Sixteen exceptionally talented high school strings musicians from 10 states have been selected to participate in the Fifth Annual Robert McDuffie and Friends Labor Day Festival for Strings. Held Sept. 3-7 at the Townsend School of Music the intense five-day festival and musical-learning extravaganza will provide the students an opportunity to study at Mercer with world-renowned violinist and Distinguished University Professor of Music Robert McDuffie, as well as the distinguished artists of the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings at Mercer.
Opening Concert by Faculty
The Artists Concert, scheduled for 6 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 3, will feature the festival faculty performing a variety of chamber music selections. The concert will be in the McCorkle Music Building’s Neva Langley Fickling Hall. Tickets are $10 for general admission, free to Mercer faculty, staff and students. Tickets can be purchased through Mercer Ticket Sales at (478) 301-5470.
Free Concert
The Festival Concert, Monday, Sept. 7, at 3 p.m., will feature the students performing classical chamber music selections alongside their master teachers in small ensembles and in a string orchestra. The concert will be in the McCorkle Music Building’s Neva Langley Fickling Hall. Seating is limited and tickets are required for admission. Free tickets are available through Mercer Ticket Sales at (478) 301-5470.
Master Classes
This year, the master classes will be free and open to the public for viewing. Students participating in the festival perform solo pieces and receive instruction on stage in front of other class attendees from the distinguished artists and faculty leading the classes.
Friday, Sept. 4, 7-9 p.m.
Violin Master Class with Robert McDuffie, Fickling Hall
Saturday, Sept. 5, 7-9 p.m.
Violin Master Class with Robert McDuffie and Amy Schwartz Moretti, Fickling Hall
Cello Master Class with Andres Diaz and Christopher Rex, McCorkle Room 120
Viola Master Class with Sabina Thatcher and Paul Murphy, McCorkle Room 110
In addition to McDuffie, the following distinguished artists of the McDuffie Center will serve as faculty for the festival: Amy Schwartz Moretti, director of the McDuffie Center and former concertmaster of the Oregon Symphony; Andrés Diaz, renowned concert cellist; David Halen, concertmaster, Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra; Christopher Rex, principal cellist, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra; Sabina Thatcher, principal violist, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra; and Paul Murphy, associate principal violist, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.
