The autumn of 2003 finds James MacDonald continuing in his twenty-first year as principal horn of the orchestras of Mississauga (the Philharmonic, the Symphony, and the Sinfonia). Some performance dates are Sept 27, Oct 18 (Beethoven #9), and Nov 29 (Bizet, Mendelshon, and Schostakovich).

After a most successful year as principal horn of the Hamilton Philharmonic last year, James will be continuing his association with that orchestra with performances September 20 (Candide, Scherezade, Gershwin & Ellington), Oct 8 (Beethoven Symphony #8), and again Nov 8 (last night at the Proms) and Dec 6.

And continuing on is the preparation of James' first solo recording since 1978. This one is "French Horn sans Frontieres", and features a fascinating and eclectic mix of jazz, classical, Latin, folk, pop, ambient, and other musical sytles. Appearing with him on the CD will be Mike Murley, Don Ross, Lynn McDonald, Jordan O'Connor, Craig Harley, Nick Fraser, Ken MacDonald, Neil Spaulding, and John Herberman. Music of Kurt Weil, Hoagy Carmichael, Horace Silver, Cole Porter, Benjamin Britten, Fredric Delius, Frank Loesser, Lennon/McArtney, Harry Nillson, Bruno Martino, David Amram, Julius Watkins, Don Ross and others. A feast for the ears.

James will also be continuing in his thirty-first year as adjunct professor of French Horn and chamber music at York Unitersity, in Toronto, Canada.

Toronto freelance recording sessions are picking up too, with TV commercials for Pontiac and the Canadian Mint being recorded in September.

more "James"

2002 concerts

2003 concerts

2005 concerts (this page)

James' concerts for 2005 include:

APRIL:

• Sat, Apr 2 Mississauga Symphony Living Arts Centre Schostakovich Symphony 5 Bernstein West Side Story Overture Beethoven Piano Concerto #3 woops, missed it. went very well
• Thurs, Apr 7 Air Canada Centre, Toronto Andrea Bocelli (opera arias)
• Sunday, April 10 7 pm, Sonya, Ontario (an hour northeast of Toronto) I am playing stuff with the Patrick McGibbon Jazz Quintet here at our club, featuring some Julius Watkins compositions
• Wed, Apr 13 9 pm Montreal Bistro, Adelade and Sherbourne, Toronto. Roberto Occhipinti Latin Jazz Nonette. sensational band
• Sat. Apr 16 8 pm Hammerson Hall, Living Arts Centre, Mississauga. Rik Emmet rock guitar legend? (Triumph) appears with the Mississauga Philharmonic
• Tues, Apr 19 9 pm Montreal Bistro PANAMERICANA Brazilian/New York Big Band led by Gary Morgan. 23 piece with extra latin percussion and 2 French Horns
• Sat, Apr 23 Barrie Toronto Philharmonia. Czech Opera Stars sing Arias
• Thurs Apr 28 Toronto Centre for the Arts (North York) same show
  and also at Markham 26 Tues, Apr. 26, Milton, Fri. 29 Apr, Welland Sat 30 Apr, Port Hope 3pm Sun May 1 November 14, Port Perry United church, Beethoven Septet performance with the Chamber Music Society of Mississauga.

MAY:

• May 6 London Jeans 'n Classix (Rock band and Orchestra does hits of 70's)
• Sat May 7 Living Arts Centre Mississauga Symphony with the Mississauga Choral Society Verdi, Mozart, Wagner, Donizetti, Gounoud
• Sat, May 21 Hamilton Philharmonic at Hamilton Place Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto #2 Gliere Overture to Russlan & Ludmilla

JUNE:

• June 4 Hamilton Phil Pops show