Georgia College Keynotes

Dana Gorzelany-Mostak, co-editor

Jennifer Flory, co-editor, layout and design coordinator

Sending warm holiday wishes to all of our parents, alumni, Friends of Music, fellow faculty, students, and community partners! As the year comes to a close, we hope you enjoy the sixth issue of Keynotes, the official Georgia College Department of Music Newsletter. The music faculty enjoys coming together to assemble each biannual newsletter as this process stirs up fond memories of our many accomplishments over the past semester as well as puts us in a mindset conducive to setting goals for the coming year. Student success takes many forms at Georgia College, and as a department, we relish the opportunity to perform for audiences both near and far. This past fall, the Max Noah Singers were honored to lend their voices to the investiture of the college’s new president, Ms. Cathy Cox. Those seeking the holiday spirit at the Old Governor’s Mansion Candlelight Tours were delighted to hear the Max Noah Singers sing many of the carols they later performed on their tour across Georgia in December. The Imposter Trio, which features Ellie Deener (piano), Jacob Hammock (percussion), and Mary Mead (saxophone) was invited to perform at the annual American Single Reed Summit held at the University of South Carolina this past October. And, this winter the GC Saxophone Choir will entertain in-service educators at a lobby concert at the annual GMEA Conference in Athens. Thank you for your continuing support of our program and all of our musical and academic endeavors. Whether a concert of chamber music, a lecture, or a student recital, please know that we are always ready to welcome you.

Dana Gorzelany-Mostak & Jennifer Flory

musicnewsletter@gcsu.edu

With the close of the fall 2022 semester, the Department of Music has continued to make great strides as we adjust to our new normal and navigate our evolving health concerns. With our second year returning to in-person access and permanent live-streaming access, we have been able to maintain our connection with our students and our audiences.

We welcomed several new faculty members to the department this fall: Dr. Robert Stewart, Lecturer in Music Therapy; Ms. Gabrielle Banzon (GC Alum), Lecturer in Music Therapy/Clinical Coordinator; Mr. Gregory Wascoe, Lecturer in Voice and Aural Skills; Dr. Zandra Bell-McCrory, Music Education; Dr. Robert Krout, Music Therapy; and Mr. Stephen Hoy, Low Brass/Trombone. Our music faculty continue to remain active in pursuing their research and various creative projects, and many have received invitations to perform and present nationally for the coming year. Dr. Dana Gorzelany-Mostak and Dr. Jennifer Flory received an Academic Affairs Small Grant for their research project titled, Songs of Political Persuasion: Hearing Music on the U.S. Presidential Campaign Trail, 1840-1918. Dr. Jennifer Flory was selected as a 2022–23 fellow for Georgia College’s Women’s Leadership Faculty Fellows Program and has been chosen by the university to attend the HERS 2023 Summer Institute. Dr. Laurie Peebles was invited to present her dissertation research on Personality Centered Supervision at the 17th World Congress of Music Therapy in Vancouver, BC. Dr. Cliff Towner received a GC Journeys Community-based Engaged Learning Mini-Grant for his project Baldwin County Extravabandza for Spring 2023.

The Department of Music has hosted several presentations and master classes led by both our own faculty and guest artists this past fall. Dr. Youngmi Kim and I hosted a vocal clinic led by Dr. Trineice Robinson-Martin titled “Soul Ingredients® Style Conditioning Exercises for Gospel, Jazz, and R&B.” Dr. Andrew Allen hosted a saxophone studio clinic with The Helton-Thomas Duo (saxophone and piano). Dr. Youngmi Kim hosted a vocal masterclass with Jonathan Price (tenor). And, Dr. Bryan Hall co-hosted The Warp Trio in a series of workshops for Georgia College and Baldwin County Schools. Katie Whipple hosted a series of Introduction to Music Therapy Workshops (The Professional Corner), featuring alumni such as Sok Hwee Tay providing relevant knowledge and career information for our current students. These activities provide students with insights and insider knowledge that will give them an edge as they enter the workforce.

Our 2022–23 concert series continues with over 43 performances (in-person and/or live-streamed). We started the academic year with the Department of Music students lending their talents to the Investiture of President Cathy Cox as the 12th president of GC on August 19. Some highlights of the Fall 2022 series include the Black Voices concert with the Warp Trio in collaboration with the GCSU Orchestra and Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School Orchestra, and the 15th Annual Holiday Concert, featuring all performing ensembles at the college. We are excited about the Spring 2023 semester with the variety of guest artist performances. Look for information about upcoming concerts and events on our website.

We have continued to pursue and strengthen our community outreach opportunities. The Center for Music Education, under the direction of Dr. Tina Holmes-Davis, presented a workshop and sponsored a student composition competition with awards to students from Houston County and Georgia College. The Center for Music Education has also established a series of professional development workshops for area educators as well as a Knowledge Box for future reference with many of our faculty providing the content. We have extended our collaboration with Baldwin County Schools to include our choral BA+MAT students in addition to our band and string BA+MAT majors. The department hosted the fourth Annual (Virtual) Wind and Percussion workshop in November and is preparing for the Fifth GC Percussion Workshop in the Spring.

We are wrapping up a few of our initiatives and preparing for future projects. We are continuing with some modifications to the Porter Hall HVAC renovation, and we are preparing for a potential building project for rehearsal and practice space in Spring 2023. On October 1, 2022, we submitted our optional response to the NASM Commission Report from July 2022 for re-accreditation, and we are anticipating a positive response after their meeting in November 2022. This accreditation would allow us to move forward with the AMTA approval in Spring 2023. We have completed the merger of our Electronic Music Lab with the Keyboard Lab in the Health Sciences building for more classroom space and upgraded technology. To assist with our retention and recruiting efforts, we have started an inter-departmental student mentoring program that pairs our entering first-year music students with a sophomore, junior, or senior. We are also pursuing a Departmental Strategic Planning process, which parallels the university’s current process, starting with a survey that many of you completed at the end of October 2022. There will be additional focus groups in Spring 2023 that will address the major objectives identified from the survey data. We are continuing with our monthly Zoom-in meetings for prospective students in coordination with the Office of Admissions.

Hopefully, this newsletter provides a brief snapshot of the achievements of our students and faculty. We look forward to continuing to engage with all our students, alumni, community, and Friends of Music. Please stay in touch and stay safe. Go Bobcats!!

Don N. Parker
Chair, Department of Music
Professor of Music/Percussion

Class of 2022: Graduate living her music therapy dream (December 8, 2022)

Class of 2022: Supportive environment helps composer express human emotion through music (December 7, 2022)

Conference performances offer opportunity to collaborate, build confidence and grow (October 18, 2022)

‘Choral Day’ turns singers into believers—some attendees choose Georgia College (October 12, 2022)

Class of 2026: Music motivates incoming freshman (June 23, 2022)

The Center for Music Education at Georgia College regularly offers professional development workshops, covering topics from choral pedagogy to interview skills and instrument repair. Register at https://forms.gle/GdFZGNxKyATdpSWd7.

Music Education Professional Development Workshops

March 25, 12–2 pm EST: Representation in Choral Repertoire with Chantae Pittman

April 1, 12–2 pm EST: Programming for Concert and Contest with Jay Davis

April 15, 12–2 pm EST: Woodwind Refresher with Andrew Allen

For more information, please contact Tina Holmes-Davis at tina.holmes-davis@gcsu.edu.

