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January 23, 2025

A Magical Adventure: McKenzie’s Story Comes to Life Through Music

At just seven years old, McKenzie, a resilient cancer survivor with a boundless imagination, has achieved something truly remarkable. With the help of her siblings Xavier, CJ, and Imani, McKenzie co-authored a fantastical story that has been transformed into a musical masterpiece. This unique collaboration with the Sing Me a Story Foundation, the Little Red Door Cancer Agency, and the orchestra has resulted in Beach Adventure, a short concerto for orchestra that will debut  January 24-25 at the Hilbert Circle Theatre. Composer Daixuan Ai brings McKenzie’s colorful story to life through music, promising a performance as whimsical and heartfelt as the tale itself.

The story begins with McKenzie’s beloved baby doll, Baby Baby. According to McKenzie’s mom, the cherished doll has been a part of their family since McKenzie was just one year old. “She loves that doll and would take it EVERYWHERE if I’d let her. I’m terrified it’ll be lost,” she shared. Baby Baby’s pivotal role inspired the adventurous plot, where McKenzie and her siblings gain superpowers from a magical seashell during a sunny day at the beach. Together, they embark on a daring mission to retrieve the doll from a mischievous rainbow bird, encountering fireball-throwing narwhals, hungry sharks, and other challenges along the way. “We worked as a family to brainstorm ideas,” McKenzie’s mom explained. “It wasn’t easy trying to include the ideas of six people, but it was such a fun and rewarding process.”

Composer Daixuan Ai captured McKenzie’s adventurous tale through a vivid and dynamic score. From the playful opening piccolo solo representing Baby Baby to the dramatic brass and string harmonies embodying narwhals and sharks, each moment of the story is translated into music. The rainbow bird motif soars through the orchestra, while the siblings’ superpowers are represented by innovative textures and harmonies: shimmering woodwinds and harp for McKenzie’s sparkle power, high string harmonics for Xavier’s ice abilities, rapid scales for CJ’s super-speed, and swelling chords for Imani’s bubble power. The piece crescendos with a triumphant orchestral finale celebrating the siblings’ victory. Reflecting on the project, Daixuan expressed her gratitude: “I am deeply honored to bring McKenzie’s brilliant story to life through music.”

For McKenzie and her family, the journey of creating and hearing this piece has been a bright spot during a challenging time. “Being selected to do this was such an honor and a highlight of an otherwise unfortunate part of our lives,” McKenzie’s mom shared, referring to McKenzie’s cancer diagnosis. “We are anxiously waiting for this weekend to finally hear the story in music and see it come to life.” The family has yet to meet Daixuan or hear the piece performed, which adds to the anticipation. “It’s going to be such a special moment,” McKenzie’s mom said.

McKenzie herself is excited about the experience and eager to write and illustrate more stories. “She had a lot of fun doing this, especially with the drawings,” her mom noted. The charming illustrations McKenzie created for Beach Adventure are as imaginative as the story itself, adding another layer of joy to the project.

As the premiere approaches, McKenzie and her family are most looking forward to seeing the story “come to life” through the orchestra’s performance. The concert promises to be a magical event, celebrating McKenzie’s creativity and resilience while showcasing the power of storytelling and music to bring people together.

Learn more here.