Macon Magazine

like next year's Robert McDuffie and Robert Spano performance, 1,100-seat Porter Auditorium is used. LONG-STANDING SUPPORT When pianist Edward Eikner relocated to Macon in 1973 to teach music and piano at Wesleyan College, new colleagues reserved a spot for him at the wildly popular Concert Association. "Back then, you had to sort of die to get a ticket," he said. Subscriptions sold quickly due to a dearth of arts programming in the city at the time. Eikner loved everything about the organization, and within a year, he was approached about being on the board thanks to his enthusiasm and talent. He's remained a board member ever since. "It has been a delight to not only hear the music, but to get to know the people behind the music as well," Eikner said. "(e Concert Association) is enriching and fulfilling, both personally and for the community, and it has been my pleasure to be a part of it for as long as I have." Ten people currently serve on the board of Macon Concert Association, though for larger events they reach out to other community members or organizations. e board provides support by sharing booking responsibilities, managing the needs of performers, offering graphic design and publicity services, coordinating with performance venues and more – all on a volunteer basis, and all done for the love of music and Macon. Recently, the Concert Association has welcomed several younger members to its board. As audience needs in Macon have changed, the Concert Association has changed along with them, adapting to smaller crowds by offering intimate performances in unique venues like Burden Parlor. Connecting with the vibrant, active younger crowd in town will further aid in the quest to discover what those audiences would like to see presented, and younger members also will help spread the word via social media and other digital communications. "It's all about partnering, meeting new people and trying new things," said longtime board member Rosemary Spiegel. "If more and more of our younger people will join in this effort, our arts community – and our community as a whole – will certainly thrive." DRAWING MUSICIANS FROM AROUND THE WORLD e Concert Association has brought some amazing talent to town. Frederica von Stade, world-renowned opera singer, performed several times, as did piano legend Alicia de Larrocha. Violinist Itzhak Perlman and pianist Emmanuel Ax have been previous guests, as have folklore groups from both Bulgaria and Mexico. e multimedia cabaret "Late Night with Leonard Bernstein," hosted by Bernstein's daughter Jamie, even made a stop in Macon in 2013. New York's Concert Artist Guild also has a great roster of young, prizewinning musicians that the Concert Association draws from. "We stay in touch with who is winning competitions, and that often allows us to book artists before they become hugely famous and unaffordable," said Eikner. Often, guest artists will take the time to visit area schools to perform and engage with students, possibly planting seeds in the minds of future musicians. Talent with ties to Macon is also a big draw for the Concert Association. In 2003, Eikner and local pianist Neva Langley Fickling did a program together to commemorate the release of their album "Granada." And operatic tenor Jonathan Johnson, a Macon native, performed to a sizeable crowd at Pierce Chapel in November 2019. "We're always thrilled to be able to draw on people who have the credentials locally," said Eikner. Clockwise from left: Amy Burton, John Musto, MCA board member Edward Eikner, Jamie Bernstein and Michael Boriskin in 2013 after a performance of "Late Night with Leonard Bernstein" featuring Bernstein's daughter Jamie. Robert McDuffie in his first appearance with the Macon Concert Association. A young Emanuel Ax from the late '70s. He continues to perform today as one of the world's most celebrated pianists. APRIL/MAY 2020 | maconmagazine.com 37

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