February, TBA: MTS & SAI Valentine’s Dinner Fundraiser, location TBD

April 4, 7:30 pm: Sound Creations Concert, Original Songs by Music Therapy Students, Max Noah

Recital Hall

April 18, 6:00 pm: Creative Expressions Concert, New City Church

April 21, 9:00 am: Baldwin County Schools & Music Therapy Clinic of GC Performance

April 28, 2:00 pm–5:00 pm: End-of-Semester Seminar, Peabody Auditorium (GC)

For more information, please contact Katie Whipple at katie.whipple@gcsu.edu.

Department of Music supporters may have noticed the absence of Director of Band Activities, Dr. Cliff Towner, at the spring 2022 performances. This was due to Dr. Towner’s semester of academic leave, a semester during which he explored research on the topic of re-centering the band.

Dr. Towner brought this research into the Wind Symphony classroom this past fall by employing several techniques designed to increase student engagement in the rehearsal and educational process. These techniques included small group rehearsals, the Question of the Day, and non-traditional seating arrangements. Students also had a voice in concert repertoire and program order. The end goal was to create a more egalitarian rehearsal environment that encouraged the students’ engagement in the process rather than relying exclusively on the direction of the conductor.

This egalitarian process paired nicely with the fall Wind Symphony concert theme, E Pluribus Unum. Bringing home the theme even further was senior music therapy major and flutist Jillian Truchan’s honors project in connection with the performance. Truchan researched all the works on the concert and prepared notes to give the context of the pieces in relation to one another and the concert spine as a whole. Truchan read her notes to the audience between each piece, giving a literal student voice to the performance.

This semester was as close to pre-pandemic as we have been. Max Noah Singers (MNS) has been as busy as ever with returning members performing in the Investiture Ceremony for President Cathy Cox at the end of the first week of classes. After auditions expanded our group to twenty, we had our annual September retreat at First Presbyterian Church and finished with dinner at Metropolis. Less than two weeks later, we joined the Trax on the Trail team for the Constitution Week concert, “Tuning into Politics: A program featuring music from U.S. Presidential Campaigns, 1840 to 1964” in Magnolia Ballroom. And, at the end of that week, we welcomed over ninety high school students from five high schools and their teachers for High School Choral Day, our first since 2019.

MNS joined with University Chorus and Women’s Ensemble to present our fall concert, We Sing, at First Baptist Church. The concert featured pieces that were written to express the thoughts and feelings of humanity; these included arrangements of protest songs, folksongs, African American spirituals, sea chanties, and more. Women’s Ensemble (WE), University Chorus (UC), and Max Noah Singers performed choral settings from countries such as the US, Kenya, Korea, Latvia, New Zealand, and Singapore. The New Zealand piece was an arrangement of the sea chanty, “Wellerman,” by GC Double Music Bobcat David Dingess, in its world premiere. Choral conductors included Jennifer Flory, Dana Gorzelany-Mostak, and Allison Ryder. The choirs were joined by Lev Ryabinin and Hue Jang on piano and other special guests including BA+MAT major bassist Lizzy Galloway and percussionists alum Chris Ryles, community member Rich Welmering, and part-time faculty member Mia Eaton. Two UC music therapy majors, Chloe McDargh and Lina Williams, shined on the accordion in our finale. We are ever so grateful for the hospitality and assistance of the First Baptist Church in Milledgeville, where we held our High School Choral Day and fall concert.

After the fall concert, UC and WE turned their attention to the department holiday concert and MNS began in earnest learning a full concert of music for our December tour. Most of MNS sang the Peabody Alma Mater at the Peabody Luncheon for Alumni Weekend. Liam Mueller, Joey Johnson, and Dr. Flory did a guest appearance in a performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” with the Warp Trio on the "Black Voices" concert. All three choral ensembles performed in the annual department holiday concert. WE collaborated with music therapy major violinist Sara Carr, BA+MAT major violinist Nick Koebert, and staff pianist Hue Jang, on Edward Elgar’s The Snow, and treated the audience to the rollicking “The Sleigh (À la Russe).” The MNS Men’s Quartet performed their traditional “The Twelve Days of Christmas (What the Heck Was That?)” and a Women’s Trio from MNS performed an arrangement of “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly.” MNS performed three of their concert tour pieces, including the humorous and kazoo-filled “Good King Kong Looked Out” by P.D.Q. Bach. UC collaborated with Wind Symphony on A Vaughan Williams Christmas and then performed “All Together” and “Who Is the Baby?” while surrounding the audience.

The very next day, MNS performed their tour concert almost fully three times for the Old Governor’s Mansion Candlelight Tours. During finals week, the MNS Men’s Quartet and MNS Women’s Trio performed their selections at M-Day, a holiday season celebration at the Payton B. Cook Building, Forensics Facility, at Central State Hospital. On the following Sunday, December 11, MNS met at the Irwin Street bus lot to depart on our 2022 Tour, our first since 2019. We performed at the following churches: Bellevue Baptist Church (Macon), First Baptist Church (Thomaston), First United Methodist Church (Newnan), and First Presbyterian Church (Milledgeville). We visited the following high schools to sing and recruit: Spalding High School (Griffin), Starr's Mill High School (Fayetteville), Mary Persons High School (Monroe), and Ola High School (McDonough), Benjamin E. Mays High School (Atlanta), and Lakeside High School (Atlanta). The night before our last day of tour we had the great fortune to go to the Cathedral of Christ the King and sing for sheer pleasure. Thanks to Michael Markcinko and his family for arranging this opportunity. On Thursday, December 15, we performed our homecoming concert in Milledgeville for an appreciative audience of community members and family.

MNS has been invited to perform at the annual GMEA In-Service conference in January. They will present “O My Soul” by Sam Neary, a student from Veterans High School, in Warner Robins. Neary was a winner in the GMEA Composition Contest and in the GC Student Composition Contest. Join us for our performance at 7:30 pm on January 27, in the Oconee Room of the Classic Center in Athens!

In closing, we would like to thank the Department of Music staff and administration and the team at GC Production Services, led by Keith Bergeron, for all of their work assisting in planning, promoting, publicizing, and live-streaming our events.

GC Jazz Band gives world premiere

Fall 2022 witnessed the return of a fully staffed GC Jazz Band for the first time since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the band took advantage of their robust personnel to perform a world premiere of the chart “True Bliss.”

The lyrics of “True Bliss” were written by Ashok Hegde from the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences as a modern retelling of The Jungle Book. David Johnson composed the musical setting, orchestrating it in the style of Count Basie. The GC Jazz Band began rehearsing the chart at the start of the spring 2020 semester with the intention of premiering it that April before the pandemic shifted the second of the semester to online learning.

After performing in large combos last academic year, the jazz band had the instrumentation to bring the world premiere to fruition this fall. Joining the band was Lecturer in Voice and Aural Skills Gregory Wascoe. Mr. Wascoe’s spirited vocal performance alongside the band received a great reception from both audiences.

With its modern takes on both a classic tale and musical arrangement, “True Bliss” was a perfect addition to the concert theme of Eclectic Jazz. The GC Jazz Band is grateful to be a part of wonderful collaborative experiences such as this.

GC Jazz Combos

The GC Combos continued to perform on and off campus during the Fall 2022 semester. There were two combos—the McComb Combo (Ellie Deener, piano; Elizabeth Galloway, bass; Joel Saucedo, alto saxophone; Levi Rafal, trumpet; and Jacob Hammock, drums/vibes; with Chris Enghauser, director) and the Porter Combo (Michael Kerr, bass; Alex Burch, trumpet/flugelhorn; and Don Parker, director/drums/piano). The groups performed at a variety of events, including the reception at the Investiture for President Cathy Cox, the monthly Jazz Jams, the Fall Chamber Ensemble Concert, and the Holiday Concert.

