Tony McDonald

Anthony McDonald (1949–2020) had a varied career as a conductor, composer and arranger, associate professor of music, and arts administrator. He earned Masters and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in orchestral conducting from Stanford University and was a recipient of an Arts Midwest Minority Arts Administration Fellowship. McDonald taught at SUNY Oswego, Hillsdale, Centre and Antioch Colleges, guest conducted throughout the Midwest, was founder and director of Dr. Tony's Original Ragtime Band, and conducted musical theatre productions for over 40 years. He served as the Performing Arts Director for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Performing and Cultural Arts Complex in Columbus, and as the Music Director of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbus. Tony wrote prolifically for brass band, flute and flute choir, chorus, woodwind quintet, jazz band, ragtime band, and orchestra. He died from COVID-19 in the summer of 2020.