Cassandra MacDonald

Dr. Cassandra McDonald is a freelance trumpet player and brass educator based in the United States. She completed her Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Trumpet Performance at Boston University in 2025, where she studied under Terry Everson. Equally passionate about performance and teaching, Dr. McDonald views the two as deeply interconnected, each strengthening her growth in the other.

Prior to pursuing her doctorate, Dr. McDonald served as a middle and high school band director, private studio teacher, and freelance musician. She has performed regularly with ensembles such as Veronica Robles Mariachi, the New England Brass Band, and most recently, Athena Brass Band. In 2022, she discovered a love for opera while performing with the Mediterranean Summer Opera Festival in Caltagirone, Sicily. In 2024, she was recognized as a multi-category winner at the International Women’s Brass Conference.

Originally from Boston and raised in Michigan, Dr. McDonald holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Grand Valley State University, where she studied with SFC Kevin Maloney, and a Master of Music degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, where she studied with Dr. Jason Bergman. Following her graduate studies, she spent eight years teaching in public school districts, directing marching bands, concert bands, chamber ensembles, and providing private instruction.

Outside of music, Dr. McDonald enjoys traveling, both for musical opportunities and personal adventure. She shares her home with two beloved cats, and in the summer of 2021, she founded a home-based sourdough bakery.