Rich MacDonald – drums
Rich MacDonald is Professor of Music at Winona State University – Percussion/Jazz Studies. He has been playing with the La Crosse Jazz Orchestra since 2012. He is Principal Percussion with La Crosse Symphony Orchestra and also performs with the Safe Passage Jazz Quartet, Optimism Jazz Sextet, John Paulson Big Band and WSU Faculty Jazz Septet. He recently completed The Commission Project, a joint effort with the JazzMN Orchestra featuring seven works commissioned by MacDonald with the goal of presenting a variety of big band styles. He earned Bachelor of Music and Masters of Music degrees at the University of North Texas, and Doctor of Arts (DA) - Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Northern Colorado.
ABOUT THE BAND
The La Crosse Jazz Orchestra is Western Wisconsin's premier big band. Directed by Greg Balfany, the group is best known through its Jazz in the Park concert series. The LJO mission: to promote, preserve and forward the creation of jazz music through free live performances available to all in our region. LJO operates under fiscal sponsorship from La Crosse Community Foundation.