Who am I?
Step into a world of cinematic sound, experimental composition, and creative storytelling. Explore a portfolio shaped by music technology, orchestral textures, electronic sound design, and a passion for crafting immersive musical experiences that connect imagination and emotion. “A true story tells all” - Jonathan A. S. Macdonald
My Story
Jonathan A. S. Macdonald
Composer & Creative Practitioner
Hello, I’m Jonathan A. S. Macdonald — a composer, music technology student, and creative practitioner with a deep passion for cinematic storytelling through sound. My work combines composition, recording, sound design, and experimental audio techniques to create immersive musical experiences inspired by film music, electronic soundscapes, folk traditions, and the pioneering work of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. I am currently studying at the Academy of Contemporary Music after completing my HND in Music at Gloucestershire College, where I achieved a Distinction. My creative interests range from orchestral and ambient composition to analogue-inspired synthesis, found-sound recording, and cinematic production. I particularly enjoy blending traditional musical ideas with modern technology to create music that feels emotional, atmospheric, and imaginative.
Creative Expression & Autism
As an autistic creative practitioner, music has always been one of the most important ways for me to communicate emotion, ideas, and experiences. My autism profoundly shapes how I experience sound, creativity, and the world around me, often leading me to focus deeply on detail, texture, atmosphere, and storytelling in my work. Rather than seeing creativity as merely entertainment, I view music as a powerful form of connection, expression, and understanding. This unique perspective also drives my strong interest in community music and inclusive music technology. My academic research explores how music technology in community music settings can support inclusive musical participation for adults with special educational needs and neurodivergent individuals. I am particularly interested in how technology can open creative opportunities, encourage collaboration, and provide alternative, accessible ways for individuals to engage with music-making.
Influences & Vision
My work is inspired by a wide range of influences, including film composers such as Hans Zimmer, experimental electronic pioneers like Delia Derbyshire and Peter Howell, and the evolving relationship between sound, technology, and storytelling. Whether through composition, sound design, recording, or research, my goal is to create meaningful, immersive experiences that resonate emotionally with listeners. This website serves as a portfolio of my creative work, ongoing projects, and artistic development. It is a space where technology, imagination, and storytelling converge through music.
far from traditional
My Journey Into Music:
My journey into music has been far from traditional. While music was always present throughout my childhood through family influences, it was not until I began studying at college that I truly began to engage with music as a creative discipline. Like many aspiring musicians, I began with the basics, learning a simple song on the guitar. What started as a small first step quickly developed into a passion for learning and creative exploration. As my confidence grew, so did my desire to understand music more deeply. I began studying music theory and learning how it could be applied across different instruments, including bass guitar and keyboards, gradually expanding both my musical knowledge and practical skills. As my studies progressed, I became increasingly curious about what happens beyond performance. I wanted to understand how music is recorded, produced, mixed, and engineered, and why these processes are such an important part of the creative journey. This curiosity led me into the world of music production and audio engineering, where I discovered a new passion for creating music rather than simply performing it. Through this exploration, my love for composition truly began to develop. I found myself drawn to the creative possibilities that emerge when performance, production, sound design, and technology are combined. Composition allowed me to bring together everything I had learned while providing a powerful outlet for creativity, imagination, and storytelling. Today, my work is driven not by commercial trends or the pursuit of creating music purely for financial success, but by a desire to tell stories through sound. Whether composing cinematic music, designing experimental soundscapes, or creating emotionally driven works, I am motivated by narrative, atmosphere, and music’s ability to communicate experiences that words alone often cannot express. Every project represents another step in a journey that began with a single song on a guitar and continues to evolve through creativity, curiosity, and a passion for storytelling.
Academic Career
Education:
GCSEs & BTECs - John Masefield High School
Level 2 – Music Performance and Production – Diploma (Hereford College of Arts 2020 to 2021)
Level 3 – Music Production – Extended Diploma (Gloucestershire College 2021 to 2023)
Level 4 – Music General - HNC (Gloucestershire College 2023 to 2024)
Level 5 – Music Production – HND (Gloucestershire College 2025 to 2026)
Level 6 – Music Composition – BA Hons (Academy of Contemporary Music 2026 to Present)
Curriculum vitae
Please feel free to check out my Online CV displayed on Linkedin