Born outside Providence, Rhode Island, MacDonald's career commenced in 1988 when Music Director Kurt Masur appointed him Principal Trumpet of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Leipzig Opera, and musically iconic St. Thomas Church, the latter a historic position held from 1723 to 1734 by renowned baroque trumpeter Gottfried Reiche under the direction of Johann Sebastian Bach, Thomas Cantor from 1723 until his death in 1750. Roderick's trumpet has sounded worldwide in such highly regarded ensembles as the Japan Philharmonic, Virtuosi Saxonia, Bach Collegium Munich, Leipzig Bach Orchestra, Leipzig Chamber Orchestra, Concerto Leipzig, and the Super World Orchestra (Tokyo), as well as his own Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. With a discography of over 25 recordings with the Gewandhaus Orchestra, he can also be heard on recordings with numerous other solos, chamber and orchestral albums. One of his solo albums was named "CD of the Month" by the label Naxos. While principal trumpet of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra Roderick's career evolved and grew at the Leipzig Conservatory under the tutelage of Gunter Blumhagen, and Volker Rohde as he earned the degree Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting in 1994. Associate Professor of Music at the State University of New York in Fredonia. Roderick Macdonald holds a Masters of Music at New England Conservatory, received the "Leonard Bernstein' Fellowship at Tanglewood, and was awarded the honorary title of "Kammermusiker" from the City of Leipzig.