Shawn McDonald, tenor, has portrayed numerous roles including Rodolfo in La Bohème, Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor, Alfredo in La Traviata, Count Almaviva in Il Barbiere di Sivgila and Nerone in L’incoronazione di Poppea. In 2006 he sang “Paul Claudel” in The Promise for the National Opera Association’s national convention, and was a soloist in the 2006 Verdi Marathon in Manhattan, NY. He has also participated in performance art, most notably a production of John Cage’s Europera 5, directed by Jack Behrens. He has performed in concert with the Alma Symphony, the Clarion Symphony, the Ypsilanti Symphony, Friends of the Opera of Michigan, the Verdi Opera Theater, and the Tuesday Musicale of Detroit. Beginning his studies as a baritone, Mr. McDonald re-trained as a tenor with his mentor, Caroline Rogers of Marygrove College.  He then continued his studies on a full scholarship at the University of Michigan, working under George Shirley and Shirley Verrett, as well as Martin Katz and Joshua Major.  He earned a Bachelor of Music from Eastern Michigan University, studying voice with Glenda Kirkland and organ with Dr. Pamela Ruiter-Feenstra and Dr. Mary Ida Yost. Additional training included summer apprentice programs at Opera North (NH) and the Brevard Music Center, as well as the Elizabeth Mannion’s Institute of Vocal Arts and private studies with James Berg and Judith Natalucci.  He continued his keyboard studies in Germany at the renowned North German Organ Academy with Dr. Harold Vogel and was the winner of the Ann Arbor chapter of the American Guild of Organists competition in 1997. As a collaborative pianist, Mr. McDonald has also worked with such organizations as Michigan Opera Theatre’s community programs, The Tuesday Musicale of Detroit, Young Peoples Theater of Ann Arbor, Friends of the Opera of Michigan and the Verdi Opera Theater. He is Minister of Music for Westminster Presbyterian Church in Ann Arbor, directing numerous choirs and ensembles, as well as serving as pianist/organist since 1995. He also currently works as staff pianist/choir director and composer/arranger in residence at Temple Israel, West Bloomfield. Temple Israel is currently the largest reform congregation in the United States, and their numerous musical programs and services have grown and flourished with his assistance and musical direction. Last year, Temple Israel produced it's first cd entitled Kavanat Haruach which featured Shawn's talents as a pianist and vocalist in addition to two of his original compositions.