Maggie has devised an innovative, easy to comprehend vocal teaching technique that she uses for:
• Individual Tuition
• Group Tuition
• Choral Societies
• Teacher training
• Professional Voice Users
• Singing Contests
Maggie McDonald, mezzo-soprano, studied at the Royal Northern College of Music gaining a GRNCM(upper) and a PPRNCM(distinction). She was awarded the Gold Medal for singing and the Elsie Sykes Fellowship which enabled her to study in Italy.
After a number of years singing with Glyndebourne Opera and Opera North, she went freelance, developing her solo career and combining it with specialist voice teaching.
She started a private practice and lectured in performance, drama and singing at Huddersfield University and Bretton Hall College as well as directing shows and concerts.
She was later invited to teach at the RSAMD, the Leeds College of Music and the RNCM where she specialised in Oratorio classes for a number of years.
She has adjudicated competitions, examinations and auditions for many conservatoires and choirs, including the RSAMD, RNCM, the Birmingham Conservatoire , Chethams School of Music and the Hallé.
Over recent years, due to her passion for choral music, she has specialised in coaching choral societies and has devised an innovative, easy to comprehend and implement method of vocal technique which produces rapid results and builds singers’ confidence. She has coached many choirs, such as Bury, Ramsbottom, Saddleworth and Huddersfield Choral Societies, the Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus, the Hallé Choir and male- voice and gospel choirs.
In other genres she has coached productions of Amadeus at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, Mama Mia at the Palace Theatre and at present Ghost at the Opera Theatre both in Manchester.
At present, as well as still coaching the Hallé Choir and the Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus, she has teaching practices in Leeds, Sheffield and Manchester. She is a member of the British Voice Association and the Voice Care Network U.K.
She is in demand for her instructive and entertaining “Vocal-Ease”© workshops and was vocal tutor on the Art of Song course at Ampleforth Abbey during last Summer.
