Aaron McDonald is Principal Timpanist of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and the Classical Tahoe Orchestra. Prior to joining the VSO, he was timpanist with the West Virginia Symphony and performed and toured with the Cleveland Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Indianapolis Symphony, and the Buffalo Philharmonic. Aaron has also performed with the VSO Chamber Players, Festival Napa Valley, Turning Point Ensemble, Music on Main Concert Series, and the Vancouver Film Orchestra. As a soloist he has performed concertos with the VSO, Calgary Philharmonic, and the Classical Tahoe Orchestra.

Aaron currently teaches at the University of British Columbia School of Music and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra School of Music. He is a faculty member at the Whistler Institute of Music, and was a featured artist at Musicfest Canada.

Aaron received his Master’s in Orchestra Performance from the Manhattan School of Music where studied with Chris Lamb of the New York Philharmonic and Duncan Patton of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. He then moved to Cleveland to Study with Tom Freer of the Cleveland Orchestra. Aaron endorses Remo Drumheads, Adams Percussion, and Pearl Drums.