About Me

Dr Anna McDonald

Attunement performance coach, performer and composer

I combine my experience as a performer with deep psychological and embodied approaches to creativity.

My work is grounded in presence, curiosity, and non-judgement—creating a compassionate space where musicians can safely explore, grow, and express who they truly are.

I have worked with musicians for the past 25 years, to help them uncover their true voice and perform with joy. As an international performer, I have explored an inner as well as outer journey. I have always sought to connect these to each other as one experience.

My story in brief

Coming from a musical family, music has always been a way to express my emotions, spirituality and connection to others.  It has taken me around the world – from learning the violin in my nature-infused hometown of Canberra, to studying violin performance at London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama, to performing on six continents.   

From playing baroque violin in a church in Soweto, South Africa to leading orchestras in major concert halls such as the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam and recording for Deutsche Grammophon Archiv, I’ve led a rich and varied life doing what I love.

I’ve been concertmaster for four European orchestras (Gabrieli Consort and Players, The Hanover Band, The Avison Ensemble and Kammerorchester Basel), recorded for many major recording companies and helped start an opera company in Sydney (Pinchgut Opera).  I lead the ABC’s recording orchestra in Sydney for ten years. 

I’ve explored other cultures through music, especially Middle Eastern music.   Living in Iran and Armenia for three years, and learning Iranian classical music, I now compose and perform compositions, on the Iranian kamancheh, with my Iranian husband, linking Iranian and western early music with other cultures – the Jazmourian Ensemble.

Interlinking these experiences has been my love for investigating human experience through psychology and personal self-enquiry.