Rory Macdonald was born in Stirling and studied music at Cambridge University. In January 2006 he was appointed Assistant Conductor at the Hallé. He is also Music Director of the Hallé Youth Orchestra.

From 2001 to 2003 he was Assistant Conductor at the Budapest Festival Orchestra. He has also built up a wide operatic repertoire, firstly as an assistant for major opera companies including Glyndebourne Festival Opera, English National Opera and Paris Opera, then as a member of the Young Artists Programme at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden (2004 – 2006).

He made his début with Glyndebourne on Tour in 2003 conducting Idomeneo, and returned for Dove’s Pig/Greed (Jerwood Studio) and Così fan tutte. For the Royal Opera he has conducted Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Fidelio, and Das Rheingold in the Main House and Glass’s Orphée,and Britten’s Owen Wingrave in the Linbury Studio. He has also conducted La Bohème for Danish National Opera.

He made his début with Glyndebourne on Tour in 2003 conducting Idomeneo, and returned for Dove’s Pig/Greed (Jerwood Studio) and Così fan tutte. For the Royal Opera he has conducted Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Fidelio and Das Rheingold in the Main House and Glass’s Orphée, Britten’s Owen Wingrave and A Midsummer Night's Dream in the Linbury Studio. He has also conducted La Bohème for Danish National Opera.