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Lorna McDonald

Lorna began playing the trombone aged 10 whilst at school in Paisley, near Glasgow. In 1990 she commenced studies at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama under the tutelage of the late Ian Murray, Chris Stearn, Lance Green and Sue Addison, graduating in 1996 with Master of Music and Bachelor of Art degrees.

During her time at the RSAMD, Lorna developed a keen interest in Chamber Music and Early Music, twice winning the Governors Recital Prize for Chamber Music on both bass trombone and bass sackbut. It was whilst at college that she became a founder member of Worldbrass, a German based 10-piece brass ensemble.

Now enjoying a varied freelance career, she has played in orchestras ranging from the BBC Symphony, Scottish Opera to Syd Lawrence, Scottish National Jazz Orchestra and the West End production of The Sound of Music. She has appeared alongside jazz and pop musicians including Claire Martin, Monty Alexander, Bobby McFerrin and Bjork and made numerous recordings, from orchestral music to free jazz with Tom Bancroft, folk music with Eliza Carthy and world music with Nitin Sawhney.


Lorna is an accomplished arranger for trombone, brass, wind and jazz ensembles. When she isn't playing the trombone she enjoys film, haute cuisine, fine wine and serenading her neighbours during tuba practice.

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