Alleesha MacDonald’s flair for the arts is obvious in her Routledge Road Creative photography work. However, did you know about her love affair with music? Or that she is giving instruction in violin?
Her musical journey began in childhood with parents and grandparents who supported her learning. She was also gifted with an ability for pattern recognition, so important for learning music.
MacDonald explains, “I’ve never been officially diagnosed, but do have struggles with some non-verbal learning and sensory issues. So, I guess that’s why music naturally appealed or came natural to me when not a lot of other things do - middle C is always middle C on any piano anywhere, no matter the day of the week or who else was in the room.”
For her, music was always her save space where she could always sit down with her instrument and play, “without being too small, or too slow, too quiet or too loud… I didn’t have to worry about misinterpreting its reaction….”
Over her formative years MacDonald’s journey has included involvement with Virden District Choral/Sweet Debut all through grade school.
She went on to study the Toronto Royal Conservatory of Music piano program and completed Grade 8 practical and Grade 2 theory, which is no small accomplishment and provides a practical foundation for music instruction.
At Brandon University, while studying for her bachelor of business, MacDonald took part in the School of Music Collegium playing harpsichord. At that time, she also completed a minor degree in drama.
At 20 she decided she wanted to take up violin and with 10 years of lessons from violin teacher Beth English with the Suzuki program of learning, she developed a love of old time and Scottish fiddle tunes.
MacDonald was a member of the Brandon community orchestra for several years, and performed in numerous places including care homes. She even performed at the Governor General’s Winter Fest in Brandon as part of “Fiddle Faddle”.
Recently, MacDonald says she “became eager to share her knowledge of the violin and her love of music with a new generation in a positive, holistic and individualized way.”
A continuous learner herself, she is now also a teacher.
MacDonald says she’s content with just a few students. “I have four students right now, so enough to keep me on my toes between regular full-time work, our small farm and the photography I like to do.”
Virden Music and Arts Festival is coming up this spring. She’s not certain whether her students will be ready to play on the festival stage this time around, but, with the deadline for entries at the end of January that decision is imminent.
