Donaldson embarked on her singing journey at the tender age of seven, shortly after claiming victory in an eisteddfod. Subsequently, she pursued formal training at the prestigious Queensland Conservatorium of Music in Brisbane, ultimately graduating with a Bachelor of Music and a Graduate Diploma in Opera.
During her university tenure, Donaldson had the opportunity to showcase her talents in numerous productions, including a memorable rendition of Gilbert and Sullivan's Iolanthe as Phyllis. Her first foray into the professional realm was as a chorus member and swing in the iconic The Phantom of the Opera in 1990.
However, it was her role as Mabel in Essgee Entertainment's The Pirates of Penzance that truly catapulted her to recognition within the Australian theatre industry. She went on to perform in several other Essgee productions, including The Mikado as Yum-Yum, HMS Pinafore as Josephine, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum as Philia, and The Merry Widow as Anna in the Brisbane run, and as Valencienne in the Melbourne, Victoria; Adelaide, South Australia and Perth, Western Australia runs.
Donaldson's extensive repertoire includes over twenty operas, with a notable highlight being her creation of the role of Cinderella I in Cinderella's Bad Magic, which she performed in both Russia and the United States. In 2008, she returned to Australia and Essgee, reprising her role as Yum-Yum in The Mikado.
