Patrons of the performing arts on a tight budget this season need not look any further than the Calendar of Concerts of Mercer’s Townsend School of Music. The Music School, including the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings, kicks off the 2008-2009 academic year with a lineup of events that are always top-quality and often free.
University Organist Robert Parris holds the first Faculty Artist Recital of the year on Tuesday, Sept. 9, at 7:30 p.m., free admission, at Christ Church, 582 Walnut St., in Macon.
Following the annual Labor Day weekend Strings Festival, the next event presented by the McDuffie Center will be the Diaz Trio, featuring Andres Cardenes, violin, concertmaster of the Pittsburgh Symphony; Roberto Diaz, viola, president of the Curtis Institute; and Andres Diaz, cello, renowned concert artist and Distinguished Artist of the McDuffie Center. The free concert will be held Monday, Sept. 29, at 7:30 p.m. in Fickling Hall of the McCorkle Music Building on the Macon campus. Tickets will be required for admission and are available (for free) through Mercer Ticket Sales at (478) 301-5470.
The first group of students in action this fall semester will be the Mercer Wind Ensemble, conducted by Douglas Hill, Director of Undergraduate Studies. The student ensemble will present “Mad About Chamber Music Concert No. 1” Friday, Oct. 3, at 7:30 p.m., free admission, at The Grand Opera House, 651 Mulberry St., in Macon.
On Saturday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. the Mercer/Macon Symphony Youth Orchestra will present its first concert of the season at Carnegie Outback – Little Carnegie of the South, 1954 Forsyth Rd., in Macon. Ticket prices and information are available at Little Carnegie of the South at (478) 256-3388.
Additional music events in October include:
Trio RPM – presented by the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings
7:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 6, Fickling Hall, Free admission
From Bach to Bluegrass: A Concert for the Cure
7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 7, Fickling Hall, $30
Ticket proceeds benefit Susan G. Komen Foundation
Guest Artists Recital featuring
Giselle Hillyer, violin, and Roger McVey, piano
7:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 13, Fickling Hall, Free admission
Guest Artist Recital featuring
Greg Pepetone, piano
7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 14, Fickling Hall, Free admission
