Alexander McDonald

Pianist Alex McDonald gave his orchestral debut at age 11, and has since then soloed with the Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de Mexico in Toluca, Mexico, the Utah Symphony, the Louisiana Philharmonic, the Fort Worth Symphony, the San Antonio Symphony, the Mississippi Symphony, and others. He has given solo recitals across the country and was a featured performer on From the Top National Public Radio, WQXR in New York City, and Music of the Metroplex on WRR, 101.1 in Dallas. Highlights of this season include recitals in New Orleans, Dallas, and New York City.

The recipient of many awards, Mr. McDonald was the second prize winner at the 2007 New Orleans International Piano Competition, 2nd prize at the Gina Bachauer International Young Artist Piano Competition, and Grand Prize at the Music Teachers National Association Yamaha Competition. In addition, his work has been recognized beyond the concert hall: he is also the recipient of the 2001 Bayard H. Friedman Award for performing several times for children of the Fort Worth Public Schools, presented by the Bass Hall Children’s Education Program, and also has been made a Harvey Fellow in 2008, supported by the Mustard Seed Foundation.

Mr. McDonald is currently a doctoral student at the Juilliard School, studying under Yoheved Kaplinsky and Julian Martin. He also holds a Masters at Juilliard, and he did his Bachelors under Russell Sherman at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, with Academic Honors and Distinction in Performance. He previously studied in Dallas for 13 years with Lois Nielson and also received coaching from Stephen Nielson, Pamela Paul and Sam Wong. He also teaches privately, coaches high school students of Mr. Martin and Marcy McDonald, and has served as piano/chamber music faculty of Cambridge Summer Strings (now Nosis Music Institute). He was an R.A. in the Juilliard residence hall and served as president of Juilliard Christian Fellowship. He loves reading (especially comics, great works of literature, and theology), improving, and spending time with friends and family.