Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1536125
inside and audiences of 300 in the Zelma Redding Amphitheater. The amphitheater, with a combination indoor-outdoor stage, is now home to a seven-foot bronze statue of Otis Redding strumming a guitar. Highlights inside the new ORCA facility include: • Seven creative labs • Five private lesson rooms • The O3 Recording Studio named for Otis Redding's late son, Otis Redding III • Interactive gallery spaces • Chill rooms for relaxing • High-tech music production and graphic design labs These features support expanded on-site private lessons, workshops, school partnerships, and camps that aim to instill confidence in young people, equip them with tools to become well-rounded individuals, and help them express themselves and share ideas. The space makes a difference in several ways. It increases the number of young people that can be served, allows them to learn in purpose-built spaces, and enables longer, more immersive programs. "When you look at it right now, even though we're just getting underway and haven't even had camps yet, we're able to have 80 kids here on just one day for after-school programs," Redding-Andrews said. "That's 80 kids in a day where we used to only be capable of having 50 kids in two weeks for such programs." "We've grown our footprint, increased what we can ABOVE From top: A jubilant group of city leaders at the ORCA ribbon cutting, Zelma Redding and Karla Redding- Andrews pose during the opening, Center Director Kimberly Kelsey Epps 30 maconmagazine.com | June/July 2025