Extraordinary string students deserve an extraordinary college experience.

The Robert McDuffie Center for Strings is a highly selective program that prepares string students for success in the real world.

Students study with some of the nation's renowned string musicians, receiving music instruction of conservatory quality, while earning an academically well-rounded undergraduate education from a comprehensive, nationally recognized university.

The 2007-2008 academic year marks the inaugural year of the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings. The Center is a special institute within Mercer's Townsend School of Music on the Macon campus. The program will accept a select number of extraordinarily talented string students for the 2008-2009 academic year. Total enrollment will be limited to 26 students, which will include 12 violinists, six violists, six cellists and two double bassists.  The eight talented students who make up the 2007-2008 class of the McDuffie Center come from Washington, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Florida, and Georgia.

Every student will have direct access to each distinguished artist during their regular monthly visits on campus, and will participate in private lessons, master classes, chamber music coaching sessions, and orchestral sectional work.

Each June, select students from the Center will be invited to study chamber music at the Rome Chamber Music Festival. More information about this event is available at www.romechamberfestival.org.