St. Mark’s Hosts Visiting Scholar
Brought by the Willard E. Walker, Jr. ’66 Visiting Scholar Program, pianist Dr. Alex McDonald shared his love of music with students in all twelve grades. He held sessions with the Upper School Orchestra, fourth-grade music students, piano students of all grades, and held three assemblies for Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools. During McDonald’s master classes, he gave students instruction tailored to their unique pieces.
“Dr. McDonald is both an exceptional musician and a teacher,” said Gordon Gunn ’17. “His advice on making the melody of a piano piece sound like the human voice was very insightful, and his humor kept the master lesson very fun.”
McDonald used comparisons to sports psychology, conversational speaking, and singing to help students grow musically. Middle School students took full advantage of the opportunity to interact with McDonald during his assembly titled “Bach to the Future.” Lower School students enjoyed their session, which helped them understand the difference between consonance and dissonance. The Upper School assembly featured the Upper School Orchestra and varying works of music created during times of war. McDonald concluded his two days at St. Mark’s with an evening recital. Once again, the Upper School Orchestra joined him on the stage. For part of the recital, he performed with Patrick Magee ’17 and piano teacher Angela Hendricks alongside him on the piano bench. In other words, there were six hands on the piano at once.
Dr. McDonald was a competitor in the 14th Van Cliburn Competition and was the recipient of a Harvey Fellowship by the Mustard Seed Foundation. He earned his doctoral degree from The Juilliard School and served as the guest festival director for the Basically Beethoven Festival in 2016. McDonald lives in Plano with his wife and son.
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“Dr. McDonald is both an exceptional musician and a teacher,” said Gordon Gunn ’17. “His advice on making the melody of a piano piece sound like the human voice was very insightful, and his humor kept the master lesson very fun.”
McDonald used comparisons to sports psychology, conversational speaking, and singing to help students grow musically. Middle School students took full advantage of the opportunity to interact with McDonald during his assembly titled “Bach to the Future.” Lower School students enjoyed their session, which helped them understand the difference between consonance and dissonance. The Upper School assembly featured the Upper School Orchestra and varying works of music created during times of war. McDonald concluded his two days at St. Mark’s with an evening recital. Once again, the Upper School Orchestra joined him on the stage. For part of the recital, he performed with Patrick Magee ’17 and piano teacher Angela Hendricks alongside him on the piano bench. In other words, there were six hands on the piano at once.
Dr. McDonald was a competitor in the 14th Van Cliburn Competition and was the recipient of a Harvey Fellowship by the Mustard Seed Foundation. He earned his doctoral degree from The Juilliard School and served as the guest festival director for the Basically Beethoven Festival in 2016. McDonald lives in Plano with his wife and son.
St. Mark’s School of Texas
10600 Preston Road
Dallas, Texas 75230
214-346-8000
Dallas, Texas 75230
214-346-8000
About Us
St. Mark’s School of Texas is a private, nonsectarian college-preparatory boys’ day school for students in grades 1 through 12, located in Dallas, Texas. St. Mark’s aims to prepare young men to assume leadership and responsibility in a competitive and changing world.
St. Mark’s does not discriminate in the administration of its admission and education policies on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin.
St. Mark’s does not discriminate in the administration of its admission and education policies on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin.
