UTNMF: Rob MacDonald, guitar

Concert
Composition
Guitar
January 29, 2026
7:30pm - 9:00pm
Walter Hall

80 Queens Park

Free

Norbert Palej, festival coordinator


PROGRAM

 

In The Woods – Three Pieces for Guitar (1995)

Toru Takemitsu (1930-1996)

I - Wainscot Pond (after a painting by Cornelia Foss) 
II - Rosedale 
III – Muir Woods

 

Mythos (2023)

Andrew Staniland (b. 1977)

I - Preludium – Begin Again
II - Allemande – Lachenmann/Schoenberg/Bach
III - Intermezzo – Ghosts
IV - Chorale – Es gibt wahrscheinlich keinen Gott, aber die Welt ist trotzdem schön

 

A Tre for Violin, Cello, and Guitar (1991)

Ester Mägi (1922-2021)

Movement I
Movement II
Movement III

Alessia Disimino, violin, Bryan Lu, cello, Rob MacDonald, guitar

 

Twist for Violin and Guitar (2014)

Vivian Fung (b. 1975)

I – Twisted Prelude
II – Twisted Pipa
III – Twisted Jam

Humberto Ramirez Meza, violin, Rob MacDonald, guitar


BIOGRAPHY

Performances of bold and engaging repertoire have established guitarist Rob MacDonald as one of Canada’s most exciting performers of new music. As both a soloist and chamber musician his persistent quest for fresh repertoire regularly leads to the creation of new works and the presentation of rarely heard pieces. He has performed with Soundstreams Canada, Madawaska String Quartet, Canadian Opera Company, Amadeus Choir, Queen of Puddings Music Theatre, Talisker Players and Toca Loca. Alongside virtuoso guitarist Tracy Anne Smith he is co-founder of ChromaDuo, an ensemble commissioning, premièring, and performing new repertoire throughout North America. Their début recording, Hidden Waters, has been called ‘nothing short of inspirational’ (Simon Powis, Classical Guitar Review) and ‘modern guitar music at its most powerful, extending the form and substance of the guitar to give the listener an almost orchestral experience’ (Kirk Albrecht, Minor 7th).