Donnelly studied with Marianne Mathy at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and with Vida Harford in London.
During 1984 Malcolm Donnelly returned to Australia, debuting with the Australian Opera in 1985.
[citation needed] Since returning to Australia Donnelly has provided Master classes to young singers in Sydney.
[2] In 2002, he created the roles of Commissioner/Judge in the world premiere of Moya Henderson's opera Lindy.
His citation reads "For service to the performing arts as an operatic baritone and to the education and mentoring of young singers.