About

Date

Location

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St, Andrew's Church
Rectory Lane, Ampthill, MK45 2EL

PROGRAMME

Beethoven - Egmont Overture

Bruch - Violin Concerto

Dvorak - 8th Symphony

Violin Soloist - Stuart McDonald

Bedfordshire-born violinist Stuart McDonald began playing the violin at the age of three. At age 16 he was offered a place at the Purcell School of Music, before continuing his studies with an undergraduate degree at the Royal Academy of Music. He later moved to the United States to complete a master’s degree at Boston University’s College of Fine Arts.

After graduating, Stuart began his orchestral career as Joint Leader of The Orchestra Now, based in upstate New York and performed regularly at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. He subsequently returned to the UK to join the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and is now a member of the first violin section of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, performing regularly at the BBC Proms and on tours across Europe.

As a freelance player, Stuart works regularly with orchestras around the UK and has performed as Co-Leader with the Royal Northern Sinfonia, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

Alongside his orchestral work, Stuart is a committed educator. He was recently a mentor on the BBC SO Pathway Scheme, working with students from the Royal College of Music to help them pursue an orchestral career.