2020: Mackenzie Shivers
For our 2020 Dillon Moran Musician in Residence program, New York-based singer-songwriter Mackenzie Shivers joined us for two days of performances and workshops for our Middle and Upper School students with a final show open to Severn families and friends on Friday evening. From Irish music with Chamber Ensemble and vocal training for our choral groups to discussion sessions about songwriting, Mackenzie gave our students a peek into the life of a professional musician, offering practical advice to let their creativity shine.
Mackenzie Shivers is a New York-based singer-songwriter known for her timeless voice and creative blend of classical, Celtic, and southern styles. She wows audiences with complex instrumental arrangements accompanied by otherworldly vocal melodies. During her performances at Severn, she moved seamlessly from rhythmic compositions on the baby grand piano to the Nord synth, where she looped organ and electric piano tones to create a robust, room-filling sound. Her latest album, "The Unkindness," demonstrates the many layers of her talents both as a performer and producer. As she said to our students during a Q&A session, “I love playing on stage, but the studio is where I can get the most creative and push the limits of what song can be.”