He received his undergraduate degree in music composition from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, studying with David and Nancy Baker, Michael Cunningham and Ivar Lunde.
"[citation needed] Films composed by McKenzie include: McKenzie has orchestrated over 100 movies, assisting composers including Danny Elfman, John Barry, Bruce Broughton, Randy Edelman, Jerry Goldsmith, Mark Isham, Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, James Newton Howard, Nile Rodgers, Alan Silvestri, Marc Shaiman, and John Williams.
McKenzie composed the opening and closing logo music to the longest running television series in history, Hallmark Hall of Fame.
McKenzie's original compositions have been used at the Olympics, the Academy Awards, Disney World, Wimbledon, the Crystal Cathedral, and Disneyland Paris.
McKenzie's Suite from "The Greatest Miracle" was performed live with choir and orchestra at World Youth Day with Pope Benedict the 16th attending.