1 minute read
Iona McDonald
Violin
Iona McDonald is a violinist recently graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in London where she obtained her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees studying with Maureen Smith and Michael Foyle. Iona was a member of the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland from the age of 8, touring China in 2015, performing at the BBC Proms in 2016 and leading the Symphony Orchestra in its 2017 season.
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Iona is a member of the Asaka Quartet, formed at the Royal Academy of Music in October 2021 where they were selected for the prestigious Frost Trust Advanced Specialist Strings Ensemble Training Scheme (ASSET). After just six months of working together, they are delighted to have been appointed Chamber Music Fellows at the Royal Academy for 2022/23.
Iona is passionate about music education and has been working with the Benedetti Foundation since January 2020 where she currently works as a Senior Lead Ambassador.
She is also a keen orchestral player and has been a member of the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester since 2019. She is looking forward to joining them for their Summer Tour in August conducted by Herbert Blomstedt. She has performed regularly with the Royal Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra which she recently led for their performance of Mahler’s Symphony No.3 at the Royal Festival Hall conducted by Semyon Bychkov for the Academy’s 200th Anniversary Concert in June 2022.
Iona has performed as soloist with Buxton Music Society, Musicale, Halifax Symphony Orchestra, Glasgow Chamber Orchestra and High Peak Orchestra.
“I am absolutely delighted to be joining NYOS Junior Orchestra to perform Bruch’s Violin Concerto No.1 in G minor. This concerto is one of my favourites, in particular its expressive and passionate slow movement.
I was a member of NYOS for 9 years, I first joined at the age of 8 where I played in the string training ensemble and worked my way through the ensembles up to the Symphony Orchestra which I led in 2017. Some of my most inspiring musical experiences have been through my time with NYOS. To be returning as a soloist is such a pleasure.”
