Cassandra McDonald

Brass, Breath, and Pain: Empathizing with the Impact of Menstrual Pain on Trumpet Performance

Dr. Cassandra McDonald is a trumpet player and brass educator based in Cookeville, TN. McDonald serves at Tennessee Tech University as Assistant Professor of Trumpet. She also serves as principal trumpet in the Bryan Symphony Orchestra. She completed her Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Trumpet Performance at Boston University in 2025, where she studied under Terry Everson. Equally passionate about performance and teaching, she views the two as deeply interconnected, each strengthening her growth in the other. Prior to pursuing her doctorate, Dr. McDonald was a middle and high school band director, private studio teacher, and freelance musician. She has performed regularly with ensembles such as Veronica Robles Mariachi, the New England Brass Band, Southern Stars Symphonic Brass, and Athena Brass Band. In 2024, she was recognized as a multi-category winner at the International Women’s Brass Conference. Born in Boston and raised in Michigan, Dr. McDonald holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Grand Valley State University, where she studied with MSgt Kevin Maloney, and a Master of Music degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, where she studied with Dr. Jason Bergman.