At Worship's Core

Tom McDonald knew when he was five years old that his future would be a musical one. His parents lovingly provided a piano and top-notch instruction. He began to accompany the church choir at thirteen and began to conduct that choir at age nineteen. From that inauspicious start, those twenty voices grew to two hundred, and the Trinity Choir developed a citywide ministry which ultimately led to performances in the prestigious Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. During those twenty years of service, Dr. McDonald earned degrees in music education, with an emphasis in piano and choral conducting, as well as a PhD in church music administration. He and his family moved to Los Angeles in 1994 to serve the ministry of Jack W. Hayford and The Church On The Way. The next fifteen years were divided into two parts, and he spent five years as a denominational leader in between. Following that experience, he received a call back to his LA roots and considered that opportunity one of the most extraordinary events of his pastoral life. It is one thing to serve a growing congregation, but to be invited back to serve a second time was an unexpected and heartwarming compliment. During his service in both long-term church settings, McDonald also taught music and worship studies in seminaries and Bible colleges. He completed forty years of service in 2014. Soon thereafter, as a surprise second act, he accepted a post as choral director at Roosevelt High School in downtown LA. This at-risk institution is essentially populated by Latino students for whom many are bilingual. Most qualify for Title I support. In this new mission field, Tom continues to serve, to love those around him and press for musical excellence. Recently one of his students, in halting English, said, "Dr. McDonald, I have place for you in my heart!" Contact information: tmcdonaldmusic@gmail.com