Jazz at The Magnolia

On September 18, the 5th Annual Jazz at the Magnolia community fundraiser was presented with support from Allied Arts. The event featured performances by the GC Faculty Jazz Combo and the GC Student Jazz Combo (Chris Enghauser, director). The evening also showcased the TDC Trio (Tyrone Jackson, piano; Chris Enghauser, bass; and Don Parker, drums) with guest vocalist Trineice Robinson-Martin. Earlier that day, Dr. Robinson-Martin presented a hands-on vocal clinic assisted by the TDC trio and attended by GC Students, community members, and GC faculty.

It has been a busy semester filled with robust and fruitful discussions in Music History I. Over the course of the fall semester, the students completed various projects that engaged with the works of lesser-known composers. Are you familiar with the music of Cristóbal de Morales, Isabella Leonarda, or Francesca Caccini? If not, just ask a student in Music History I, as they will be happy to share their short informative videos exploring the lives and music of some composers you may not read about in the history books. For the fourth year running, the students created their own (mock) grant proposals. For this project, the students work together in groups to plan a concert, festival, or other musical event that engages with music composed before 1600. This project requires students to develop a theme, program, budget, and marketing plan for their event. In doing so, they must demonstrate their ability to synthesize the historical information that they learned in class and apply it to a real-world task. As a culminating activity, the students presented their grant proposals to a panel of professionals in the areas of grant writing, marketing, and music. The winners—Mallory McDonald, Tori Palazzo, Lila Finke, and Alex Burch—won over the judges with their proposal for “Sips and Songs,” an evening combining the romantic music of ages past with a “flight” through the wines of Italy and France. It was a joy to watch these students grow in their roles as educators, therapists, educators, performers, and advocates over the course of the semester.

2022 was a big year for composers at Georgia College! On April 26, the Department of Music presented Sound Sculptures XVII: Clutch Time, a concert of original electronic music by Georgia College students. Seven student works were featured, including Mary Mead’s collaboration with Jacob Hammock on marimba for her work hardboiled egg at the edge of the cliff and Madison Golden’s film score Cindy for the 1914 silent film Cinderella.

Our graduating senior, Rafal, had two big events. On March 31, the GC Wind Symphony premiered his new work, Many Legged Dance, under the direction of guest conductor David H. Johnson. And on November 12, Rafal gave a full senior recital of trumpet and original compositions, with performances of his Emily Dickinson Songs, Fantasy on a Fictional Theme for violin and piano, and Spring Sonata for trumpet and piano. Performers included soprano Allison Ryder, David Johnson, Lev Ryabinin, and Hue Jang.

Theory and composition professor David Johnson had some noteworthy premieres as well. The Savannah Philharmonic commissioned him to compose a woodwind quartet to commemorate the Savannah community’s response to COVID, which was performed at two public events in April. On November 3 and 4, the Georgia College Jazz Band, under the direction of Cliff Towner and vocal soloist Gregory Wascoe, premiered his song “True Bliss” for big band. And Youngmi Kim and Lev Ryabinin premiered his latest art-song set, Tres canciones sobre poemas de Manuel Acuña, in their faculty recital Let it Shine on November 21 (pictured above).

Students studying music technology and electroacoustic composition have been thrilled with our brand-new music technology classroom. In the past, the Department of Music had been using a small room in Porter Hall, with only five student stations, but this summer, we moved that facility to the Health Sciences Building where there are thirteen Mac stations, with full 88-key keyboards at each computer. The new room boasts brand-new audio workstation hardware as well as a state-of-the-art touch-screen monitor for teaching and demonstrations.

The music therapy program is excited to announce the addition of two new music therapy faculty, Gabrielle Banzon and Robert Stewart! Gabrielle “Gabby” Banzon, MA, LPMT, MT-BC (she/her/hers) serves as clinical coordinator and lecturer where she provides music therapy services in our local community and coordinates the Music Therapy Clinic of Georgia College. She also coordinates the partnership between the Music Therapy Clinic and the Baldwin County School System. Gabrielle holds a Bachelor in Music Therapy degree with a minor in Creative Music Media/Music Technology from Georgia College and a Master of Arts in Music Therapy from Texas Woman’s University. With clinical experience across a wide range of contexts, her work primarily centers around mental health and community. Dr. Stewart serves as Lecturer of Music Therapy at Georgia College and teaches predominantly in the graduate program and also in several of the practicum courses. Dr. Stewart received a Bachelor of Science in Music from Florida Southern College and both a Master of Music Therapy as well as a Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education with an emphasis in Music Therapy from Florida State University. Dr. Stewart earned the 2022 Jayne Standley Scholarship and is NICU certified. He also studied classical guitar technique under the guidance of several esteemed educators, including Bruce Holzman, Silviu Ciulei, Morgan Stuart, Mark Switzer, and Jeff Rogers. Welcome, Gabrielle and Robert!

The students have also been busy this semester completing practicum hours, drumming in the Community Drumming Group, performing in multiple ensembles and music therapy groups, and preparing for junior auditions and internship applications. This past semester fifteen practicum students completed over 675 clinical hours in our local community, providing services to infants, children, and adolescents in ten different locations, including the Baldwin County Schools' Programs for Exceptional Children, Benchmark Human Services, Boys & Girls Club of Baldwin & Jones Counties, Early Learning Center, Georgia Academy for the Blind, GNETS of Oconee, Learning Safari, Little Caterpillars Development Center, Montessori Academy, and St. Stephen’s Day School.

Mrs. Whipple was grateful for the many alumni that came back to speak to the Intro to Music Therapy students about their professional work, including Jay Warren from the Life Enrichment Center, Sok Hwee Tay from Song Tree Music & Wellness, Bess McIntire from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Kenzi Taylor from Perfect Harmony Health, and Caroline Miller from the MT Clinic of GC. We are grateful they took the time to share with our first-year students how diverse and exciting a career in music therapy can be! The semester ended with the End-of-Semester Music Therapy Seminar where practicum students shared their clinical results and senior music therapy students presented on The Building Blocks of Professionalism.

In August, the music therapy graduate program hosted Graduate Seminar Weekend and welcomed alumna Kendra Engram, MMT, MT-BC, and her professional private practice in providing music therapy services to expecting mothers. In addition, Georgia College’s music therapy faculty were present for a panel, in which graduate students were able to ask the faculty questions about their professional practice and research. This panel was a great opportunity for graduate students to get to know our new Georgia College graduate faculty: Robert Krout, Dr. Stewart, and Ms. Banzon.

Our graduate students have also conducted great research this fall! Caroline Miller completed her thesis titled, “Burnout and COVID-19 in Collegiate-Level Music Therapy Students.” Gracie Anderson McCommon completed her thesis titled, “Virtual Learning: A Retrospective Descriptive Pilot Study Between the Relationship of Personality Traits and Perception of Virtual Learning.” In addition, MaCayla Hodges completed her clinical project titled, “Music Therapy Assessment for Children and Adolescents in Foster Care.” We are proud of the work our graduate students are doing to enhance the evidenced-based practice of the music therapy profession.

Music Therapy Internships

A big congratulations to Abby Hearn, Carrie Hunter, Sidney Johnson, Emily Kirkland, and Erin Lamb who completed their music therapy internships this fall semester.

And a big congrats to the following students who have accepted internship positions across the southeast from Florida to Virginia!

