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
Jennifer Thomas’ New Masterpiece – “The Fire Within”
There are two things that this author always finds to be consistent about the music videos that piano virtuoso, Jennifer Thomas, releases and that is her videos always have an amazing story to tell, and that story is told through her music in a masterful way. This is...
Monica Scott’s New Arrangement Reminds Us That Children are Like Little Stars and Every Star is Different
Henry "Henny" Youngman, an English-born American comedian and violinist famous for his mastery of the "one-liner,” quipped, “What is a home without children? Quiet.” And, Austin O'Malley, M.D., an ophthalmologist and a professor of English literature at University of...
Jordan James and Friends Deliver Powerful Message about Suicide Prevention with the Song “U Matter”
Jordan James Pinkston (professionally known as Jordan James), an 18-year-old member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes incorrectly referred to as the Mormon Church), is a rising music artist who is making a name for himself. This Acoustic,...
Music in the Key of Life – Mary Hiett Shares Her Song for Breast Cancer Awareness, “Journey of a Pink Heart”
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. According to www.breastcancer.org, approximately 1 in 8 women in the United States will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime. “Cancer,” a word that is all too familiar to many people, including this...
Music in the Key of Life – GENTRI Surprises Seriously Ill Girl at Home and Sings a Special Song
The word “minister,” when used as a verb, is defined as tending to, taking care of, looking after, or attending to the needs of another person. The scriptures teach us that we are to “lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees” (Hebrews 12:12). Scriptures...
Music in the Key of Life – “Notes from the Heart”
In this edition of Music in the Key of Life, Mary Hiett shares the backstory to her album, Notes from the Heart. This was a fun album for me to create. Notes from the Heart is an album that is comprised of beautiful, positive music. I could not have achieved the...