Now in its 29th year at MacPhail Center for Music, the McKnight Fellowship for Musicians honors four outstanding Minnesota artists with $25,000 awards recognizing their artistry, achievements, and impact. Learn more about this year’s Fellows, finalists, and the program’s ongoing support of mid-career musicians across genres.
Zach Baltich – Duluth
Percussion, Piano, Synthesizer, Sound Processing/Sampling Instrumental Percussion, Experimental Folk
Duluth-based percussionist and composer Zack Baltich creates with a marked purpose: to inspire curiosity in the creation of sound; to instigate empathy in the form of emotional resonance; and to bring satisfaction that comes from long-form music weaving to a clear landing point. In addition to his personal work, Zack has collaborated with Mathew Jazcewski’s Arena Dances, folk band Ginger Bones, MN, superproducer Lazerbeak, and many others. Past projects have been supported by the American Composer’s Forum, Cedar Cultural Center, Minnesota State Arts Board, and Prairie Ronde Artist Residency, and Loghaven Artist Residency.
Mark Billy – Minneapolis
Voice (Baritone) Classical, Opera, Indigenous, Clarinet, Native Flute
Mark Billy is the leading Indigenous baritone of his generation. He is a Verdi baritone, clarinetist, and Native flutist of Indigenous (Choctaw tribe) ancestry from Finley, Oklahoma. He enjoys a multi-faceted career in opera, recitals with piano, concerts with orchestra, and Indigenous classical music education. Mark is at the forefront of the current musical movement which combines the sacred cultural music of the Indigenous peoples and Western concert music. Mark created the lead baritone role of Inki’ in the first ever opera written in an Indigenous language, Chickasaw: Loksi’ Shaali’ (Shell Shaker) written by Chickasaw composer Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate.
Rachael Kilgour – Duluth
Voice (Singer-Songwriter), Acoustic GuitarIndie Folk
Rachael Kilgour is a Duluth-based singer, songwriter and performing artist. A confessional poet at heart, her songs set out in pursuit of the universal truths within her own fears, loves and longings. Kilgour’s fourth full length album, My Father Loved Me (2023), was written in memory of her late father. In the spare, often gutting language for which she is known, the work poses questions about belonging, inheritance, and grief and triumphantly affirms the value of one ordinary working man’s life. Kilgour has toured extensively throughout the U.S. and Canada and has been featured at NYC’s Lincoln Center and The Kennedy Center in Washington DC.She was an official showcasing artist at the 2025Folk Alliance International Conference and was namedwinner of the 2017 Kerrville New Folk Contest andthe 2015 NewSong Music Competition. Her oft-noted“unapologetic lyrics” (Rolling Stone) and “master crafted indie folk” sensibilities (Billboard) are on full display in her latest collection of delicately woven songs.
Nakara Forjé – St. Paul
Voice Hip Hop Soul
Nakara Forjé is a lyricist, curator and facilitator from the Twin Cities who shares her life experiences through clever, relatable narratives. Nakara started as a singer and poet and evolved as an emcee in 2009. She’s been a published author since the age of nine and always had a passion for music. Her transparency, authenticity and soulful sound sets her apart from her peers in hip hop. As the co-founder of SWAGG LLC, she aims to cultivate healing and creativity in Black women and girls through her art in the forms of music, events and workshops. Community work is equally as important as her music offerings, and this is evident in her work with youth and the #deependchallenge swim initiative. She’s released two mixtapes, five EP’s, one album and a host of features and singles. Her latest release is the “Healed Hoochie: Toxic Pack”, available on all platforms. In addition to music and curating, she’s also the author of the “7 Day Grief Journal for Hip Hop Lovers”, available on Amazon.