Daniel MacDonald, 2nd Trombonist of the PEISO, is a community musician born and raised in Charlottetown, PEI. He grew up surrounded by music as his mother is a career organist and choir director, and his father has a passion for music and singing. Joining band in Junior High School was an easy decision and he quickly fell in love with the unique capabilities of his chosen instrument - the trombone. His first musical mentors - Rowan Fitzgerald and Bob Nicholson - were key to this as their love for playing and teaching inspired him to give his all. His love for playing extended to High School and inevitably UPEI where he graduated with a Bachelor of Music with honours grades in 2017. Daniel has performed with the UPEI Jazz Ensemble, the UPEI Wind Symphony, the Charlottetown Jazz Ensemble, the UPEI Brass Quintet, the Confederation Brass, the Mistlebones Trombone Quartet, Tonos Brass, the Confederation Centre of the Arts pit band, and has performed a number of community gigs in various brass groups.

These endeavors in the world of music are one half of his musical experience, as Daniel has also been a member of the Canadian Armed Forces for 12 years in the Musician Branch. During his time with the military he has completed several courses at the music school in CFB Borden, Ontario, where Daniel was exposed to music in the context of military culture, which lit a fire of curiosity and interest for march music and military ceremony in him. This led to him participating in the Royal Nova Scotia Military Tattoo for 4 years, and the Band of the Ceremonial Guard for 3 years. Daniel most fondly remembers his time with the Ceremonial Guard which provided another layer of musical challenge and self-betterment for him. His time with this ensemble also gave him the opportunity to play for dignitaries such as the Prime Minister of Canada, the President of Italy, the Commander of the Australian Army, and others. Where most of Daniel's military playing comes from is with the PEI Regiment Band which has grown to be a second family for him. Recently, Daniel completed the Primary Leadership Qualification course with the military, in order to rise the ranks to become leadership within the PEI Regiment Band. He looks forward to the 2025 training year when the Regiment celebrates it's 150th anniversary, which will have it's own unique performance opportunities.