Rich MacDonald

I have been performing and teaching professionally for over thirty years. Originally from just outside Boston Massachusetts, I was a percussion instructor for the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps as well as for several high school marching bands.

Upon graduating from Berklee College of Music in 1985, I worked for Carnival Cruise Lines and Premier Cruise Lines playing in show bands and dance bands. The show band backed up a number of name acts such as Little Anthony and the Imperials among many others.

I then spent several years living in Australia and New Zealand where I played at jazz festivals, concerts, clubs and radio shows, backing up a number of touring acts while there. I taught private drum lessons in both Sydney, Australia and Auckland, New Zealand.

I spent much of the 1990’s performing around New England and the Boston area with jazz, rock, blues and theater groups while also teaching private drum lessons.  I even moved out to California and played with jazz, rock and blues groups around Santa Barbara and the Greater Los Angeles area for several years.

Sarasota, Florida became my home in 2003. Since then I have worked regularly as both a performer and teacher.  I work with all sorts of local jazz, rock, blues, country and theater groups including William Clare Entertainment, backing up a number of touring acts such as The Drifters and Mary Wilson of The Supremes, and many others.

I have been teaching private drum lessons out of my home studio in Sarasota and online since 2003.