Heather Massee '00

Inducted Fall 2023

Heather Masse graduated from FA in 2000. As a student musician, she was a standout from the start, one of the most talented singers/artists to graduate from FA. Heather was a four-year member of the Academy’s award-winning vocal jazz ensemble, a soloist in chorus, held leads in the school musicals, was selected to the All-State Chorus, and received the best vocalist award winner at the 2000 Berklee High School Jazz Festival in Boston, MA. She also earned varsity letters in soccer and track and was a member of the National Honor Society.
 
She studied at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA, earning her bachelor’s degree and continuing her musical journey, becoming well-versed in a variety of American song traditions, which influenced her more prevalent work in folk, pop, and bluegrass.
 
She joined the Billboard-charting folk group The Wailin’ Jennys and has performed at hundreds of venues across the world. She was a frequent guest on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion, both as a solo performer and as a member of The Jennys. She collaborated with artists such as Elvis Costello, Wynton Marsalis, Sheryl Crow, Renee Fleming, and Emmylou Harris on the show. In 2008, Heather released Many Moons, an EP of jazz-inspired folk duets with pianist Jed Wilson. She followed that up with her first full-length solo album, Bird Song. Her solo debut on Red House Records showcased her incredible alto voice and her superb songwriting. The title track, “Bird Song,” won her 1st prize at the International Acoustic Music Awards, and in 2012, she also won a prestigious Juno Award for the album Bright Morning Stars, with The Wailin’ Jennys.
 
Heather returned to her jazz roots in 2013 with Lock My Heart, an album of standards she recorded with piano legend Dick Hyman that had a long run on the jazz charts, and again in February 2016, with her album, August Love Song, released with the renown trombonist Roswell Rudd.
 
Heather continues to perform with The Wailin’ Jennys, who are now on tour, supporting their Album, “Fifteen,” released on Red House Records, in October 2017. Their next album is in the works. Heather can often be heard singing duets with Garrison Keillor or performing at venues across the country with pianist Jed Wilson.
Heather currently lives in New Mexico with her husband, Ian, son, August, and daughter, Ida Rose.