Virginia MacDonald Quartet

“[Virginia’s] playing is exemplary, with technical infallibility, a full focused sound, and dexterity reminiscent of Eddie Daniels. Her improvised lines are equally engaging, putting one in mind of what a young Branford Marsalis was pushing in the ’80s. It is refreshing to hear the clarinet making its mark so effectively in a contemporary jazz setting.” – Charles Rees, London Jazz News Juno Award-winning clarinetist Virginia MacDonald is a leading voice of her generation, known for her lyrical, soulful approach. Based in New York and originally from Toronto, she performs widely across North America and Europe, appearing at venues such as Birdland, Smalls, Ronnie Scott’s, and Dizzy’s, as well as major international jazz festivals. An in-demand bandleader, sidewoman, and composer, MacDonald has worked with artists including Michael Dease, Dick Oatts, Kirk Lightsey, Eddie Henderson, and Jerry Bergonzi. She is a frequent collaborator with Michael Dease and co-leads projects with trumpeter Joe Magnarelli and bass clarinetist Todd Marcus. Her debut album In Search Of… (Cellar Music, 2026) features Geoffrey Keezer, Ira Coleman, Curtis Nowosad, and Laura Anglade. She is also a member of the Canadian Jazz Collective, whose album Septology earned a 2024 Juno nomination. MacDonald has received numerous honors, including first prize at the 2020 International Clarinetist Corona Competition, and has appeared as a featured soloist with the Orchestre National de Jazz de Montréal. In addition to performing on over twenty recordings, she is an active educator, with guest residencies at institutions including Princeton University, McGill University, and the San Francisco Conservatory, and serves on faculty at the Brevard Music Center. A $20 drink/food minimum is charged per person in the party, per set, if the total for beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum. Important Notices: If you do not check in by 15 minutes into the start of the set, we reserve the right to resell your seats with no refund. Tickets for this performance are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, a one-time transfer to a future show of equal value will be accepted. The transfer must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance.