Martin MacDonald
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Martin MacDonald (born June 14, 1977) is a Canadian conductor.
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[edit] Early life and education
Born on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, he was the youngest of 12 children born to Lloyd and Winnie MacDonald.
He completed his Bachelor's degree in cello at Memorial University and his Master's degree in Orchestral Conducting at McGill University. At McGill, He was Assistant Conductor of the McGill Symphony Orchestra, Opera McGill, conducted several ensembles and was a member of the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra from 1997-2003 during his time in St. John's. He has studied conducting with Maestro Alexis Hauser, Boris Brott, Donald Buell, Douglas Dunsmore and at the Pierre Monteux School with Maestro Michael Jinbo. Martin is also an alumnus of the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra, 1992-1995.
[edit] Symphony Nova Scotia
In May 2008, he was named Resident Conductor of Symphony Nova Scotia, a position he begins in September, 2008. Music Director Bernhard Gueller called his enthusiasm in working with the orchestra "infectious". He will take over from former Resident Conductor Dinuk Wijeratne and won the position over 19 Canadian and international candidates. Of his appointment, MacDonald said: “Nothing could make me prouder than to return to my home province to conduct. I look forward to working with this wonderful and vibrant orchestra I grew up admiring and making beautiful music together throughout Nova Scotia.”
[edit] National Academy Orchestra of Canada
He currently holds the position of Associate Conductor of the National Academy Orchestra of Canada, based in Hamilton, Ontario, where he also served as Apprentice Conductor to Boris Brott in 2006. In 2007, he conducted the NAO as part of the 20th anniversary season of the Brott Music Festival. 2007 performances included Debussy's La Mer, Beethoven's Third and Seventh Symphonies, and Gershwin's Piano Concerto in F with pianist Stewart Goodyear. Former Hamilton Spectator music columnist Hugh Fraser has called his conducting "clear and very musical...his pizzicato-glockenspiel precision was very impressive."
2008 conducting engagements with the National Academy Orchestra and Brott Music Festival include Showpieces! with violinist Lara St. John and Jeans 'n Classics: The Music Of Queen in addition to 20 other podium appearances as Associate Conductor. On August 21, 2008, he will conduct the world premiere of Canadian Ojibway composer Barbara Croall's Dagwaagin ("It Is Autumn") for symphony orchestra, Anishinaabe performer and traditional native instruments. This work is the first of the "Canadian Four Seasons" commissioned by the Brott Music Festival.
In addition to his conducting roles, he is the NAO Orchestra Manager, where he oversaw a 200% increase in auditions from young musicians across Canada in 2007.
[edit] Other Musical Activities
As a guest conductor, he was shortlisted for the positions of Resident Conductor with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, conducted several community orchestras across Canada and the Cape Breton Orchestra. He has also conducted for film. In June 2008, he will travel to Spain to compete in the IX Cadaqués Orchestra International Conducting Competition.
He currently resides in Hamilton, Ontario.
