Adjunct Professor Dr. Nicolas Deuson plays on a Barmeyer guitar. Photo by Jeff Reed
The Reinhardt University Honors Guitar Orchestra and Festival is on target Saturday, Oct. 28, for a great weekend of learning and performances open to the public.
“There aren’t a lot of guitar programs in Georgia,” said Dr. Matthew Anderson, assistant professor of music. “We offer the program to elementary through high school students, but mainly we have middle and high school students signed up.”
The event will be filled with workshops to teach skills including songwriting, technique and improvisation. While registration is closed, Anderson said the workshops can be audited, but unregistered participants are not able to perform the evening concert.
After registration, the students will have the opportunity to explore the Barmeyer Collection, a new addition to Reinhardt University’s School of Performing Arts.
The Honors Orchestra will rehearse with Dr. Michael McCallie, a guest clinician from Chattanooga, Tennessee. Anderson will lead a technique workshop at 12:45 p.m., and interested high school students can tour Reinhardt’s University in a Park from 1-2 p.m. After the tour, adjunct faculty member Dr. Nicolas Deuson will lead a workshop on relieving hand tension for more fluent and music playing.
Orchestra sections will rehearse and then everyone will come together for another rehearsal before a break to once again explore the Barmeyer Collection.
University Provost and avid guitarist Dr. Mark Roberts will lead a workshop on writing song lyrics at 4 p.m., and Erik Herndon, guest clinician from Centennial Academy in Atlanta, will instruct on soloing and improvisation.
After dinner, the group will rehearse again to prepare for the 7 p.m. concert in Flint Hall, which also will feature the St. Pius High School guitar ensemble playing the Barmeyer Collection.
“It’s going to be a day of guitar, which is always a good thing. The music is going to be excellent. It’s a great opportunity to see high school and middle school kids come together and become better musicians,” Anderson said. “We invite the public to join us for the concert Saturday evening and celebrate the excellent work of these young musicians.”