AK Alford, The Life Enrichment Center, Milledgeville, GA, starting January 2023

Brianna Burnley, Prisma Health, Columbia, SC, starting January 2023

Nicki Dail, Big Bend Hospice, Tallahassee, FL, starting January 2023

Laura Fennell, Prisma Health Children’s Hospital, Columbia, SC, starting January 2023

Meghan Jennings, Central State Hospital, Milledgeville, GA, started October 2022

Zoe Reddick, Fulton County School System, Atlanta, GA, started September 2022

Jillian Truchan, A Place to Be, Middleburg, VA, starting January 2023

Aliyah Walker, A Place to Be, Middleburg, VA, starting January 2023

Cassidy Weber, J. Iverson Riddle Institute, Morganton, NC, started August 2022

Senior percussion BA+MAT major Jacob Hammock performed in just about every ensemble this semester including Orchestra, Wind Symphony, Jazz Band, Jazz Combo, The Imposter Trio (mixed chamber group of piano, percussion, and saxophone), and Percussion Ensemble. Jacob will be featured with the Wind Symphony as the 2022–23 concerto winner and will present his senior recital in Spring 2023.

On November 7, 2022, the Georgia College Percussion ensemble performed as part of the Fall Chamber Ensemble Concert, directed by Mia Eaton with ensemble members Caroline Williams and Jacob Hammock. Their portion of the concert featured a work by William Kraft titled Trio for Percussion. Look for the Percussion Ensemble to perform during the 5th Annual GC Percussion Day on February 18, featuring guest artist Kurt Gartner (Kansas State University).

The piano studio wrapped up a very successful and productive fall semester. The studio was happy to welcome three new students: BA+MAT major, Ethan Chase, BMT major, Lynsey Blevins, and music minor, Zeke Nichols. Accomplishments include our fifth consecutive year of the week six piano studio recital. This year’s theme was Duets, and as always, the students got their repertoire learned and performance-ready in a very short timeframe, and we performed on the lovely Burrell Steinway in the Magnolia Ballroom. As is our tradition, the most senior member of the studio (this year, Ellie Deener) got to pick the background lighting colors for the ballroom. The piano faculty and staff also participated in the studio recital as performers, and we were so pleased to also have on-stage piano studio alumni, including Nicki Dail, Sidney Johnson, Emily Kirkland, Ethan Grimes, and GC psychology alumna Elle Hupp. Music Therapy faculty, Susan Craig and Gabrielle Banzon, also joined in! The fall orchestra concert featured 3rd year BMT major, Helen Whitacre, playing the first movement of the Haydn D Major Keyboard Concerto, a major accomplishment showing great personal growth. Demonstrating the importance of learning diverse musical styles, Zeke Nichols took over the reins as the GC Jazz Band pianist, and Ellie Deener jumped in for one more semester as the GC Jazz Combo pianist. Helen, Zeke, and Ellie (with a surprise vocal solo appearance) all figured prominently as keyboardists in our Annual Holiday Concert as well. Ethan Chase, Zeke Nichols, and Chloe McDargh all had their first piano masterclass experiences, with guest pianist Addison Frei in November, as part of the Warp Trio’s residency.

And as always, the piano studio balances the hard work we do with great extracurricular educational experiences and a healthy dose of fun stuff! In October, many of the piano students enjoyed vanquishing the “string beans” in the first piano studio vs. string studio bowling night. November had our students carpooling to Macon (along with a bunch of Dr. Lovell’s class piano students and a few “plus ones”), to cheer and jeer (and possibly heckle) at a Macon Mayhem hockey game, after first being commandeered by Dr. Hall to perform the National Anthem. Keeping with tradition when we go, the Mayhem lost… never having scored a goal. And in December, Dr. Lovell piloted a GC van full of our music students to see the fantastic Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, all having the opportunity to witness one of the greatest violinists of our time, Hilary Hahn, perform some Tchaikovsky, as well as a massive and emotional Shostakovich symphony. We bid a fond farewell to Ella Velimirovich and Chloe McDargh as they finish their lesson requirements, but we hope to see Chloe back in our next piano studio recital, and Ella is going to assist the piano studio as an intern, as we ramp up the next iteration of the Bobcat Keys after school outreach program. And finally, we congratulate Emily Kirkland, who has secured a job at the Life Enrichment Center as a music therapist—a well-deserved beginning to her professional career, and it will be wonderful to have one of the piano studio graduates nearby.

The saxophone studio had a busy Fall! On October 3, we played host to Dr. Jonathan Helton, saxophone professor at the University of Florida, who gave a guest masterclass, followed by a recital. Later the same week, all of the members of the studio presented a recital, featuring seven soloists, a saxophone quartet, a saxophone trio, and the premiere performance of the Georgia College Saxophone Choir.

Georgia College musicians were featured performers at the American Single Reed Summit, a national clarinet and saxophone conference hosted by the University of South Carolina this past October. Senior saxophonist Mary Mead, along with senior pianist Ellie Deener and senior percussionist Jacob Hammock, presented a recital as The Imposter Trio. In addition, first-year saxophonist Savannah McDowell performed in a public masterclass for Sharel Cassity. The Imposter Trio has also been accepted to present a recital at the North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA) National Biennial Conference, to be held this Spring at the University of Southern Mississippi.

The GC saxophone choir has been invited to perform a lobby concert at the annual GMEA conference. Join us for our performance at 1:45 pm on January 27, in the Classic Center Theatre Lobby in Athens!

Andrew Allen made visits to Swainsboro Middle and High Schools, Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School, Bonaire Middle School, and Jackson County High School this Fall. Reach out if you’d like a sectional or clinic at your school! (andrew.allen@gcsu.edu)

We were pleased to welcome a new member of the voice faculty this fall. Gregory Wascoe, Lecturer in Voice and Aural Skills, holds a Master’s degree from the University of North Texas, a Bachelor’s from the University of Texas—Arlington, and completed coursework towards a Doctorate at the University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign.

The Fall Voice Honors Recital was held on September 16—eight students performed beautifully, and the house was packed. Our guest artist, Jonathan Price (tenor), gave a stunning recital of American music on October 18 with pianist Timothy Renner. He also gave a masterclass on music theater pieces with four voice students. Congratulations to Aidan Fortenberry, Allison Ryder, Hailey Byers, and Tyler Harris who sang for the masterclass! It was the first in-person masterclass on music theater songs.

Five students participated in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Competition at Columbus State University on November 4. It was the first in-person NATS audition since COVID-19. Congratulations to two students, Riley Greer and Joseph Johnson, on winning second place and receiving award money! And special thanks to our staff pianists, Lev Ryabinin and Hue Jang, for playing for our students.

The Opera Scenes performance, Wedding Bells & Family Ties, was successful with eleven students and Dr. Lev Ryabinin under the direction of Dr. Youngmi Kim and Prof. Camilla Packroff on November 16.

Dr. Youngmi Kim’s recital with Dr. Ryabinin, Let It Shine, was held in-person and live-streamed on November 21.

Creative Expressions

Creative Expressions, a 20+ year partnership between the Music Therapy program and the Life Enrichment Center, hosted its biannual concert at New City Church on November 17. The concert, titled Love In Us, featured Georgia College’s music therapy students and performers with disAbilities from the Life Enrichment Center. Performances included the many different integrated groups—the Harmonettes Vocal Choir, the Men’s Vocal Percussion group, Good Vibrations, the Bell Tones, Step in Time, Music in Motion, the Music Makers, and the Jungle Royales. The groups met weekly throughout the semester and worked collaboratively to choose performance songs and to rehearse together. However, the purpose of the groups is not about the performance, it is about the process, where performers recognize they are more alike than different. For more information about Creative Expressions, click here.

