Described by the New York Times as “a soprano of extraordinary agility and concentration” Mary Elizabeth Mackenzie has captured the attention of audiences in New York, Chicago, Wisconsin, Philadelphia, Cleveland and Boston.
Ms. Mackenzie made her professional opera debut as Despina in Così fan tutte with Madison Opera under the direction of Kelly Kuo. She has appeared as soprano soloist in Orff’s Carmina Burana with the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra, Mozart’s Exultate Jubilate with the Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra, Handel’s Messiah with the Green Bay Symphony Orchestra, and Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 and Faure’s Requiem in New York City.
A passionate performer of contemporary music, Ms. Mackenzie has worked with Pierre Boulez, John Harbison, Richard Danielpour, and James Primosch. She has premiered numerous work by established composers and works closely with young up-and-coming composers to develop new works for voice. Contemporary opera premieres include Héctor Parra’s Hypermusic: Ascension at the Guggenheim Museum, and Jonathan Dawe’s Cracked Orlando and Così faranno tutti at the Italian Academy at Columbia University. She is a featured singer on Opera America’s Songbook album, performing Richard Danielpour’s Homeward. Ms. Mackenzie has appeared with the American Contemporary Music Ensemble, Ekmeles, The Juilliard School’s AXIOM Ensemble and New Juilliard Ensemble, the Da Capo Chamber Players, Fulcrum Point New Music Project, the Continuum Ensemble, the Metropolis Ensemble, Red Light New Music, and the Talea Ensemble.
Notable solo appearances include Jean Barraqué's Chant Aprés Chant with the Juilliard Percussion Ensemble at Alice Tully Hall, Schoenberg’s String Quartet No. 2 with the Borromeo String Quartet, Pierrot Lunaire with Carnegie Hall’s Academy and at the Rockport Music Festival, and Pierre Boulez’s Improvisations sur Mallarmé No. 1 & 2 for the composer’s 85th birthday celebration at Columbia University’s Miller Theatre.
Ms. Mackenzie is also active as a recitalist and has been a vocal fellow at SongFest and the Ravinia Steans Music Institute. She is a founding member of SongFusion, an art song ensemble based in New York City.
Upcoming recording projects include James Primosch’s Four Sacred Songs with the 21st Century Concort, and the debut recording of John Harbison’s Songs After Hours with jazz pianist John Chin.
