Dr Ian Macdonald - Percussion

Dr Ian Macdonald began studying percussion at the Elder Conservatorium of Music at the Adelaide University whilst still at high school. He was the first percussionist in Australia to begin a degree majoring in Percussion, studying with Richard Smith of the South Australian Symphony Orchestra. During his study he played in the South Australian Symphony Orchestra and the Australian Youth Orchestra. He also performed in the orchestra for the State Opera Company of SA and developed a great interest in opera and theatre.

Dr Macdonald began studying Electronic Music composition with Peter Tahourdin in the new Electronic Music Studio when Moog Synthesiser Mark III arrived from America. He had several compositions performed in Elder hall Concerts at the Adelaide University, gave extensive demonstrations of the instrument around Australia and composed music and designed sound scapes for the South Australian Theatre Company for several productions.

Dr Macdonald then taught in the Electronic Music Studio and had the opportunity of working with many Australian composers. Interest in the EMS included the visits and discussions with Benjamin Britten, Michael Tippett and other international musicians who were in Adelaide as part of the Adelaide festivals.

As a composer Ian wrote and performed the music for the major theatre production of Shakespeare's Corealanus and Ianesco's Exit The King for the South Australian Theatre Company. His electronic work AnSoc 70 was discussed at an international conference on Electronic Music at Melbourne University. Ian was Music Director of many theatre productions and musicals in the Union Theatre. At the Adelaide University. He recorded all the concerts at the Adelaide university and presented them on University Concert on Radio 5UV.

Dr Macdonald became Concert Manager for several Adelaide Festivals and in this capacity worked with many artists of international standing including the John Aldis Choir, Philip Jones Brass Ensemble, Frans Bruggen, The Dutch Swing College Band, The New York Contemporary Chamber Ensemble, The Australian Chamber Orchestra and many others.

Throughout his career Dr Macdonald has worked with many major Australian companies. He was the manager of the Elizabethan Sydney Orchestra based in the Sydney Opera House and performing with the Australian Opera and The Australian Ballet. He was the Concert Manager and founding board member of the Seymour Group, Australia's premier experimental music ensemble.

Ian developed an interest in the designing and production of major community events such as On The Sheep's Back, a celebration of the Australian wool industry, several old fashioned picnics for the Adelaide Festival and the closing ceremony of the Jubilee 150 celebrations for South Australia. In 1988 Ian was Executive Director of the Australia Day Celebrations in Canberra and spent several years working in music and theatre in the National Capital. In Canberra he has been the set designer of many theatre productions and has written music for the National Shakespeare Festival. At the Canberra School of Music Ian worked on several opera productions and organized a major concert programme featuring the many aspects of the school.

In the 1990's Ian taught music in the TAFE music schools in Goulburn and Orange with subjects including the presentation of music, percussion, aural training, early childhood music, composition, theory and music theatre.

Since arriving in Wagga Wagga Ian has graduated from Charles Sturt University as a Master of Arts and has completed his PhD specializing in Experimental Music/Theatre performance (see http://www.crookedmirror.com/soundandlight). Major music theatre compositions during this period include Silent Prisoner, Meditation and In The Hands of Children, (the latter two works were performed in the television studios of Charles Sturt University and broadcast live over the internet).

Ian was a member of the Charles Sturt University Council and the President of the Charles Sturt University Post Graduate Association.

He has written the music for many of the Charles Sturt University theatre productions, most recently for Tessa Bremner's experimental production of Macbeth, in which the members of the Riverina Percussion Ensemble performed on stage. He has designed the sets for major productions at the Civic Theatre including Jesus Christ Superstar and Chicago and GASP in the Riverina Playhouse. His design for Co-Opera's Pagliacci recently toured to Wagga Wagga and to Singapore.

Ian has been teaching Percussion at the Riverina Conservatorium of Music since 2002 and formed the Riverina Percussion Ensemble which had its first performances in 2003. In 2004 Ian was appointed Head of the Brass Woodwind and Percussion Department of the Riverina Conservatorium of Music. He is now Head of Percussion and Concerts