John MacKenzie was born and educated in South London. As a student at the Royal Academy of Music he was taught by Frederic Jackson who encouraged him to sing with the London Philharmonic Choir. Studies at the Colchester Institute of Performing Arts and Trent Park College of Education led him to a career in music education.
His first teaching appointment was with the Instrumental Music Teaching Service of the London Borough of Brent. He moved with his family from London to Darlington in 1979 to be Head of Music at Hummersknott School, Darlington.
In 1989 he was appointed Assistant Director of the Cleveland Instrumental Music Service and following the demise of the County of Cleveland he was appointed Head of the Instrumental & Vocal Teaching Faculty of the Tees Valley Music Service.
John is Finance Director of the Clarinet and Saxophone Society of Great Britain and is a director of the Clarinet and Saxophone Educational Trust. He is a founder member of the British Clarinet Ensemble and musical director of the Darlington Clarinet Ensemble
John has worked with a number of choirs including assisting with the re-establishment of the Durham County Youth Choir,the formation of the Hummersknott School Choir, The Dorian Singers and the Michelmas Singers.