Beth McDonald is a classically trained tuba player gone awry. She performs mostly as an improviser, using the tuba acoustically or in conjunction with electronic processing. Beth currently performs with Korean Jeans, Ethan T. Parcell's Duck Brain Ragtime Band, and the Callithumpian Consort, among other projects. Previously, Beth has performed with Seraph Brass, Boston Modern Brass, Sound Icon, Discovery Ensemble, and the Brian Friedland Big Band. As Artistic Director of the August Noise JP concert series for four seasons, she worked to bring unexpected music to public spaces and to engage her fellow musicians in their community.
Beth studied with John Cradler, studied with Skip Gray at the University of Kentucky, and she received her Masters from New England Conservatory, working under the guidance of Stephen Drury, Tanya Kalmanovitch, John Mallia, and Ted Reichman.