In addition to a successful performing career, she has made a number of recordings and held significant academic and organizational posts.
[2] From her early years, McDonald toured widely; besides Israel and the Netherlands, her travels took her to South America and Canada for recitals and to Europe for radio and television broadcasts.
[8] Past students include Nancy Allen, Erzsébet Gaál, Cristina Braga, Şirin Pancaroğlu, Anna-Maria Ravnopolska-Dean, María Luisa Rayan-Forero,[9] Jessica Suchy-Pilalis, JoAnn Turovsky,[citation needed] Naoko Yoshino,[10] Kristie Smith,[11] and Natalie Salzman.
[12] On October 31, 2002, in Bloomington, Indiana, a fire consumed the home that McDonald shared with organist Diane Bish.
Among the many personal possessions lost were a Yamaha grand piano and Rodgers digital organ, but several of McDonald's prized harps were saved by firefighters, and fortunately both women escaped without injuries.