About Mackie

Mackie Thomas is a Kansas City-based bassoonist, educator, and arranger. Dr. Thomas is an active performer in the Midwest and has performed with the Des Moines Metro Opera, Springfield Symphony, and the Fort Hays Symphony. She also enjoys playing in KC metro-based ensembles such as the Midwest Chamber Ensemble, Liberty Symphony, Philharmonia of Greater Kansas City, and the Lawrence Community Orchestra. A supporter of new music and living composers, Mackie has premiered new pieces for bassoon at the 2020 International Double Reed Society Conference and the 2024 New Music Festival.

Dr. Thomas held the role of Interim Instructor of Bassoon at the University of Kansas while finishing her doctoral studies. Mackie has demonstrated her passion for teaching at the secondary level through serving as Assistant Director of Bands for Muldrow Public Schools, Instructor of Bassoon at the University of Kansas Prairie Winds Festival, and as a private bassoon instructor across multiple states. During the summer months, she taught  at Southwestern Oklahoma State University Band Camp, University of Kansas Midwest Music Camp, and as a bassoon faculty member for the Interlochen Arts Summer Camp. 

Mackie enjoys arranging music for solo bassoon and small bassoon ensembles. Most notably, her transcriptions of Louise Farrenc’s cello sonata and her arrangements of Francis Johnson’s cotillions for bassoon quartet. She prides herself on creating works accessible for bassoon students of all ages that are effective tools for teaching. Her quartet arrangements of works by Francis Johnson have been programmed for the Fountain City Bassoon Ensemble, and she presented her research at the Meg Quigley Bassoon Symposium.

Mackie earned her Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees at the University of Kansas and her Bachelor of Music Education at the University of Oklahoma. Her primary teachers include Eric Stomberg, Leigh Muñoz, and Rodney Ackmann. 

A Texas transplant now in the Midwest, Mackie lives in Kansas City with her partner, Spencer, and their corgi, Penny. When she’s not bassooning or arranging, Mackie loves to test new baking recipes, play video games, and care for her house plants.