Mackenzie Parrish, a student at the University of Tampa, attended the Ultra Music Festival on March 15th, 2013. The festival, held in Miami, Florida, is one of the largest in the United States. “The music was incredible,” stated Mackenzie Parrish. “I really enjoy experiencing new artists and learning about different styles.” Mackenzie Parrish was a high achieving high school student in Palm Harbor before beginning her undergraduate degree at the University of Tampa. Mackenzie Parrish is a successful student who makes her community proud with her academic excellence and community involvement.

The Ultra Music Festival is considered one of the world’s most famous outdoor electronic music festivals. The festival attracts DJs and dance music fans from around the world, including University of Tampa student Mackenzie Parrish. From 2005 to 2011, Ultra Music Festival won “Best Music Event” by the International Dance Music Awards for six consecutive years. The festival has been awarded a number of other titles, including “Best International Dance Music Festival” by the Ibiza DJ awards in 2008, and “Best Festival” by the Village Voice Media New Times for five consecutive years from 2005 through 2009. Ultra Music Festival is well known and widely regarded as the premier host of electronic dance music acts.

Ultra Music Festival began in 1999 as a purely electronic event. However, the festival has changed in recent years to include crossover bands that incorporate electronic elements into their music and have a history in the electronic dance music community and culture. Ultra Music Festival is an international brand, with festivals held in Miami, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Ibiza, and Korea. The festival will also expand to Croatia with Ultra Europe in July of 2013. Ultra Music Festival also produces a dance album; their 2013 album hit number one on the iTunes dance charts.

Mackenzie Parrish enjoyed attending the event with her friends, who also enjoy electronic dance music. Mackenzie Parrish believes in the power of music, and she feels that the electronic dance music community is creating new ways of producing and consuming music. Mackenzie Parrish sees electronic dance music as an under-appreciated art form that can unite individuals through a shared love of the style.