2024 Adjudicators

Sincere performances of bold and engaging repertoire have established guitarist Rob MacDonald as one of Canada's most exciting performers of new music. As both a soloist and chamber musician his persistent quest for fresh repertoire regularly leads to the creation of new works and the presentation of rarely heard pieces. He has performed with Soundstreams, Canadian Opera Company, Amadeus Choir, Continuum, Contact Contemporary Music, Tapestry New Opera, and New Music Concerts. Alongside Tracy Anne Smith, he is co-founder of ChromaDuo, an ensemble actively commissioning, premiering, and performing new repertoire internationally. Their debut recording, Hidden Waters, has been called 'nothing short of inspirational' (Simon Powis, Classical Guitar Review) and 'modern guitar music at its most powerful, extending the form and substance of the guitar to give the listener an almost orchestral experience' (Kirk Albrecht, Minor 7th). He teaches at the University of Toronto.