Young Artist Competition Winners
Each season, the MDSO offers opportunities for young artists to perform as soloists. Millikin University holds an annual Concerto/Aria Competition from which a small group of talented musicians are selected. As part of the “Performance Learning” model at Millikin, this is an additional feature of the School of Music which allows students to learn and practice their art.
Victor Lawton with MDSO March 2023
David Gartner with MDSO March 2023
Risako Hida with MDSO March 2023
2023 Young Artists with MDSO
Mackenzie Mann
Mackenzie Mann, from Antioch, Illinois, is a junior at Millikin University double majoring in Commercial Music and Arts Administration. She principally studies saxophone with Dr. Perry Rask and secondarily studies piano with Dr. Pei-I Wang. She has performed with the Millikin Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Millikin Jazz Band I, Millikin Jazz Combos A and B, Dissonance A Cappella, and Millikin Sax Quartet I. She has also been a featured singer with the Millikin Jazz Band I. Mackenzie serves several administrative roles in student organizations across campus, including: President of the Sigma Alpha Iota-Nu Chapter, Jazz Education Network, Dissonance A Cappella, SAXO, and Millikin Piano Club, and is a member of Alpha Chi Omega-Upsilon chapter. She is also this year’s Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra Music Librarian. In the future, Mackenzie plans to dive into the music industry working with performing arts organizations and additionally own and operate a music venue.
Devon Hill
“Having the opportunity to perform one of my favorite concertos with the amazing musicians of the MDSO will be an experience I will never forget.”