Music Therapy Clinic at Georgia College

The Music Therapy Clinic at Georgia College aims to support and enrich the lives of individuals and groups in the central Georgia area through music therapy services and community music experiences. Welcoming Gabrielle (Gabby) Banzon, MA, LPMT, MT-BC as Clinical Coordinator this fall, the MT Clinic therapists have been busy serving groups in the Baldwin County School district and individuals at the on-campus clinic, as well as developing ideas for new music opportunities around Milledgeville.

On December 2, the MT Clinic hosted its biannual performance in collaboration with the Baldwin County School District! Approximately eighty K–12 students were featured in a morning concert of songs about the weather titled, The Forecast Calls for Music. The students assisted in choosing performance pieces such as “Sunroof” and “It’s Raining Tacos,” and even re-wrote the classic hit, “Singin’ in the Rain” into “Singing in the Weather.” In addition to rehearsing these pieces every week, they engaged in singing, improvisation, and music games, with support from our MT Clinic therapists and GC Music Therapy students, to develop their social, emotional, and communication skills.

We also want to recognize Caroline Miller, LPMT, MT-BC, our graduate assistant, for completing her Master in Music Therapy degree. We are so grateful for her work with us and are very excited to see what else is in store for her!

For more information about individual music therapy services or becoming a community partner with the Music Therapy Clinic at Georgia College, click here.

Andrew J. Allen, “Debunking Saxophone Myths,” School Band & Orchestra (September 2022).

_____. Duo Performance with clarinetist David Cook, American Single Reed Summit, Columbia, SC, October 13, 2022.

_____. Faculty Recital with Lev Ryabinin, Georgia College, September 29, 2022.

_____. Lecture, “The Red Saxophone: Hanns Eisler and ‘Applied Music’ in Weimar, Berlin,” American Single Reed Summit, Columbia, SC, October 15, 2022.

_____. “Listening: The Key to Success,” Music Educators Journal, 109, no. 1 (September 2022).

_____. Palmetto Saxophone Quartet Recital, American Single Reed Summit, Columbia, SC, October 14, 2022.

_____. Palmetto Saxophone Quartet Recital, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, October 24, 2022.

_____. Palmetto Saxophone Quartet Recital, Kent State University, Kent, OH, October 20, 2022.

_____. Palmetto Saxophone Quartet Recital, Ohio University, Athens, OH, October 23, 2022.

_____. Palmetto Saxophone Quartet Recital, Shenandoah University, Winchester, VA, October 22, 2022.

_____. Palmetto Saxophone Quartet Recital, Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, PA, October 25, 2022

_____. Palmetto Saxophone Quartet Recital, University of Akron, Akron, OH, October 21, 2022.

_____. Palmetto Saxophone Quartet Recital, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Cincinnati, OH, October 19, 2022.

_____. Solo Recital, American Single Reed Summit, Columbia, South Carolina, October 16, 2022.

_____. “Triumphant Saxophone Choirs,” The Instrumentalist (August/September 2022).

Elise Naber Allen and Andrew J. Allen. “Catching Some Waves: Comparative Woodwind Vibrato,” The Instrumentalist (December 2022/January 2023), 20–21.

Elise Naber Allen, “Pumps on the Podium: Amplifying the Female Role in Your Band Room,” Clinic with Cecilia Clark, Tiffiny Reckley, and Liz Savage, National Association for Music Education Conference, National Harbor, MD, November 5, 2022.

Chris Enghauser. Bassist, Carrollton Jazz Orchestra, Nixon Center Concert Series, Newnan GA, June 2, 2022.

_____. Section Bassist, Carroll Symphony Orchestra, “Collegium Vocale,” Glenn Memorial at Emory University, Atlanta, GA, June 11, 2022.

_____. Section Bassist, World Games Orchestra, World Games Birmingham 2022, Opening Ceremonies, Birmingham, AL, July 2022.

_____. Principal Bass, Toccoa Symphony Orchestra, “July Fourth Celebration,” Toccoa, GA, June 26, 2022.

_____. Bassist, Trey Wright Trio, “Jazz from The Pumpkin Patch,” Mt Zion UMC, Marietta, GA, August 14, 2022.

_____. Acting Principal Bass, Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra, “Symphonic Spectacular,” September 26, 2022.

_____. Bassist, Carrollton Jazz Orchestra, “Jazz at the Amp,” The Amp, Carrollton, GA, October 8, 2022.

_____. Bassist, Tommy Sommerville and Friends, Comunidad Connect Fundraiser, Avondale Estates, GA, October 15, 2022.

_____. Producer, Director, Bassist, “Chloe Floyd Senior Voice Recital,” Monsignor Donovan Catholic High School, Catholic Center at UGA, Athens, GA, October 21, 2022.

_____. Section Bassist, Augusta Symphony Orchestra, “Elgar and Brahms,” Miller Theatre, Augusta GA, November 11, 2022.

_____. Section Bassist, Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra, “Autumn Leaves,” First Presbyterian Tuscaloosa, AL, November 11, 2022.

_____. Director, The Ram Band, Monsignor Donovan Catholic High School, Athens Parade of Lights, Athens, GA, December 1, 2022.

_____. Principal Bass, Toccoa Symphony Orchestra, “Celebration of Christmas,” Toccoa, GA, December 4, 2022.

_____. Bassist, One Ton Tomato, Georgia Gwinnett College, concert series, Lawrenceville GA, December 7, 2022.

_____. Bassist, O’Jamminbaum Quartet, “The Stardust Holiday Lounge,” UU of Athens GA, December 10, 2022.

_____. Acting Principal Bass, Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra, “Home for the Holidays,” Tuscaloosa, AL, December 12, 2022.

_____. Bassist, Carrollton Jazz Orchestra, “Christmas Concert,” Carrollton Center for the Arts, Carrollton, GA, December 15, 2022.

_____. Bassist, O’Jamminbaum Quartet, “The Stardust Holiday Lounge,” Hendershot’s, Athens GA, December 22, 2022.

Jennifer Flory, Invited Vocalist, Warp Trio “Black Voices” concert, November 15, 2022.

_____. "Intro to Choral Programming with Dr. Jennifer Flory." Professional Development Workshops. 4 (Georgia College Center for Music Education), September 24, 2022. https://kb.gcsu.edu/cme_profdev/4

_____. Invited Speaker, Mary Persons High School Tri-M Induction Ceremony, Forsyth, GA, September 12, 2022.

Dana Gorzelany-Mostak, “Drugs, Quacks, and Fat Stacks: Music and Patent Medicine Advertising, 1906-1918,” (with Dr. Jennifer Flory) Georgia College Science Cafe, Blackbird Cafe, Milledgeville, GA, November 8, 2022.

_____. “Hearing the Intimate Politics of Extremism: Music, Activism, and Reproductive Rights,” Panel: Encounters with Partisan Media: Toward the 2022 Midterm Elections, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, September 10, 2022 (Virtual).

_____. Intro to Grant Writing, Georgia College Center for Music Education, December 3, 2022.

_____. “Songbook Study in a Music History Survey Course,” Teaching Music History Conference, American Musicological Society, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, June 10, 2022.

_____. Tracks on the Trail: Popular Music, Race, and the US Presidency, University of Michigan Press, forthcoming November 2023.

David Johnson, Tres canciones sobre poemas de Manuel Acuña (song cycle), premiered by Youngmi Kim, soprano and Lev Ryabinin, piano, Let it Shine, November 21, 2022.

Youngmi Kim, Guest Artist for Priests, Pirates, Prodigies, and Tangos Para Pies, Academy for Classical Education, Macon, GA, September 27, 2022.

