Event Description
Juno Award-winning clarinetist Virginia MacDonald has established herself as a leading voice of her generation. Known for her lyrical and dynamic approach to the clarinet, she has been described by legendary clarinetist Doreen Ketchens as playing “like a scholar, very refined with plenty of soul.”
As an in-demand bandleader, sidewoman, and composer, she maintains a busy international performance schedule across North America and Europe, regularly appearing at renowned venues such as Birdland, Smalls, Ronnie Scott’s, Le Duc des Lombards, and Dizzy’s. Her festival appearances span the globe, with performances at the Detroit, Rochester, Torino, Montreal, and Toronto Jazz Festivals, among others. Born and raised in Toronto, the Canadian clarinetist now resides in New York.
Virginia is a frequent collaborator with Grammy Award-winning trombonist Michael Dease; she co-leads a quintet with renowned trumpet player Joe Magnarelli; she is a member of the Canadian Jazz Collective; and she frequently works with her father, acclaimed Canadian jazz saxophonist Kirk MacDonald.
Virginia has also performed and recorded with distinguished artists including Harold Mabern, Ira Coleman, Geoffrey Keezer, Bruce Barth, Xavier Davis, Eddie Henderson, Jerry Bergonzi, Rodney Whitaker, Quincy Davis, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Derrick Gardner, Neil Swainson, and Terry Clarke.