Richard Mackey was born on May 12, 1985, in New York City. He grew up in a family of musicians, with his mother being a pianist and his father a cellist. From a young age, Mackey showed a natural talent for music, and he began playing the violin at the age of four. Mackey's parents recognized his talent and encouraged him to pursue a career in music. He began taking private lessons with renowned violin teachers and attended the Juilliard School's Pre-College Division. At the age of 16, Mackey was accepted into the Juilliard School's undergraduate program, where he studied with Itzhak Perlman. During his time at Juilliard, Mackey won several awards and competitions, including the Juilliard Concerto Competition and the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis. He also performed as a soloist with several major orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. After graduating from Juilliard, Mackey continued his studies at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he studied with Aaron Rosand. He also spent a year studying in Europe, where he worked with some of the world's leading violinists, including Maxim Vengerov and Pinchas Zukerman. Mackey's career as a soloist continued to flourish, and he performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the Vienna Philharmonic. He also made several recordings, including a critically acclaimed album of Bach's solo violin works. In addition to his solo career, Mackey was also an active chamber musician. He was a founding member of the Mackey Quartet, which performed regularly throughout the United States and Europe. The quartet was known for its innovative programming and its commitment to contemporary music. Mackey was also a dedicated teacher, and he taught at several prestigious music schools, including the Juilliard School and the Curtis Institute of Music. He was known for his ability to inspire and motivate his students, and many of them went on to successful careers as musicians. Tragically, Mackey's career was cut short when he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer at the age of 32. Despite his illness, he continued to perform and teach, and he remained an inspiration to his colleagues and students. Mackey passed away on June 15, 2017, at the age of 32. His legacy as a musician and teacher lives on, and he is remembered as one of the most talented and inspiring violinists of his generation.

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