About Me

I started out my professional life as a touring theatre musician (pianist) then rep theatre as a Musical Director/composer. I love vocal harmonies, often adding layers of them to all the songs I write (the poor actors!).

I then discovered the joy of leading community choirs where it’s all layered harmonies! There’s a big difference between creating music for professional performance (theatre) and creating music for wellbeing, community harmony, and connection (choirs). I love doing both and have really enjoyed several theatre projects that also have a community chorus.

Composer & Musical Director

write bespoke songs and music for rep theatre, from subtle soundtracks to full-on new musicals. I have also composed for television and radio
I love composing to picture, or to reflect theatre action. How does that mood/action/movement translate as music? Should it amplify it, support it, or put in a counter current?

I also enjoy a teaching setting and have led musical productions at Manchester Metropolitan University(Yerma, Threepenny Opera) Edge Hill University (Urinetown, The Good Person of Szechwan and more) BIMM Uni (Peer Gynt) and 10 productions at Oldham College (Rent, Children of Eden and many others).

I’ve also been Musical Director several times on BBC’s ‘Waterloo Road’.

Singing and Choirs

Singing in harmony together boosts the immune system and endorphins and creates joy, connection, community and harmony! It also resets the vagus nerve, soothes the nervous system, and brings us into the present moment, leaving our worries behind. Humans have sung since the dawn of time but, times have changed. We’ve silenced ourselves and watch professionals do it, believing our voice is not good enough. But, we’re meant to sing as a way of being together, bonding, lifting our spirits. We all have a natural voice that we’re often too inhibited to use. I love helping people find it.

I have run some big community choirs – Manchester Community Choir, Calder Valley Voices  and Wrexham Community Choir.  I started Open Voice Community Choir in Manchester nearly 20 years ago and still run it.

I have also led health & well-being choirs – The Stroke Association Choir,   The ‘Melody Macs’ for Macmillans and I continue to lead The Christie Choir, now called the ‘Manchester Wellbeing Cancer Choir’.

I love leading humongous groups of people in singing! 1,000 at National Street Choirs Festivals in Hebden Bridge and Manchester , Singing Streets Festival in Wrexham many times and 2,000 at an anti-Trump rally in Manchester on the stage at Albert Square!

I have run singing workshops around the country and on the Isle of Skyros for Skyros holidays. I’ve led communal singing at One World Summer Festival since 2001 and now lead the singing at Sun and Moon Festival.

‘’Uplifting, empowering and utterly beautiful. And this is all down to Carol’s amazing teaching. I didn’t want it to stop MORE PLEASE.’

Penny, Sun Moon participant

I’ve also run teambuilding workshops – singing communally breaks down barriers between people – we’re all in the same boat…

‘Carol Donaldson is an alchemist! In no time she turns base metal into musical gold.’

Jon Athawes

Bands – piano/keyboard player

I’ve toured Corsica with the legendary Victor Brox and his Blues Train playing keys and balafon.

I’ve also toured with Carmel, including playing Ronnie Scott’s in London.  

I toured with the infamous ‘Dublin Rogues’ including live on the pitch at Anfield on Sky TV!  

I am currently enjoying playing with my pals in new local Manchester band ‘The Last Caboose’