Alex McDonald

On September 18th, pianist Dr. Alex McDonald came to C of O as a convocation performer. Before his performance, he taught a masterclass to students in applied piano lessons. Dr. McDonald earned his master’s and doctoral degrees from Juilliard under Yoheved Kaplinsky and Julian Martin.

Ryan Moore, a senior piano major, played the second movement of Schubert’s Wanderer Fantasy for the masterclass. Dr. McDonald emphasized observing the meter (pulse) and bringing out the melody. “Find the dissonance,” he said, “build toward it, then fade away. That’s where the drama is.”

Dr. McDonald used metaphors and similes to better explain musical concepts. TJ Goze, a junior computer science major with a piano minor, played Debussy’s Passepied. Student performers and student observers benefited from Dr. McDonald’s insightful comments, humor, and clear sense of musical direction. 

Later that evening, students gathered in Jones auditorium to hear Dr. McDonald play. Dr. McDonald, who studied the Romantic composer Franz Liszt in his doctoral work, presented a program entirely dedicated to Liszt.

Dr. Clara Christian, professor of piano, said that “It was truly an inspiration and a blessing to have Alex McDonald here: he is very gifted as a performer, but he also has deeply thought-out insights into faith, life, and learning. And has a great sense of humor to boot!”

Theory and composition professor Dr. Luke Carlson described Dr. McDonald’s performance: “With a balanced sense of humor and reverence, Alex McDonald gave a beautiful glimpse into the music of Franz Liszt and his faith in God. McDonald explored three beloved works by the master which he played with elegance, power, and deep lyricism. We were honored to have him share at C of O.”