New song in the Shop: Real!
About Music by Mack
Experience and Passion
Juan-Carlos Mackay has professionally arranged and orchestrated music from his private studio. Now he is preparing to share his own original songs.
He began piano lessons at age 9 and wrote his first song at 14 to earn a Merit Badge. His professional career began almost fifteen years ago arranging songs for the Celebrate America Show's 16-piece Jazz Orchestra. USU Jazz Founder Larry Smith recognized his arranging skills and knack for the Jazz idiom.
A Little of Everything
Classically/Jazz trained by college, Latin/Rock trained by family, Juan-Carlos combines them in all he does. He'll create power chords in the cellos, or program a drum groove with his piano solos. His songs might remind you of Pink Floyd or Billy Joel. When the orchestral sounds join in you'd think you were listening to Michael Giacchino.
His eye and ear for theater carried over when BYU-Idaho professor J. Omar Hansen needed songs newly-arranged for a musical, This Castle Needs a Good Scouring. This time Juan-Carlos drew on his love of Fantasy and Folk music to help retell the Cinderella Story. The playwright hailed his collaborative process and musical sense of humor. The show's director complimented the arrangements for lending themselves naturally to the stage. One of the actors was in an earlier production and remarked, "The songs get stuck in my head more often now."
Unlock the Music Inside
His eye and ear for theater carried over when BYU-Idaho professor J. Omar Hansen needed songs newly-arranged for a musical, This Castle Needs a Good Scouring. This time Juan-Carlos drew on his love of Fantasy and Folk music to help retell the Cinderella Story. The playwright hailed his collaborative process and musical sense of humor. The show's director complimented the arrangements for lending themselves naturally to the stage. One of the actors was in an earlier production and remarked, "The songs get stuck in my head more often now."