Laura Macdonald

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Laura Margaret Macdonald (born 17 July 1974, Glasgow) is a Scottish alto and soprano saxophonist, composer and teacher, specialising in jazz.

She attended Prestwick Academy and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, before moving to Boston, Massachusetts to study at the Berklee College of Music.{{cite web |title=Saxophonist Laura Macdonald'96 |url=https://www.berklee.edu/berklee-today/fall-2001/Laura-Macdonald |website=BerkleeNow |access-date=28 March 2021}} She began to play the saxophone at the relatively late age of 16, after disowning the violin. She graduated from Berklee College of Music in 1998, and is now based in Scotland, working as a music instructor for South Lanarkshire Council.{{cite news |last1=Fulton |first1=Rick |title=Meet the first two Scots battling for this year's MasterChef Crown |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/meet-first-two-scots-battling-23567293 |access-date=28 March 2021 |work=Daily Record |date=26 February 2021}}

She has worked with many jazz musicians including Tommy Smith (to whom she was once married), drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts, bassist James Genus, pianist David Budway, Guy Barker and Jason Rebello, and has made many appearances at notable jazz events, including the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe. In addition, she is a prominent player within the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra. Moreover, she has worked alongside legendary non-jazz specialist John McCrory.

Her recordings include the eponymous Laura in 2001 featuring David Budway (piano), James Genus (bass) and Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums); and Awakenings{{cite news |last1=Fordham |first1=John |title=Laura Macdonald, Awakenings |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2004/mar/05/jazz.shopping1 |access-date=28 March 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=5 March 2004}} in 2003 with the Laura Macdonald Sextet: Steve Hamilton (piano), Donny McCaslin (tenor saxophone and flute), Gildas Boclé (bass), Claus Stoetter (trumpet and flugelhorn) and Antonio Sanchez (drums).{{cite news |title=Laura Macdonald: 'I couldn't get in and out of the car. I couldn't walk very far. And I obviously couldn't play the saxophone' |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/arts_ents/16972544.laura-macdonald-i-couldnt-get-car-couldnt-walk-far-obviously-couldnt-play-saxophone/ |access-date=28 March 2021 |work=The Herald|location=Glasgow |date=10 October 2018}}

Macdonald appeared on the 2021 series of Masterchef on the BBC.{{cite news |title=Carluke mum books Masterchef semi-final spot after wowing judges |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/carluke-mum-books-masterchef-semi-23735935 |access-date=28 March 2021 |work=Wishaw Press |date=16 March 2021}}