"John
G. MacKay has achieved what every serious musician strives for. Not only
does he possess intricate knowledge and an intellectual understanding of
music, he has an inherent intuition of musicality along with the ability to
actualize the music through superior performance. In essence, when he plays
the piano - whatever music he plays -
it is simply
magic."
Born in 1935,
John got an early start in music, beginning
piano lessons at age 3. His teacher was none
other than the legendary Maestro Dimitri Mitropoulos. A child prodigy
of extraordinary talent, John performed piano concertos with
professional symphony orchestras when his feet could barely reach the
pedals. Throughout his childhood, young MacKay was exposed to some of
the greatest musical legends of the past century, often while waiting
backstage for his father to finish up rehearsal. (John MacKay Sr. was
a renowned classical trombonist with the Minneapolis Symphony
Orchestra as well as a Big Band musician with Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians.) Within this
remarkable environment, a
career in music became John's destiny.
John
earned a B.A. degree from
the University of Minnesota. He then attended the Juilliard
School of Music, receiving
both B.S. and M.S. degrees. He
earned a M.F.A. degree and pursued doctoral candidacy at
the University of Iowa. His teachers include Maestro Dimitri
Mitropoulos, Guy Meyer, John Simms, and Beveridge Webster. MacKay was employed by the Juilliard School as a professional
accompanist and voice coach. He performed in various concert halls in New York,
including the famous Carnegie Hall. As a concert pianist, he has performed
throughout the United States, as well as touring France, England, and the
Republic of China.
He has been a faculty
member at the University of Iowa, the University of Richmond, Virginia, and
Pittsburg State University. His excellent instruction has produced a new
generation of fine pianists. He has also authored two music theory text
books.
As a composer, he's been prolific,
writing for solo instruments, ensembles, voice, and choir. His
writing incorporates many compositional skills of the great master
composers such as Bach, Mozart, and Brahms however his musical style
uniquely speaks "MacKay". Artfully composed, his music is
incredibly beautiful, romantic, with haunting melodies that touch the soul or
jaunty tunes (with a Scottish flair) that make the listener smile and
want to dance. In 1992, the State of Kansas Federation of Music Clubs
awarded him "Composer of the Year".
MacKay's music has been widely performed throughout the United States. "Romance for
Oboe, Clarinet,
and Piano" was
featured at the 1998
International Double Reed Society
Conference in Tempe, Arizona.
Karen Dannessa has recorded two of his clarinet sonatas as well as the
"Romance". Her compact disc entitled
"American Lyrique,
showcases MacKay's music. He has been a featured artist on
Schubert Club programs.
His music has been broadcast on Public Radio.
Upon his
retirement from college teaching, MacKay moved to Bay Lake, near
Deerwood, Minnesota where he lives with Millie, (his personal
Tundradog). He continues to compose music and poetry.
______________________________________________
"Audiences are rejoicing in the
lush, passionate, tonal music
of award
- winning master composer John G. MacKay Jr.
Well-crafted,
artfully composed, MacKay's music is incredibly personal; beautiful, haunting,
romantic melodies that touch the soul and jaunty tunes with a
Scottish flare."
