Macon Magazine

June/July 2025

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82 maconmagazine.com | June/July 2025 4 Mercer's Townsend School of Music Since I'm retiring after 35 years on the music faculty, I must brag a little – Music at Mercer has grown exponentially in that time. I want everyone to be aware of the variety of musical experiences open to them at Mercer. Most events are free! Each year at least 80-85 terrific concerts are on our calendar for Fickling Hall and at The Piedmont Grand Opera House – they are all top-quality and include every type of instrument or ensemble or you can imagine. There are choirs, string/ wind/keyboard chamber music, opera and musical theatre productions, faculty and guest artist solo performances, jazz ensembles, wind bands, and the Macon- Mercer Symphony Orchestra. It's all just 15 minutes away from your front door. 5 Roots Music (on air and in the past) My job is opera director, but I'm really a hippie disguised as a voice teacher. I so love switching my radio dial from NPR to The Creek 100.9 for a dose of blues, southern rock, bluegrass… whatever comes on. It's great to have a truly local radio station with live DJs, interesting features, and a nod to this town's musical history. Speaking of history, check out the museum at Capricorn Studios. Stand at a digital stereo, flip through digital LPs by famous Capricorn artists, load one onto your digital turntable, and turn up the headphones. M A R T H A M A L O N E ' S M A C O N T O P 1 0 M artha Malone has stepped onto many stages during her career. She's directed everything from "Dido and Aeneas" to "Nunsense" teaching opera at Mercer University's Townsend School of Music. But now, the Atlanta native turned loyal Maconite will take on a new role as she looks towards retirement after 35 years of Broadway and baritones. We asked for her favorite local haunts and lore. See her on the Fickling Hall stage in a special cabaret on Sept. 26. 1 The Native Pollinator Garden and Monarch Waystation at Amerson River Park Designed, installed, and maintained by volunteers from our local Fringed Campion Chapter of the Georgia Native Plant Society, this is a beautiful garden full of butterflies, birds, and gorgeous flowers. Spend a peaceful morning and learn about supporting wildlife by choosing native plants – great for kids, too – it's right by the playground. 2 The Downtown Scene – Eateries, Pubs, Shops, Galleries, Music… The growth in the last 25 years is so exciting! This has always been a community with commitment to the arts, great food, and good times, but WOW! I know we have a lot of public/ private partnerships to thank for making resources available to enable so many smart, creative people to make their dreams into reality, and this native Atlanta gal REALLY enjoys showing off our town to visiting relations. 3 Ocmulgee Mounds National Historic Park An autumn afternoon, blanket, and a book, lying on the ground at Ocmulgee Old Fields. It's perfect to listen to birds, looking at the sky, imagining life there thousands of years ago. Greeting pre-concert audiences. Photo by Jessica Whitley for Mercer University.

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