NORMAN MACKENZIE
ASO Director of Choruses
The Frannie and Bill Graves Chair

Norman Mackenzie's abilities as musical collaborator, conductor, and concert organist have brought him national recognition. As Director of Choruses for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, holder of its endowed Frannie and Bill Graves Chair, he was chosen to help carry forward the creative vision of legendary founding conductor Robert Shaw to a new generation of music lovers. His leadership was rewarded in 2003 with Grammy awards for Best Classical Album and Best Choral Performance for the ASO and Chorus recording of A Sea Symphony by Vaughan Williams, and in 2005 with another Best Choral Performance Grammy for the Berlioz Requiem. He also serves as Director of Music and Fine Arts for Atlanta's Trinity Presbyterian Church, and pursues an active recital and guest conducting schedule.

Mr. Mackenzie has been hailed by The New York Times as Robert Shaw's "designated successor." In his 14-year association with Shaw, he was keyboardist for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, principal accompanist for the ASO Choruses, and ultimately assistant choral conductor. In addition, he was musical assistant and accompanist for the Robert Shaw Chamber Singers, the Robert Shaw Institute Summer Choral Festivals in France and the United States, and the famed Shaw/Carnegie Hall Choral Workshops.

In 1996 Mr. Mackenzie made his New York conducting debut in a concert sponsored by Carnegie Hall, leading the Robert Shaw Chamber Singers in a critically acclaimed performance at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, substituting for Shaw on short notice. In 1999 he was chosen by Shaw to prepare the Carnegie Hall Festival Chorus for Charles Dutoit, and he was choral clinician for the first three annual workshops after Shaw's passing.

A native of suburban Philadelphia, Mr. Mackenzie made his debut as a pianist with the Philadelphia Orchestra at age 12, and as an organist at age 20. He made his New York recital debut at the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. He holds degrees from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and Westminster Choir College. He has prepared choruses for performance under Robert Spano, Donald Runnicles, John Adams, Roberto Abbado, Nicholas McGegan, John Nelson, Alan Gilbert, Yoel Levi, Robert King, James Conlon, and Sir Neville Marriner. A frequent recitalist and clinician for conventions of the American Guild of Organists and the American Choral Directors Association, he has also been featured on National Public Radio's "Performance Today" and Minnesota Public Radio's "Pipedreams" broadcasts. His performance of the Stephen Paulus Organ Concerto is featured on the CD "Pipedreams Premieres, Vol. 2." Mackenzie’s acclaimed Telarc recording of a cappella sacred music (featuring the Vaughan Williams Mass in G-Minor) represents the ASO Chamber Chorus’ first recording apart from the orchestra.