Whiz Kid: Mackenzie Keller, Ace Flutist

While some youth are listening to Katy Perry, Kesha or Bruno Mars on their i-Pods, Mackenzie Keller, a senior at is practicing her flute for more than an hour a day.  All this practice has really paid off for this 17-year-old prodigy.

Nominated by Debra Nonnemacher for LVPA, Keller not only holds the first chair position in LVPA’s band, she has also achieved this coveted position in the Pennsylvania Music Educator’s Association District 10 Band and District 10 Orchestra, which represents the most talented musicians from Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton, Pike and Schuylkill County.

“I had to audition against 87 other flutists,” said Keller who has been playing the flute since she was first introduced to the instrument in fourth grade at Spring Field Elementary in the Palisades School District.

Keller was also one of 55 members chosen from the District 10 Band to perform in the Region V Band.  She has performed in both District and Regional Band for 3 consecutive years and the Orchestra for the past two years. In her senior year, she has been selected for perform in the All-State Orchestra.

 “My favorite piece to play is Sibelius, Symphony No. 2,” Mackenzie said, “It is just wonderful. It was a huge — momentous and fascinating.  I notice something different about it every time I play it.”

In addition to these impressive musical achievements, Keller has played in the Side by Side concert with the Allentown Band for the past two years and has played with the Community Music School Flute Choir under the direction of Nora Scruggs since she was in 6^th grade.

A Quakertown native where she lives on a small farm with her family, this whiz kid says that she inherited her talent and appreciation for music from her father.

“I grew up with music in my family; my dad plays in a local Celtic band (Black Water),” said Keller, “it’s always been there so there was no question that I would succeed.”

It is this level of confidence, the hours of practice and the expert instruction she receives in both her private lessons with Nora Suggs and her wind techniques at LVPA with Kim Seifert that has enabled this whiz kid to thrive.

“Practice and passion have fueled her success,” said Nonnemacher, “Playing every day at LVPA has allowed her to continue growing as a musician and working in small ensemble groups with other passionate students. LVPA's music theory classes have given her college level information and understanding.

Mackenzie is planning to attend West Chester University, tentatively majoring in Women’s and Gender Studies with a minor in music.  With a 3.78 grade point average, she is also an outstanding student. It is for this reason that Mackenzie Keller is honored as this week’s Whiz Kid.