At the young age of twenty-four, Virginia has already established herself as a respected and sought after musician in the Toronto jazz scene; she has performed extensively as both a leader and side woman at several venues across the city, including Koerner Hall, The Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, The Jazz Bistro, The Rex Hotel Jazz & Blues Bar, Poetry Jazz Cafe, and has performed in several Canadian festivals including the TD Toronto Jazz Festival, the Beaches International Jazz Festival, the Kensington Market Jazz Festival, the TD Markham Jazz Festival and the Cape Breton Jazz Festival.
While a Bachelor of Music student at Humber College, she received the prestigious Yamaha Music Canada scholarship for outstanding musical performance, in both 2018 and 2019. In 2018, she received a full scholarship to take part in an exclusive five-week workshop at Berklee College of Music with the Grammy Award-winning drummer Terri Lyne Carrington. While at Berklee, she had the chance to work with Terri extensively, along with Grammy Award-nominated saxophonist Tia Fuller. She also had the opportunity to perform at the Cambridge Jazz Festival, alongside Carrington and Fuller.
Virginia has worked with many Toronto-based musicians including Kirk MacDonald, Pat LaBarbera, Terry Clarke, Lorne Lofsky, Neil Swainson, Nancy Walker, Kieran Overs, Bruce Cassidy, Richard Whiteman, and David Occhipinti. She’s had the opportunity to work internationally in Spain, France, and England, and has had the chance to share the stage with many renowned jazz musicians such as Geoffrey Keezer, Dick Oatts, Rich Perry, Adam Nussbaum, Peter Bernstein, and Harold Mabern. She appeared on Juno Award-winning saxophonist Kirk MacDonald’s 2013 big band release, Common Ground, and his latest 2018 release with the great Harold Mabern, Generations: Ballads & Standards.
At this point in her career, Virginia is now focusing on composing and performing her own music. Her debut album is set to be released in 2020 and is comprised of original compositions written for jazz quintet.
Virginia MacDonald is one of the new, upcoming jazz musicians that is hitting the music scene today. Her playing and improvising skills are top notch, and from the composing that I have heard from her, she is headed to break new ground in this genre of music.
Virginia MacDonald is going to turns some heads – she is a powerful new voice in the Canadian scene!