Living Life in 24/7 Time

With 17 units, two jobs, a show on KFSR radio and 30 hours of trumpet practice a week, Joshua McDonald redefines the term "full schedule"

By Chhun Sun

He’s nervous.

Joshua McDonald has done this sort of thing too many times to count. He’s played trumpet at New York City’s prestigious Carnegie Hall. He’s played with Buchanan High School’s celebrated music program.

So why now is McDonald nervous?

Surely being the lead trumpet soloist for Jazz Band “A” at the annual California State University All-State Jazz Ensemble isn’t any more nerve-racking than what he’s done in the past.

On this evening in late February, he’s playing to a full crowd in the Concert Hall. Surrounding him are elite jazz players from different schools in the CSU system.

That’s enough to make him nervous. So there’s only one thing to do—escape.

McDonald sneaks to an isolated area backstage to do some breathing exercises. He does this for several minutes. Now he is calming down. Now he is ready to go on stage.

McDonald walks out wearing a black and white suit, his long auburn hair tied in a ponytail. He sees eyes looking back at him from the audience.

The second stage of nerves kicks in.

He sees his parents, who have been supporters since he first picked up a trumpet in the fifth grade. He sees his siblings, who are following in his footsteps. He sees his best friend who flew from New York for the performance.The performance starts. McDonald fights his nerves.

He plays for almost two hours for the All-State Jazz Ensemble, as well as Jazz Band “A.” In the end, the ensemble is rewarded a standing ovation. The nervousness is gone, happiness sets in.

“ Every single one of those guys were amazing cats,” McDonald said of his fellow participants. “I think it really lit the fire under the rest of us here at Fresno State.

“ Now we just need to do some more practicing and rehearsing. I think our band got really inspired to keep going on, because I know I certainly did.”

McDonald, 19, and the jazz ensemble are currently preparing for their Jazz Band “A” concert set for March 30.

Through his achievements, McDonald has remained a young man of quiet determination and humility. This demeanor is what he uses in other aspects of his life, from his studies to his campus radio show, both of which he approaches with the same passion.

Dr. Michael Caldwell noticed this when he first met McDonald more than a year ago.

Caldwell, assistant professor of trumpet and director of jazz ensembles, knew McDonald was a talented musician because of his high school background and the way he talked about his passion for jazz.

“ He is really devoted to his music; he doesn’t have to talk, he just plays” Caldwell said.

It’s strange because at first McDonald did not enjoy playing the trumpet. His love for music didn’t develop until he was mentored under the guidance of Paul Shaghoain, a music director at Buchanan High.

“ He gets you really involved and helps to perfect you,” McDonald said. “He will always remain high on my mentor list.”

His commitment to academics at Buchanan High granted him a Smittcamp Scholarship to Fresno State. He then started taking classes in 2002, and within months was offered his own jazz show on the campus radio station KFSR, FM 90.7. Every Wednesday from 6 to 9 a.m., he plays new and old jazz music and discusses the music with local callers.

“ There are a couple of people who call in almost every show to talk about jazz, which is pretty cool,” McDonald said. “We reach a small, but loyal audience.”

Again, there’s that passion.

In his fourth semester, McDonald is triple majoring in philosophy, psychology and political science. He is taking 17 units, while managing two jobs as a staff assistant for a City Council member Brian Calhoun and representative of an Internet cabinet company. But he still manages time to practice on his trumpet about 30 hours a week. And during his spare time, he plays local gigs with his trio, the Hoods.

“ This need to know everything I possibly can comes from music,” McDonald said, who admits he is not completely sure why he decided to triple major. “What music did was it made me want to keep bettering myself and perfecting everything I did.”

While bettering himself, McDonald donates his efforts to helping others.

By May, he will no longer exude “a hippy, intellectual vibe” due to his auburn hair, because he will sacrifice it to an organization dedicated to help children with leukemia, called “Locks for Love.”

There is at least one more chance to see McDonald before he cuts his hair, at the Jazz Band “A” concert March 30 at the Concert Hall. It will start at 8 p.m.

“ I like the opportunity to help kids out with cancer; I’m going to do it a couple more times until I have to keep short, respectable hair,” McDonald said, chuckling.

He doesn’t seem too nervous about the hair cut. Yet.