Biography

Philip McKenzie is a graduate of UND where he focused on the oboe and conducting. As an undergraduate, he studied with Douglas Bairstow of the Winnipeg Symphony. Upon graduation he accepted an assistantship with Daniel Stolper of Michigan State University. 

After earning his master's diploma, he toured with the Wind Orchestra of the Americas before joining the Virginia Symphony for seven seasons as oboist and solo English horn. He left the orchestra to pursue graduate business studies in Chicago and then began a career in corporate America as a strategy and organizational consultant across multiple industries before becoming CEO of a regional health clinic, before joining a global distributor of electronic components as a Vice President.

Returning to his roots, he now teaches oboe and English horn from his home studio in Thief River Falls, MN, at UND, and an additional noteworthy university in eastern North Dakota. He frequently performs with the Greater Grand Forks Symphony, the FM Symphony, the FM Opera, and the Bemidji Symphony.

In 2018, Mr. McKenzie was appointed by Governor Mark Dayton to serve as a member of the Minnesota State Arts Board.