_____. Guest Artist for Longing: Korean and American Arts Song Concert, Soom Soloist Ensemble, Emory University, Decatur, GA, October 14, 2022.

_____. Guest Artist for Tangos, Pirates, Gods, and Vivaldi, GCSU Orchestra, Georgia College, October 25, 2022.

_____. Solo Recital with Dr. Lev Ryabinin, piano, Georgia College, November 21, 2022.

Owen Lovell, Chamber Recital with Dr. Christa Garvey, oboe, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, September 12, 2022.

_____. Chamber Recital with Dr. Christa Garvey, oboe, Georgia College, September 8, 2022.

_____. Presentation: “Audition Prep and the Psychology of Performance Day,” Georgia College Center for Music Education, August 16, 2022, https://kb.gcsu.edu/highschoolwkshps/1/.

_____. “The Pearl River P9 and the Kayserburg GH160C: A Comparison,” instrument review for The Acoustic and Digital Piano Buyer, Spring 2022 issue, revised November 29, 2022. https://www.pianobuyer.com/post/the-pearl-river-p9-and-the-kayserberg-gh160c-a-comparison,

Laurie Peebles and Katie Whipple, “Music Therapy Strategies in the Music Education Classroom,” presented at the Georgia College Center for Music Education, November 12, 2022.

Laurie Peebles, “Self-Care,” presented at Biola University, La Miranda, CA, November 15, 2022.

Dr. Andrew J. Allen was named assistant editor of The Saxophone Symposium, the peer-reviewed journal of The North American Saxophone Alliance in May. He was also just elected as President-Elect of the Alliance.

Dr. Jennifer M. Flory has been selected as the GC institutional applicant for HERS Leadership Institute for 2023. She was also chosen as a Georgia College Women’s Leadership Faculty Fellow for this academic year. She was also nominated for and inducted into the membership of Phi Kappa Phi, a national honor society, in 2022.

Dana Gorzelany-Mostak and Jennifer Flory, Songs of Political Persuasion: Hearing Music on the U.S. Presidential Campaign Trail, 1840–1918, Academic Affairs Small Grant, Georgia College, November 2022.

Where are you from? I am from Milledgeville, GA.

Why did you choose music as a major? I’ve always had a fascination with music since I was a kid, but I didn’t decide that I wanted to do it as a career until I was section leader at my high school, and I could see perspective on how the experience of making music affected people.

What attracted you to the music program at Georgia College and how long have you been here? This is my senior year at Georgia College, and I was attracted to this school because of different alumni recommending the institution, and the fact that it is in my hometown, which allowed for a much easier transition from high school to college.

What has been one of your favorite musical experiences in your time here? It’s hard to limit the incredible experiences that I’ve had here to one, but I would have to say that preparing and performing my first solo recital was the most impactful.

What is your applied area and how have you progressed since you started lessons here? I am a percussionist. Of course, I have progressed in my playing ability and understanding of musical concepts, but also I have come to understand that preparation is much more than practicing. I have learned that behind-the-scenes work makes or breaks the final result.

What are your plans for after you graduate? I plan on getting my master of music degree in performance with either a teaching assistantship or a performance fellowship.

Caroline Cole, Victoriyah Friend, Riley Greer, and Dana Gorzelany-Mostak, “Trax on the Trail VIP,” MURACE Symposium, Georgia College, October 17, 2022.

Ellie Deener and Sara Carr, “Hailun Model HU1P Upright with DS6.0 Keyboard: Three Short Reviews,” instrument review for The Acoustic and Digital Piano Buyer, Spring 2022 issue, https://www.pianobuyer.com/post/hailun-model-hu1p-upright-with-ds6-0-keyboard-three-short-reviews.

Ellie Deener, Jacob Hammock, and Mary Mead (The Imposter Trio), “A Performance of Works by Jason Rebello and Jason Nitsch,” American Single Reed Summit, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, October 14, 2022.

Ellie Deener, Jacob Hammock, and Mary Mead (The Imposter Trio), Accepted Recital Performance, North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA) National Biennial Conference, University of Southern Mississippi, MS, March 30 - April 2, 2023.

Dana Gorzelany-Mostak, director, Victoria Gordon, lecturer, Jennifer Flory, director, Max Noah Singers, Anna Ogletree, soprano, Riley Greer, soprano, Aidan Fortenberry, baritone, Tyler Harris, tenor, Sarah Carr, violin, Taylor Doyle, violin, Craig Callender, guitar, Lev Ryabinin, piano, “Tuning into Politics: A program featuring music from U.S. Presidential Campaigns and the Suffrage Movement, 1840-1964 A Constitution Week Concert and Lecture.” Magnolia Ballroom, Georgia College, September 19, 2022.

Savannah Greene, Riley Greer, Anna Ogletree, Addie Resh, Allison Ryder, Hallie Thompson, Sextet, Hanging of the Greens, Front Campus, Georgia College, December 1, 2022.

Riley Greer, soprano, Georgia War Veterans Home Veterans’ Day program, November 15, 2022.

Riley Greer, soprano, National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Competition at Columbus State University, Columbus, GA, November 4, 2022, second place.

Joseph Johnson, tenor, National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Competition at Columbus State University, Columbus, GA, November 4, 2022, second place.

Savannah McDowell, “Masterclass Performance for Sheryl Cassity,” American Single Reed Summit, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, October 15, 2022.

Caroline Miller, BMT ‘20, a Master of Music Therapy student and graduate assistant, completed “Burnout in Collegiate Music Therapy Students During COVID-19” (in process of applying for publication); “Docu-ready for This?: Utilizing Google Forms for Large Group Documentation,” Southeastern Region American Music Therapy Association (SER-AMTA) Conference, Lexington, Kentucky, March 2021.

Laurie Peebles, Macy Ellis, Kelsey Foster, and Sara Carr, Metro Music Therapy’s Atlanta Veterans Retreat, November 2022.

Rafal, Senior Recital, trumpet and composition, Max Noah Recital Hall, with Allison Ryder, David Johnson, Lev Ryabinin, and Hue Jang, Georgia College, November 12, 2022.

Allison Ryder, assistant director, Max Noah Singers and University Chorus, Fall 2022.

Allison Ryder, soprano, GC Convocation (August 12, 2022); GC Veterans Day ceremony (November 14, 2022); GC Commencement (December 10, 2022).

Jaris Tobler, played in a master class at the 2022 American Viola Society and 47th International Viola Congress.

Christopher Karow (MMT ’22), accepted a music therapy position at Perfect Harmony Health, a private practice in Roswell, GA.

Emily Kirkland (BMT ’22), accepted a music therapy position at the Life Enrichment Center in Milledgeville, GA.

Erin Lamb (BMT ’22), was accepted into the Master of Music Therapy program and Graduate Teaching Assistantship at Georgia College.

Rachel Mayo (MME student), Young Director Award, Georgia ACDA Conference, October 21, 2022; Chorus Director at Johnson High School and South Hall Middle School (Hall County Schools).

Caroline Miller (BMT ’20), a Master of Music Therapy student and graduate assistant, accepted a music therapy position at Resonate Music Therapy, a private practice in Atlanta, GA; earned a Graduate Research Travel Grant and Outstanding Music Therapy Masters Student Award.

