2022-2023 Season
Wellston Winds
September 25, 2022 at 3:00pm
Houston County High School
The Wellston Winds is a community wind ensemble made of local band directors, music teachers, former military bandsmen, and other local musicians. Since forming in 2011, the Wellston Winds have given numerous concerts for our community, including the international city fall festival, holiday and patriotic concerts, and programs for the Warner Robins Community Concert Association. Wellston Winds is conducted by Jay Davis, Wally Shaw and Todd Howell.
Chenny Gan
October 16, 2022 at 3:00pm
First United Methodist Church
"Classic Meets Jazz 2.0" blends classical, jazz and improvised idioms in a witty and surprising journey through iconic pieces from the classical piano repertoire. Pianist Chenny Gan will perform original
masterworks mixed with her own "jazzed-up" arrangements. Humorous anecdotes and interesting
historical facts will be shared throughout the concert to create an educational and entertaining
experience. This is not your everyday piano recital!
Dash Duo
January 22, 2023 at 3:00pm
First United Methodist Church
Yamaha Artists Mary Elizabeth Bowden and David Dash perform as the Dash Duo in virtuoso concerts around the world. David and Mary are members of Watson Brass, the faculty brass quintet of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Mary Elizabeth Bowden is Assistant Professor of Trumpet at Shenandoah University. David Dash is Acting Associate Principal Trumpet of the North Carolina Symphony, Assistant Professor of Trumpet at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and a member of the Grammy-winning Santa Fe Opera.
Arkai
February 26, 2023 at 3:00pm
First United Methodist Church
ARKAI is an award-winning string duo that redefines the boundaries of musical genre — fusing classical virtuosity with the electricity of a rock band, the spontaneity of a jazz combo, and the beauty of a string quartet. Graduates of The Juilliard School, their past engagements have included performances at The MET, Joe’s Pub, Rockwood Music Hall, Juilliard School, Lincoln Center, Chateau Marmont, and Carnegie Hall. Their electronic debut composition, “Letters from COVID”, was featured at TED@PMI for a global audience of over 30,000 people from 182 countries.
Robert McDuffie Center for Strings
April 2, 2023 at 3:00pm
First United Methodist Church
The Robert McDuffie Center for Strings chamber ensembles feature the 27 full-scholarship Mercer University students. The McDuffie Center, founded in 2007, is under the direction of Amy Schwartz Moretti. The young artists, hailing from 12 states and 5 countries, learn from and often perform side-by-side with their faculty mentors who play with some of the country’s top orchestras and world-class ensembles. Annie Fullard of the Cavani String Quartet is the Yates Chamber Music Chair of the McDuffie Center, coordinating and coaching the chamber groups, with additional coaching by Lawrence Dutton of the Emerson String Quartet. These ensembles perform regularly in Macon, GA and have traveled extensively.
Miguel Castro
May 21, 2023 at 3:00pm
First United Methodist Church
Miguel Castro, master drummer-percussionist, is Director of Percussion Studies and Assistant Director of Bands at Middle Georgia College and the Percussion Coordinator of the Houston County School System. Castro holds a master’s degree in Music Performance from the Conservatorio Nacional de Musica in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. With world-wide performances and hundreds of recording credits, Castro brings a wealth of experience that ensures an exciting and entertaining performance of percussion music from around the world. Miguel Castro and friends will provide a fantastic end to our concert season!