Mackenzie Smileva

Mackenzie Smileva is a flutist and teacher based in the Dallas, TX area. She currently teaches private lessons and masterclasses in Mesquite and Garland, TX, and maintains an online studio. Mackenzie is also one of the flutists with the Fenglire chamber music group in the DFW area.

Mackenzie was previously the principal flute of the Salina (KS) Symphony, and has won awards such as the Northern Iowa Concerto Competition, the Helianthus Prize in the Kansas Flute Society Summer Collegiate Competition, and the National Flute Association's Collegiate Flute Choir Competition.

While pursuing her Master's degree, Mackenzie was the principal flute with the University of Kansas Wind Ensemble, and piccolo of the KU Symphony Orchestra. She was also the flutist of the graduate woodwind quintet. 

During her undergraduate studies, Mackenzie was the principal flutist of the Northern Iowa Wind Ensemble and the Northern Iowa Symphony Orchestra. She performed with several chamber ensembles including a woodwind quintet, flute quartet, and the Northern Iowa Flute Choir. Mackenzie was invited to perform Mike Mower's Concerto for Flute and Wind Orchestra with the Northern Iowa Wind Ensemble at the annual Scholarship Benefit Concert in 2021 after winning the university concerto competition. 

Mackenzie can be heard as principal flute on Dreams Unseen with the University of Kansas Wind Ensemble, as well as several recordings with the University of Northern Iowa Wind Ensemble.

Mrs. Smileva received a Master's degree from the University of Kansas (with honors), and a Bachelor's degree from the University of Northern Iowa (magna cum laude). Her principal teachers are Daniel Velasco, Hannah Porter-Occeña, Angeleita Floyd, and Claudia Anderson.

Since establishing my private flute studio in 2017, I have instructed over 100 students between the ages of 10–80 of diverse backgrounds. My teaching style is reflective of each student’s goals, personality, and individual needs. I especially believe in the importance of meeting students where they are at. I enjoy the challenge of finding the most valuable material that will provide students with appropriate challenges and opportunities to grow.

I believe that the flute is one of many means through which we can express music. Music is a universal "language" and form of expression that transcends history and unites all people. My hope is not only to teach the flute, but also to teach music to all of my students. Often, people become focused on playing loud and fast notes, and lose sight of the music itself. My goals for my students are not only to be able to perform particular pieces at specific tempos or to win a spot in a prestigious ensemble. I strongly encourage my students to develop their own sound and musical voice. Part of this includes tone development and musical phrasing studies, but I also encourage maintaining those priorities in all of their études and repertoire.

My students have performed at solo and small ensemble festivals in Texas, Iowa, and Kansas, in addition to completing successful auditions for Texas Area, Region and District bands and the Iowa All-State Music Festival. While these achievements are impressive and I am immensely proud of my students’ work ethic, my goals as a teacher are more far-reaching in their musical careers. I encourage my students to think more about the meaning of music and how they can connect with their audiences and fellow musicians than about winning competitions. Music can be used to create goodness and beauty in the world, and it can also create and reflect social changes.