Macon Magazine

12 maconmagazine.com | June/July 2026 M arvelling from on stage during her masterful performance in March at The Piedmont Grand Opera House, the icon spoke. She held room for wonder, even after decades behind the mic. "Practice." It's what I immediately said when I was recently asked, "How do I become a better writer?" I followed up: "And a good editor." Writers perfect their craft by thinking critically, listening, and practicing... all with skilled editors who only get good with time. When it comes to greatness, musicians only become great if they practice. In his book, Outliers, Writer Malcolm Gladwell famously said that you need to have 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to be good at something. What seems to have been less popularized by readers and critics is the rest of his claim: You also have to have help. If 10,000 hours is ten years of preparation, one can't do it alone. Macon boasts a range of motivations for creating music. Reading these stories, I couldn't help but think about the helpers in our midst who make great music possible. From our founders (p. 38) and teachers (p.34) to family (p. 50) and churches (p. 82). On the other hand, if we want to attract the greatest music and be seen as a music city, let's act like it. I'm still mesmerized by the recent Phoebe Bridgers surprise concert at Robins Federal Capitol Theatre — and really, every Macon-Mercer Symphony Orchestra concert. In "Last Minute Macon" (p. 72), writer Brittny Johnson shares how attending Editor's letter | JUNE/JULY 2026 Editor, Susannah Cox Maddux @susannahcmaddux "Ho w d i d I e n d u p i n t h i s b e a u t i fu l h a l l , w h e n I 'v e b e e n d o i ng t h i s fo r 50 y e a rs? " – Emmylou Harris W e ' r e a l w a y s l i s t e n i n g . S h a r e w h a t r e s o n a t e s w i t h y o u f r o m t h e i s s u e a t h e l l o @ m a c o n m a g a z i n e . c o m . LEFT: Susannah with MM photographer DSTO Moore at Porch Fest. BELOW: Behind the scenes with MM photographer Matt Odom at Grant's Lounge, Conductor Mei-Ann Chen rehearsing with MMSO at The Grand, and the line for Phoebe Bridgers at The Capitol. a Babyface concert with her mom at Atrium Health Amphitheater led to a conversation on buying tickets to the show early and often, an investment in our beloved Macon. Will you be one of those who listens for the music in our streets like Mexico City-born Bocafloja (p. 90)? Will we show up for a mix of music from Emmylou, Phoebe, and our cover story Brent Cobb (p. 66) to The Restless Natives at Magnolia Street Porch Fest (p. 28), the next 20 years of McDuffie Center for Strings (p. 38), and Boca at Bragg Jam this July? How will Macon write the next musical chapter in our playbill? Practice becoming a better music fan. No musician has a chance at greatness with a lackluster audience. Listen and thank someone who makes the music happen. P.S. Join us to celebrate the Music Issue – Laid Back: The Music of Gregg Allman featuring Peter Levin and JB Strauss at The Capitol on June 11 at 10 p.m., the official afterparty for the premiere of Gregg Allman: The Music of My Soul at The Grand.

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