Mr. McDonald currently plays principal trumpet with the Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra and the Boulder Chamber Orchestra, and also holds tenured positions with the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra, the Greeley Philharmonic, and the Colorado Ballet Orchestra. As an active freelance musician in the Denver/Boulder area, Derek frequently substitutes with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, the Boulder Philharmonic, and the Colorado Springs Philharmonic. Mr. McDonald also performs annually at the International Ballet Festival held in Vail, Colorado. Before moving to Colorado, Derek served as associate principal trumpet of the Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra, and second trumpet of the Penn’s Woods Festival Orchestra.
As a teacher, Mr. McDonald served as a graduate teaching assistant for five years at the University of Colorado while earning his Master’s and working toward his Doctorate in trumpet performance and pedagogy. While at CU Boulder, Derek taught undergraduate trumpet students, coached brass quintets, conducted trumpet ensembles, and gave presentations to the trumpet studio. Mr. McDonald continues to teach at Regis University, mentors the brass with the Greater Boulder Youth Orchestras, teaches his private trumpet studio, and does educational outreach for many of the middle and high schools in the Denver/Boulder area.