Kendall Proffitt

Avery Garrett Wilson

Kaitlyn Eckman

*Torrianna Harris

Ansley Montgomery

Rafal

*Mark Ragan

Dakota Snow

*Music Precertification Minor

Abigail Hearn

Julia Hufford

Carrie Hunter

Sidney Johnson

Emily Kirkland

Renata Kuswanto

Erin Lamb

Reed Tanner

Brooke Bong

Edell Brewer

Corey Bronson

Elisabeth Buzzell

Ashley Godbee

Taylor Guin

Jazmin Hunt

Jimmy Jucks

Michael Kobito

Ian LaBreck

Joseph Martin

Gregory Miller

Terrell Mitchell

Jessica Nohner

Brianna Riley

Christopher Sampson

Aubrey Simmons

Kimberly Snow

Kara Vombrack

Gracie Anderson McCommon

Caroline Miller

Where are you from? Snellville, GA

What year did you graduate and what degree did you receive? Fall 2017, BME

What have you been up to since your graduation from Georgia College? I finished my Master of Music degree at Columbus State University and currently teach Applied Saxophone and Clarinet at Middle Georgia State University and LaGrange College

What is your fondest memory from your time at Georgia College? I have so many fond memories of Georgia College, from being in Phi Mu Alpha, to the annual Holiday concert, and performing at the annual JazzFest, but the best memory has to be meeting my wife in Porter Hall.

In what ways did your time at Georgia College prepare you to achieve your professional goals? Georgia College enabled me to get a lot of contact time in the classroom, allowing me to get a significant amount of classroom experience early on.

What advice would you give to current music students? I would advise current students to really spend time outlining your goals so that you can pursue them effectively. Take the time to really figure out what you want to do so you can plan the best way to do it!

• Sidney (Williams) Alexander, BMT ‘14, was promoted to Executive Director in Training at The Glen at Lake Oconee Village.
• Brianna (Riley) Barnett, BME ‘15 and MME ‘22, accepted a position as Chorus Teacher at College Park Middle School, Berkeley County School District, SC; soprano, Charleston Symphony Orchestra Choir.
• Charlotte (Henderson) Bearden, BME ‘76, West End Elementary School Teacher of the Year, 1987, 1992, 1995; Georgia Military College Teacher of the Year, 2000; Georgia Military College Main Campus Employee of the Month, September 2001.
• James (Brad) Bell, BME ‘94, accepted a position as Chorus Teacher at Oak Hill Middle School, Baldwin County School District.
• Emily Beggs, BMT ’17 and MMT ’20, accepted a music therapy position at Mewsic Moves, Los Angeles, CA.
• Kimberly (Williams) Blue, BMT ‘10, performance at Carnegie Hall.

• Martha (Vassar) Bowers, BA Science ‘51, A Cappella choir member for four years. Taught math and general sciences for three years. Her husband pastored five churches in the United States and four churches in Nigeria. During her 18 years in Nigeria, she did music programs on television stations. She is currently writing a book about her life.

• Josh Brandon, MME ‘12, Loganville High School Teacher of the Year, Watson County Schools, 2022.
  
• Yuchuan Chen, MMT ‘08, earned a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), 2017, and became a licensed psychologist in 2018. Since 2017, she has worked as a clinical psychologist in the California Department of Correction and Rehabilitation.
• John Copeland, BME ‘97, serves as the Director, Arts & Culture Tourism for the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau.
• Allie (Bankston) Corley, BA History ‘14 (Music Minor) and MAT: Secondary Education ‘15, Education Specialist in Instructional Technology, Kennesaw State University, 2022; Teacher of the Year finalist, North Forsyth High School, 2022.
• Jeffrey Daniel, BME ‘88 and BS in CIS ‘86, middle school choral director and elementary general music teacher, 1988-1998, church musician, 1993-2018. Currently sings in his church choir and subs as an organist in the Atlanta area.
• Amanda (Jernigan) Duncan, BMT ‘16, Master of Health Administration, Medical University of South Carolina, 2021; soprano, Charleston Symphony Orchestra Choir.
• Ginger Gilpin, MME ‘10, Education Specialist in Music Education, Auburn University, 2022.
• Sarah Griffin, BME ’21, graduate saxophone performance major at Georgia State University, won the Creative Excellence Award for the Musical Performance category at the Inaugural Graduate Conference for Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity, Atlanta, GA.
• Stephen Hall, BME ‘89, performs with Georgia Symphony Orchestra Chorus.
• Lauren (Harbor) Hargrove, BME ‘13, Master of Music Education, University of Georgia, 2022.
• Alyssa Harris, BA ‘19, Master of Music in Choral Conducting, Ball State University, 2022.
• Calia Howse, BMT ‘16, Full-time Master of Science, Communication Sciences & Disorders, Speech-Language Pathology graduate student at Georgia State University; Wegrzyn Scholarship, BOLD Scholarship; A Singin’, Swingin’, Christmas - Holiday EP; GaLEND Trainee, EarlySPOTS Scholar; Board-Certified Music Therapist working in the intensive care units at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
• Julia Hufford, BMT ’22, accepted a music therapy position at UAB Medicine, Birmingham, AL.
• William Humphrey, BME ‘75, tenor in University Chorus, Georgia College, 2022.
• Carrie Hunter, BMT ’22, accepted a music therapy position at Joyful Music Therapy, Telehealth, Orlando, FL.
• Ryan Johnson, BME ‘17, Adjunct Instructor of Saxophone and Clarinet at Middle Georgia State University, Adjunct Professor of Saxophone at LaGrange College, and Graduate Teaching Assistant at Columbus State University Jazz Studies.
• Christopher Karow, MMT ’22 accepted a music therapy position at Perfect Harmony Health, Roswell, GA.
• Renata Kuswanto, BMT ’22, accepted a music therapy position at Southern Music Therapy in Christchurch, New Zealand.
• Lauren Lever, BMT ’19, accepted a position as a music teacher at Polk County School System, Bartow, FL.
• Christopher Libby, MME ‘20, Doctorate in Music Education, Liberty University, 2022.
• Sarah (Freyaldenhoven) Lo, BMT ‘18, was accepted into the Master of Counseling at Palo Alto University, Palo Alto, CA.
• Elizabeth (Gohman) McAlister, BMT ‘96, BA English Lit (Honors), University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2018; Master of Science in Instructional Design & Development, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2021; chair of University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Program Administrators and Coordinators Leadership Team; Member of American Geriatric Education Administrator/Coordinator Team; organist/pianist at Good Shepherd Lutheran in Gardendale, Alabama; multiple scholarly publications, presentations, and workshops. Although she is no longer a music therapist, she remain a staunch supporter of music therapy and has served as pianist/organist for multiple churches since graduating from GC.
• Meagan (Johnson) McAninch, BME ‘15 and MME ‘17, appointed Music Director, Saint Francis High School Performing Arts, Atlanta, GA; Region Win in One-Act competition.
• Jacob McDonald, BA ‘20, in Dual Track MM: Vocal Performance & Choral Conducting, Georgia State University.
• Sara (Demlow) McDonald, BMT ‘20, Ladder Pod Lead at Jacob's Ladder Neurodevelopmental Learning Center, Roswell, GA; just accepted a position at Metro Music Makers as a Board Certified Music Therapist; married best friend, Jacob McDonald, in March 2022.
• Kelsie McDuffie, Minor in Music and BBA ‘17, founded McDuffie Marketing est. 2020.
• Kaitlin Merck, BME ‘17, Coach of the Month for October 2022, Walnut Grove High School, October 2022.
• Jermaine Morell, MME ‘12, Riverdale Middle School Teacher of the Year, Clayton County Schools, 2022.
• Kassie (Livingston) Moseley, BME ‘20, Newton County Theme School Elementary Music Specialist, “Exploring Music” grant (boom whackers, hand bells, otamatones) fully funded by one of NCSS Partners in Education; Donors Choose $500 grant for classroom instruments.
• Jordyn Nesbitt, BMT ’17, accepted a music therapy position at Annandale Village, Suwannee, GA.
• Brendan (Payne) Pitts, MAT: Music Education ‘21, Quarterfinalist for the 2023 Music Educator Award, presented by the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum; Band Director, Berrien High School, Nashville, Georgia.
• Cory Robinson, BA ‘13, Grant Recipient for Save the Music Foundation.
• Christopher Sampson, MME ‘22, recipient of a $10,000 grant from the Georgia Foundation for Public Education for the purchase of new instruments, Franklin County Schools.
• Jacqueline Sertell, BMT ‘20, Accessibility Consultant, Student Accessibility & Inclusive Learning Services, Arizona State University.
• Sam Shanine, BMT ‘14, in Georgia WebMBA program; working as a process improvement specialist in finance for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta; performing music weekly at a luxury hotel in downtown Atlanta.
• Aubrey Simmons, MME ‘22, Teacher of the Year at Bradwell Institute, Liberty County School System, 2022.
• Requel Stegall, MAT: Music Education ‘22, Tennessee State University Music Geeks Under 40, 2022.
• Reed Tanner, BMT ’22 accepted a music therapy position at Small Steps Music, LLC, Fayetteville, GA.
• Torri (Morgan) Turpin, BMT ‘20, accepted a position as a Special Education Paraprofessional at Live Oak Elementary, Newton County Schools.
• Jay Warren, MMT ‘20, Activity Director/Music Therapist/DDP at The Life Enrichment Center; served on a panel “Resilience through a Global Pandemic: How a Nonprofit Organization Innovates to Survive Covid,” 2022 Gulf-South Summit on Service-Learning and Civic Engagement through Higher Education; Non-profit Leadership Alliance; LEC was a recipient of a Community Foundation of Central Georgia's Nonprofit Grant; elected President of the Music Therapy Association of Georgia.
• Preston Watson, BMT ‘17 and MMT ‘17, started a new position as Music Therapist at Rehabilitative Rhythms, Denver, CO.
• Amber Woodall, BMT ‘17, was accepted into the Ohio State University Master of Social Work program, 2022.
• Patti (Perry) Zimmermann, BME ‘78, was a part of the Macy’s Singing Christmas Tree in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, 2022.

