[1] She studied with Clara Lichtenstein (no relation) at Royal Victoria College (RVC), part of McGill University.

In 1902, after being rebuffed by Metropolitan Opera Director Walter Damrosch, but encouraged by tenor Eustase Thomas-Salignac and others,[1] she went to the Conservatoire de Paris on a grant from Donald Smith, Lord Strathcona, the patron of RVC.

[2] With the help of composer Jules Massenet, Donalda made her debut in 1904 in Nice, singing the title role in his opera Manon.

[2] Donalda was the first to sing the roles of Concepción in Maurice Ravel's L'heure espagnole and Ah-joe in Franco Leoni's L'oracolo at Covent Garden.

She chose to remain in the country, singing in concerts and music halls, with occasional appearances in New York and Boston.