Saxophonist Laura Macdonald has been appointed Head of Jazz at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow. Ayrshire-born Macdonald, who had been filling the role on an interim basis over the past few months, brings experience in education and as an international bandleader, composer and recording artist.
From a musical family, she took up the alto saxophone at the age of sixteen and became a regular member of Strathclyde Youth Jazz Orchestra before moving to Boston, Massachusetts to study at Berklee College of Music.
She recorded her first album, Laura, with drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts, bassist James Genus and pianist David Budway and later led a sextet which included saxophonist Donny McCaslin and drummer Antonio Sánchez. McCaslin would go on to work with David Bowie during his final recordings and Sánchez became the regular drummer with guitarist Pat Metheny.
Back in Scotland, Macdonald featured in the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, led her own band and co-led a group with Swedish drummer Martina Almgren. She has also recorded with New York-based pianist David Berkman and worked in duos and small groups with guitarist Kevin Mackenzie. She won the Instrumentalist of the Year title at the Scottish Jazz Awards in 2021.
Professor Aaron Shorr, Director of Music at the RCS, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have secured such a wonderful artist and teacher as Laura to lead the Jazz Programme. Laura has a distinguished international performance and recording career and has also been a highly valued member of teaching faculty here at RCS since 2022. We look forward very much to the development of the Jazz programme under her leadership.”