ASAKA QUARTET
 

Iona McDonald is a Scottish violinist recently graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in London where she obtained her Undergraduate and Postgraduate degree studying with Maureen Smith and Michael Foyle. Graduating her Masters with a Distinction, she was additionally awarded a Postgraduate Diploma (DipRAM) for an outstanding Final Recital as well as a Regency Award for distinguished studentship and the Sir John Barbirolli Prize for outstanding studentship.
 
Iona is a member of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, as principal 1st violin no.4. She has also played regularly with the RSNO, BBCSO, CBSO and the Glyndebourne Tour Orchestra. She was a member of the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester from 2019-2022. While studying, she performed regularly with the RAM Symphony Orchestra which she notably led for their performance of Mahler 3 at the Royal Festival Hall conducted by Semyon Bychkov for the Academy’s 200th Anniversary Concert in June 2022. Iona was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland ensembles since the age of 8, touring China in 2015, performing at the Proms in 2016 and leading the Symphony Orchestra in the 2017 season. In July 2022 she was invited back as a soloist to perform Bruch Violin Concerto no.1 with the NYOS Junior orchestra. She has also performed as soloist with Buxton Music Society, Musicale, Halifax Symphony Orchestra, Glasgow Chamber Orchestra and High Peak Orchestra.