Mackenzie Walsh is the assistant vocal director at Ankeny High School. Choirs under her direction include Ankeny Singers and the Perpetual Motion and Intensity Show Choirs. Mackenzie completed her student teaching in Mason City where she worked with vocal music students grades 5-12. Her secondary placement involved rehearsing the 10-12 varsity ensemble, conducting sectionals for the 11-12 concert choir, and extensive extracurricular sessions preparing All-State students for auditions. She assisted her second placement cooperating teacher, Ernest Reineke, as he rehearsed and conducted the 2015 5th & 6th Grade OPUS Honor Choir.
Mackenzie is an alum of Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music Education. Mackenzie was a four year member of the Wartburg Choir, where she served as the soprano section leader for three years. While at Wartburg, Mackenzie made connections with area students through her leadership of the soprano section at the Meistersinger Honor Choir Festival. She was also active on the stage, with featured solos in the choir and roles in the Opera Workshop’s performances of Kiss Me, Kate, Gianni Schicchi, and The Pirates of Penzance. Before Wartburg, her performance experience spanned church music, musical theater, opera, show choir, contemporary a cappella and oral interpretation. This spring she was recognized as the Outstanding Senior in Music Education and presented her research on vocal health during RICE Day, a campus-wide exposition on student work. She holds professional memberships with American Choral Directors Association, National Association for Music Education, and Kappa Delta Pi, a national education honor society.
A native of San Antonio, Texas, Mackenzie was drawn to Wartburg by its reputation for musical excellence and commitment to teacher education. As she discovered the rich choral tradition rooted in the state of Iowa, she envisioned beginning her career as part of its network of dedicated teachers. Mackenzie is excited to do just so here at Ankeny High School.
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Mackenzie Walsh