BIO

Writer and soprano Taylor Mackenzie Adams believes everyone deserves an education that allows them to pursue their passions and secure their livelihoods. She hopes to help increase the accessibility of training and opportunities for persons of all backgrounds within music academia through thoughtful administration and performance. Taylor became passionate about education accessibility and access, as well as equitable student services and support, while serving as a peer facilitator at the University of Michigan's Weinberg Institute for Cognitive Science and working in student affairs at the University's School of Public Health.

Taylor's musical journey began in choral spaces, and she continues to seek out the choral community. She was a 2023 Vocal Fellow at the Grant Park Music Festival in Chicago. She appeared as the soprano soloist in Bach's Cantata No.106 with the Bard Baroque Ensemble, and Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with Bard Conservatory Orchestra. She has sung in Detroit-housed Sphinx Organization's vocal ensemble, EXIGENCE, which highlights Black and LatinX artists. In addition, she served as education manager for Hear Us, Hear Them Ensemble. This previously Cincinnati-based ensemble is devoted to changing the canon of choral music to include all identities of music. Recently, they have premiered works from conductor and composer Danielle Jagelski, and rachel mugemancuro. 

Comfortable outside of the choral world as well, Taylor has broad recital experience, including multiple appearances on Ann Arbor's Concert4aCause series, and she looks forward to singing Diane in Bard Conservatory's production of Orphée aux enfers (Offenbach). At the University of Michigan, Adams was a featured soloist in the Chamber Choir’s performance of The Little Match Girl Passion composed by David Lang and she sang Ma in the University’s production of Missy Mazzoli’s Proving Up. She was the recipient of the Women Composers Prize at the 2018 George Shirley Vocal Competition. 

Although classical genres were Taylor's first musical passion, she believes the music ensemble is for everyone at all levels, that all genres are important, and has actively sought to uplift music as an extracurricular. She served as President and Business Manager of the collegiate a cappella group DJs A Cappella, a competitive group that placed third (2018), second (2019), and first (2020) in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella quarterfinals, where Taylor received Outstanding Soloist in 2019 and was a member of the team that won Best Choreography in 2020. She served on the leadership team that saw the release of the group's album Momentum. 

Not only does she love to sing the stories of others, Taylor has her own stories to tell and is a published fiction writer. A writer of both short fiction and extended works, she loves to explore the intersections of real identity and fantastical musings, with just a touch of humor. Her praised piece, "Five Chapters, In Black'' can be found in the Michigan Quarterly Review.

Taylor studied voice at the University of Michigan. In addition to her voice degree, Taylor received a B.A. in Cognitive Science. Currently, she studies at Bard College Conservatory of Music with Lucy Fitz Gibbon. 

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View Taylor's C.V. here