2008 Young Artist Competition First Prize – Music Guild Award – 13 Year Old Pianist from Paxton

Mackenzie Melemed is a seventh grade student in Paxton, MA. With an abiding commitment to community, he has performed over 500 concerts for numerous senior citizen venues, charitable organizations, and schools. He has received numerous citations and awards. In 2006, he was the only child honored as an “Everyday Hero”, by Anna Marie College for the joy he has brought to seniors through his music. In 2003, he was named a “Hometown Hero” from WBZ Channel 4 for his outstanding contribution to the elderly.

His work in the schools is just as inspiring. Mackenzie facilitated the creation of an educational program for children entitled “Music With Mackenzie.” Besides sharing his love of music, he has made a personal effort to further his peers’ understanding of the importance of volunteering as well as to inspire each person to find his or her own passion and share it. Additionally, he holds the distinct privilege of having portrayed the young Mozart on a Discovery Channel Documentary.

Noteworthy is his performance for President Bush in 2004, at The Park Plaza in Boston and subsequently performed at the “White House Holiday Open House Concert” for the past four consecutive years.

Mackenzie was Grand prize winner for the 2006 Bradshaw and Buono International Competition and as a result, debuted in Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall. In 2007, he was the recipient of Sylvia Gafvert Stubblebine Award and scholarship at the Music Worcester Young Artist Competition. In 2008, he was 2nd place finisher for the Concord Young Artist Competition along with 2nd place at the Philharmonic Society of Arlington Young Artist Competition. He was honored to receive the Music Guild award and scholarship at the Music Worcester Young Artist Competition.

Also in 2007, he received the ASCAP Irving Berlin Summer Camp Scholarship at the Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York and performed a special medley of the music of Irving Berlin, which he arranged for the occasion. In February of 2008, Mackenzie was selected and performed on WGBH television show. “From the Top, Live at Carnegie Hall”. As a result of this show, he was asked to be an ambassador for the show and go into schools to help educate students about classical music. From The Top recently nominated Mackenzie for an Outstanding Student Leader Award for the Massachusetts Arts Education Committee.

Locally, he was the featured artist on a WCCA-TV13 Special Annual event called “Heart of the Artist’’.

Recently, Mackenzie took part in creating a compilation CD of original music And poetry by Rhode island artists to help the Habitat for Humanity fundraiser. This creative and inspirational project is entitiled “Working in Harmony for Home and Hearth”.

This summer, Mackenzie has been selected through audition to attend PianoSummer at New Paltz…….this summer institute and festival is under the artistic direction of Vladimir Feltsman and is given to selected gifted students from around the world.

Mackenzie has studied with Olga Rogach since 2005.

To find out more go to: www.mackenziemelemed.com

Mackenzie enjoys golfing, bowling, computers, and math team. He has one sister Amanda who just recently graduated college.