Born in Stirling, Scotland, he attended Douglas Academy in Milngavie, Glasgow, and went on to read Music at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge University. He studied violin and piano, and began conducting aged 16. While at university he studied under David Zinman and Jorma Panula at the American Academy of Conducting in Aspen.
After leaving Cambridge in 2001, Macdonald spent two years working as assistant conductor to Iván Fischer and the Budapest Festival Orchestra. He made his concert debut with the orchestra in 2002. During this time Macdonald also worked as an assistant conductor at the Opéra National de Lyon and Opéra National de Paris, and studied opera coaching in Vienna.
In September 2004, Macdonald joined the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, as a conductor. He worked on numerous productions during two seasons, notably assisting Antonio Pappano on Wagner's Ring Cycle and conducting performances of several operas including a performance of Das Rheingold in October 2007.[1]
From January 2006 to August 2008, Macdonald held the position of assistant conductor with the Hallé Orchestra in Manchester, and music director of the Hallé Youth Orchestra. He worked closely with the orchestra's music director, Sir Mark Elder, and conducted the orchestra in over 60 concerts across the North of England.
