David McDonald (2)

David McDonald is the drummer with the Airmen of Note, The United States Air Force Band, Washington, D.C. In addition to his performing duties, he is the flight librarian for the Airmen of Note. A native of Decatur, Illinois, McDonald's career in the Air Force began in 2006. McDonald received his Bachelor of Music degree in percussion performance from DePaul University in 2005. While attending DePaul, he participated in the jazz ensemble, symphony orchestra, wind ensemble, and various chamber ensembles. As drummer with the DePaul Jazz Ensemble, Sergeant McDonald played on live recordings with Phil Woods and Bobby Shew. In 2002, he performed with the DePaul Jazz Ensemble aboard the 2nd Annual Jazz Times Jazz Party at Sea, accompanying several guest artists including Jon Faddis, Steve Turre, James Moody and Fathead Newman. His primary teachers at DePaul University include Ted Atkatz, Eric Millstein, Fred Selvaggio and Bob Rummage. In 2005, McDonald briefly attended the New England Conservatory of Music where he studied with Will Hudgins and Fred Buda. As a freelance musician, McDonald performed with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Concertante di Chicago, Kenosha Symphony, Illinois Philharmonic, New World Symphony, Chicago Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra, Rob Parton's Jazz Tech Big Band, Capitol Bones and the Alan Baylock Jazz Orchestra. Additionally, he toured Japan in 2005 as a member of the Pacific Music Festival Orchestra. In 2013, McDonald deployed with a small group from The U.S. Air Force Band who traveled to Quatar, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan in support of diplomatic and troop morale initiatives as a part of Operation Enduring Freedom.