Marshall McDonald
Marshall McDonald is a pianist, arranger, and composer who has produced multiple albums, has scored films, and has two symphonies to his credit. He has produced numerous sheet music and piano solo books.
He graduated from the University of Utah in 2003 with bachelor’s degrees in music and communications and then went on for a master’s degree in public administration. While pursuing his music, he also teaches Seminary and Institute. He’s also an adjunct music professor for the Salt Lake Community College.
In 2006 The National Endowment for the Arts and The Orchestra of Southern Utah commissioned Marshall and his good friend Steven Sharp Nelson (now with The Piano Guys, to compose the Spanish Trail Suite in honor of the Old Spanish Trail becoming a nationally recognized trail by the U.S. Congress. The world-class China Philharmonic Orchestra recorded and distributed the four-movement symphony in 2008. He has also performed with Music and the Spoken Word on radio.
In 2014, McDonald wrote and arranged the music for the live nativity video that was released on The Piano Guys YouTube channel and made a Guinness World Record.
His albums include: Sunday Morning Light; Sunday Best; 24 All-Time Favorites; Our Savior’s Love; This Is the Christ;Bringing the World His Truth; American Journey; Heaven’s Touch; Christmas Dreams; More Holiness Give Me; His Light Divine; and I Am a Child of God. His music books include: Hymns for the Sabbath, volumes 1 and 2; Christmas Classics; As the Dew from Heaven Distilling; Be Still, My Soul; and Sacred Voice.
McDonald and his wife, Kristien, live in Riverton, Utah, with their three children.
Follow Marshall McDonald
Recent Posts
Right out of High School into Missionary Work
It was expected that there would be a surge in the number of full-time Mormon missionaries, and then that the number would decrease and level out. That’s not what has happened.
The Piano Guys – Five Mormons Creating Beautiful Music
Plato, the classical Greek philosopher, and the founder of the Academy in Athens, once said concerning music, “Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.” That...
The Passing of Phil Kesler from Voice Male
Phil Kesler passed away on February 11th, 2010, from metastatic colorectal cancer. His sweet wife, Heidi, and daughter Eden, were by his side at home as he peacefully passed on. Phil had a love of poetry and music, and was with Voice Male from its beginnings, a...
80 Years of “Music and the Spoken Word”
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is celebrating their 80th year of the popular "Music and the Spoken Word" broadcast. Richard L. Evans (pictured) was the beloved announcer for Music and the Spoken Word from 1930 to 1971. Following Brother Evans, two men have carried the...
LDS “Music and the Spoken Word”
TV/Radio Program Makes History in Europe & AmericaWhen the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on July 15, 2009 will celebrate its 80th year of broadcasting the CBS Network program of Music and the Spoken Word, the longest continuous program in the history of radio...