Mari Kimenker

About Mari

Mari Kimenker is a singer/songwriter and producer based in New York City, and will be a teaching fellow for summer 2024 at Interlochen Arts Camp. Kimenker recently graduated from NYU with a Bachelor of Music in Music Theory and Composition: Contemporary Production and Songwriting. He has a broad understanding of theory, notation, lyricism, Logic ProX, ProTools, and the ins and outs of the songwriting/production process. At NYU, Kimenker was awarded the NYU Steinhardt Songwriting Scholar Award 2023 by the Songwriter's Hall of Fame for students who "hold great potential for success." He loves to write in various genres, from alternative rock, to folk, to pop, and R&B, taking great inspiration from artists like Radiohead and Joni Mitchell. He is currently finishing up his debut album titled, Self-Alliance. Kimenker's first year teaching at Interlochen was summer 2023, where he taught student seminars on lyricism, music theory, beat making, narrative arcs, and more. Kimenker derives exciting lesson plans that meet the students where they are at, and then pushes them further into uncharted territories.

I encourage students to collaborate, have a "yes and" attitude, and foster a foundational knowledge and curiosity of the inner-workings of song. I then encourage intentional diversion from the rules, so that new musical territories can be unlocked.