtracks (”Off the Map”). In 1996 he was featured in JAZZIZ magazine for their “Guitars on Fire” issue with “Eight is Enough” from “Loose Contact”.
He has also been an instructor for over thirty years including Columbia College, Old Town School of Folk Music, Christopher Laughlin Guitar Studio, and Roosevelt University. He is currently teaching privately at the Elmhurst Music Academy and taught jazz studies at the Interlochen Center for the Arts during the 2011 summer session.