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A Word from the Dean Mercer University Townsend School of Music | music.mercer.edu Welcome to the 2023-2024 Discover Townsend concert series at Mercer University. I am proud and excited to share with you the programs planned for this year's concert season. The Townsend School of Music has a strong reputation of providing outstanding guest and faculty recitalists, large and chamber ensemble concerts, and distinguished lectures and symposia. This year will feature an abundance of talent performing in the McCorkle Music Building's exquisite Neva Langley Fickling Hall, the intimate Bell House Jennings Salon, and the spectacular Grand Opera House. The Fabian Concert Series will feature students from the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings combined with distinguished artists in a variety of concerts held in Fickling Hall. The Jubilee Artists Series will include the critically acclaimed vocal ensemble Chanticleer, internationally recognized Vienna Boys' Choir, and Broadway sensation Omar Lopez-Cepero. The Townsend Symposia on Music, Philosophy, and the Arts will host the president of the National Association for Music Educators, Scott Sheehan, as well as artists Peter and Hedi Rubardt. Peter serves as principal conductor of the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra and his wife Hedi Salanki-Rubardt, is a Distinguished University Professor in piano and harpsichord at the University of West Florida. The 2023-2024 concert season will also feature the Macon-Mercer Symphony Orchestra. The Symphony has experienced tremendous success since its inauguration and this year is scheduled to be even more exciting. The orchestra is composed of students from the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings with winds and brass players from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Repertoire will include standard pieces by essential classical composers, as well as works by a wide range of contemporary composers from diverse backgrounds, reflecting the true breadth and depth of symphonic music today. Beethoven said, "Music can change the world." There are several signs across the Mercer campus reminding students that, "At Mercer, everyone majors in changing the world." The Townsend School of Music is changing the world through music. I encourage you to consider making music a part of your life this year by attending programs which will inspire you with musical enlightenment and entertainment. Gary Gerber, Dean Townsend School of Music