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28 maconmagazine.com | DECEMBER 2023/JANUARY 2024 A my Schwartz Moretti, virtuoso violinist and director of Mercer University's Robert McDuffie Center for Strings, traveled to London in September to record a violin concerto. Working directly with the world-famous London Symphony Orchestra, the work was composed for her by her colleague at Townsend School of Music, Christopher Alan Schmitz, professor of music theory and composition. Also included are Moretti and the London Symphony performing Schmitz's latest work, "Symphony No. 1 The Land of the Free." These sessions are targeted for release in mid-2024. "We're so proud of what we have going here in Macon," Moretti said. "The quality of our music making is worth sharing with the world and, with quality always at the front of my mind, we were looking to create the highest- level recording project imaginable for this amazing concerto Chris has written for me. We dreamt big and were able to get a wonderful grant from the Fabian Gift Fund to make a recording with the London Symphony Orchestra possible. It's absolutely an unparalleled, world- class symphony orchestra." Moretti said Schmitz, her friend and colleague at Mercer, has a "melodious, beautifully harmonic, and always emotional" compositional style that pushes boundaries while using traditional approaches – something audiences always appreciate. Schmitz is equally complimentary of Moretti, calling her an "incredibly inspiring performer." "I've written for her before, and this concerto was fun to create with the sound of her playing in mind," he said. "It's in three movements, with two being more technical, showcasing her acrobatic, technical side, and the other being a soft, lyrical, expressive movement that allows for that aspect of her playing. It's such a pleasure to write for her and to hear her perform." Those involved called the experience magnificent, spectacular, surreal, and a dream come true. The project will be released through PARMA Recordings and is being co- produced by Simon Kiln, who handled connections in England, and Steve Moretti. Steve happens to be Amy Moretti's husband, and is himself a well- known percussionist, music producer, and founder of Macon Pops. "The sessions themselves were great, and, though we expected the overall experience with the London Symphony to be magnificent, it was better than we ever could have conceived," he said. "You can't really put it into words." Steve Moretti said the London recordings took place in the London Symphony Orchestra's home base, the once derelict shell of an 18th-century church called St. Luke's that has now been repaired, remodeled, and converted into the symphony's practice hall, studio, and educational space. Giving the project a local educational element, Keaton Money of Central High School and Kaleigh Baker of Northside Middle School in Warner Robins were selected to go on the trip to observe sessions. "It was inspiring and enlightening – even life-changing," said Money, an 18-year-old senior who plays double bass in the school's orchestral program. "It opened my eyes to the rehearsal and recording process musicians at that level go through and the many careers there are in music and recording. Some you never think about." Money said he plans to pursue a career as a musician, combining it with becoming a producer and an expert in music technology. Baker plays violin and is in 8th grade at Northside Middle. With other applicants, she and Money underwent a rigorous selection process including writing an essay on what the trip would mean to them. Kiln and Steve Moretti are now at work with recordings, conferring with Amy Moretti and Schmitz on the best choices for mixing the results. The co-producers will meet again in London in December for mixing and mastering the final product before turning it over to PARMA early in the year. Tr a n s a t l a n t i c s t r i n g s Macon and Mercer musicians record with the London Symphony Orchestra BY MICHAEL W. PANNELL Things to look out for: Macon's own Big Hair Productions is making a documentary of the project, out this spring. See Moretti perform here at home at the McDuffie Center for Strings Fabian Concert Series. For details, visit mcduffie. mercer.edu/concerts. Photo courtesy of Amy Schwartz Moretti