Are you a GC alum with professional achievements or milestones that you would like to share? If so, we want to hear about it! Send your news to musicnewsletter@gcsu.edu and fill out this form: Class Notes. Are you a GC alum who is not receiving communication from Georgia College? If so, please fill out this form to update your contact information: Update Your Contact Info.

GC Music Faculty (mid to late 1980s) from left to right: Dr. Lucy Underwood (seated), Jim Willoughby, Robert Wolfersteig, Laura Hillman, Clyde Tipton, Duane White, Julie Morgan, Frances White.

Clyde Tipton served as a music professor at Georgia College and the Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church in Milledgeville from 1974 until 2000. Clyde received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music at the renowned Westminster Choir College in Princeton. Throughout his life, he was a singer, conductor, and composer. Clyde wrote a concert mass in celebration of Flannery O’Connor for premiere at the international symposium commemorating the 30th anniversary of the author’s death in 1994. Under Clyde’s baton, the mass was performed again in February 2011 by the First Presbyterian Church Choir, community members, and guests.

In his history of Georgia College, Dr. Bob Wilson, Professor Emeritus in History and friend and colleague of Clyde Tipton, writes “The music department continued to sustain and support the work of its gifted professor of music theory, Clyde Tipton. Tipton, a thoughtful, white-bearded man with a beautiful bass voice and a Zen-like quality, composed sacred music, the hallmark of which was simplicity and grace. His more secular works reflected a deeply quiet, transcendental quality.”

According to his son, Bryan, Clyde (at the age of 87) was taking “daily dips in the frigid Atlantic, devouring books, drinking coffee, and writing music, in no particular order.” Bryan called it “a simply beautiful life.” Clyde died peacefully the morning of December 15th at his home in Maine, surrounded by his family, including his wife of 46 years, Jane.

The Department of Music at Georgia College, its faculty, staff, students, and alumni would like to offer our sincerest condolences to the Tipton family upon Clyde’s loss. His music will live on at both Georgia College and First Presbyterian Church in Milledgeville.

Why did you first give to Friends of Music? I wanted to give back to the program that gave me so much. When Brett and I were discussing the organizations that we wanted to make annual contributions to, the choral department at GCSU was one of my top choices.

What interests you most about the Department of Music? We want to help, in a small way, the choral program to continue to thrive. The program may change and build, but we hope it continues to be a strong organization that supports music in all facets.

What do you tell others about our Department of Music? I love the department of music! It was the perfect environment for me. I always felt cared for and supported. We were a family who only wanted to help each other achieve our dreams. I hope that same feeling still exists today!

Why does this organization matter to you? This organization means so much to both Brett and me because it helped form me into the person that I am. Brett attended the Citadel, which is also a liberal arts school, and we realize how much it helped us become well-rounded individuals. Brett isn’t a musician, but he is a huge supporter of my passions and we enjoy attending musical programs together on a regular basis.

Friends of Music are alumni, members of the community, faculty, staff, and music lovers from all walks of life who generously support the Department of Music.

Are you interested in joining our Friends of Music?

Your gift to the Department of Music allows us to offer our students scholarships, fund tours for our ensemble members, and support outreach efforts, such as the Bobcat Keys After-School Piano program.

If you would like to make an online donation, please click here. Once there, click on the designation drop-down menu and choose whichever designated music area(s) you prefer.

• Music Scholarships: your gift will provide scholarships for music majors.
• Music Department: your gift will be put toward establishing the Center for Music Education or other departmental endeavors to benefit students, faculty, and alumni.
• Music Therapy
• Performing Areas:
  • Band: your gift will help students finance their study abroad experience with the Jazz Band to the Czech Republic
  • Chamber Ensemble: your gift will help our chamber ensembles
  • Choral: your gift will help Max Noah Singers travel on future choir tours
  • Piano: your gift will help support talented piano majors
  • Strings: your gift will help support string students and build the orchestra program
• Or, if you would like to explore other ways your gift might support our endeavors, please feel free to schedule an appointment with us via email (music@gcsu.edu) or by phone at 478-445-8289.
  

Please make checks payable to GCSU Foundation, Inc. with your designated music area(s) written in the memo and send to the below address.

Department of Music
Georgia College
Campus Box 66
Milledgeville, GA 31061

Undergraduate Degrees

Bachelor of Arts in Music

Bachelor of Music Therapy

Graduate Degrees

Master of Arts in Teaching: Music Education

Master of Music Education

Master of Music Therapy

Minors

Creative Music Media Minor

Music Minor

Music Precertification Minor

Non-Degree Programs

Music Therapy Degree Equivalency Program

To learn more about the degrees, programs, and minors offered by the Department of Music, please visit our website.

To learn more about auditions for the Department of Music at Georgia College, please visit our website.

Issue 5 | May 25, 2022

Issue 4 | January 27, 2022

Issue 3 | May 24, 2021

Issue 2 | January 15, 2021

Issue 1 | May 5, 2020

202 Porter Hall | Campus Box 66

Milledgeville, GA 31061

Phone: (478) 445-8289

Fax: (478) 445-1633

Email: music@gcsu.edu
Website: https://music.gcsu.edu
Location: 210 North Wilkinson Street, Milledgeville, GA, USA
Phone: 4784458289
Facebook: facebook.com/GCMusicDepartment