Georgia College Keynotes

Dana Gorzelany-Mostak, co-editor

Jennifer Flory, co-editor, layout and design coordinator

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to all. We are excited to bring you the second installment of Keynotes, Georgia College’s biannual newsletter. Below you will read about the creative and academic adventures of our students and faculty over this past semester. Music in its very essence is about connection and communication, about closing the distance between individuals and communities whether they be separated by geographical distance, or linguistic or cultural barriers. Therefore, the mandate for social distance in a world wracked by COVID made our last semester a challenging one in many regards. But despite these challenges, Fall 2020 was a fruitful and rewarding semester for the Department of Music. Although not directly stated in the Georgia College mission statement, we believe creativity, flexibility, and adaptability are the hallmark attributes of the liberal arts graduate. Over the past semester, our students became proficient in new technologies, adapted to new classroom environments, and embraced new directions in music making. And while doing so they truly thrived, growing as musicians, scholars, and citizens of a rapidly changing world. The first half of 2021 will offer many of the same challenges that defined 2020, but we stand together in anticipation of the day where we can return to the kind of music-making we knew before. When this day does come, we will embrace our musical engagements with not only a new set of skills, but also a little more passion, a little more perseverance, and most importantly an unwavering commitment to building even stronger connections within our department, our community, and our world. We are fortunate to have you on this journey with us.

Dana Gorzelany-Mostak & Jennifer Flory

As the fall 2020 semester comes to a close, the Department of Music has had an opportunity to reflect upon the significant changes necessary to adapt to our new reality with the pandemic. Most of the summer was spent scenario planning based upon USG/GC policies for returning to campus face-to-face and the protocols recommended by on-going studies and reports from professional music organizations and performing groups. This volume of the newsletter will demonstrate the determination of our faculty and students to move forward during these uncertain times.

The music faculty have been actively pursuing their research and various creative projects, and many have received invitations to perform and present nationally at the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges, College Music Society, The Midwest Clinic, American Musicological Society, and Georgia Music Teachers Association Conferences.

Several faculty-student collaborations were in full swing this past year. With guidance from Owen Lovell, Sidney Johnson, Emily Kirkland, and Renata Kuswanto—all Bachelor of Music Therapy piano majors—co-presented at the Georgia Music Teachers Association annual state conference in November (a first for Georgia College). Their topic was “Practical Applications of Music Therapy Concepts in Piano Teaching.” Dana Gorzelany-Mostak and her student research team at Trax on the Trail continued their work with other scholars across the country to track and catalogue the soundscape of the 2020 U.S. presidential campaign.

As a department, we continued to pursue community outreach opportunities. The Center for Music Education, under the direction of Dr. Tina Holmes-Davis, expanded its offerings to include new workshops for area directors and students. Dr. Andrew Allen, with assistance from the GC music faculty, hosted two virtual workshops (Jazz Fundamentals and Wind, Brass, and Percussion Fundamentals) to prepare Middle Georgia students for potential All-state and solo/ensemble performances.

The Department of Music hosted presentations and masterclasses led by both our own faculty and guest artists. Nathaniel Gworek hosted a virtual mallet percussion masterclass with Julie Spencer, Jennifer Piazza Pick hosted a presentation with soprano Annie Gill entitled “On-Camera Techniques for Singers,” and Youngmi Kim hosted a virtual voice masterclass with Dr. Bronwen Forbay. Owen Lovell collaborated with the Macon Music Teachers Association to host Dr. Molly Gebrian (Assistant Professor of Viola, University of Arizona), who gave a presentation entitled “What Musicians Can Learn About Practicing from Current Brain Research.”

Our 2020–21 concert series has continued in a virtual format with live-streamed and pre-recorded performances with no live audience. This was made possible through funding provided by the Office of the Provost, and the creative talents and expertise of Keith Bergeron and the GC Productions Services team, Doug Bassett (part-time Music Faculty), and student assistants. With additional assistance provided by the music office staff and faculty, the production team seamlessly coordinated the logistics of guest artists, directors, and student performers while maintaining a safe environment for all involved. New outdoor spaces, such as the Bell Hall Tent, have allowed for live performances with a limited audience and classroom instruction. Look for information about upcoming concerts and events on our website.

We have made progress on our three major initiatives for this year. First, the Porter Hall HVAC renovation will be completed by the beginning of the spring 2021 semester. Second, the music faculty will have completed the self-study necessary for our re-accreditation with the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). The third initiative, the unification of the Departments of Music and Music Therapy under the College of Arts and Sciences is now complete and we are moving forward with several exciting projects and collaborations.

Hopefully, this newsletter provides a glimpse of the achievements of our students and faculty during these unprecedented times. Indeed we are discovering avenues to create that will have a lasting impact on our future. We look forward to connecting with all of our students, alumni, and Friends of Music in the near future. Please stay in touch and stay safe.

Don N. Parker

Chair, Department of Music

Professor of Music

We welcome you to join us for an exciting lineup of concerts and events this coming spring, which will be live-streamed through the Department of Music Facebook page. Dr. Jennifer Piazza-Pick will be presenting an evening of works by women composers. In April, don’t miss out on the Music Therapy program’s Song Creations Concert, which will feature original songs penned by GC students. The semester will end with a musical film titled Close the Distance, produced by the Music Theatre Scenes class and featuring tunes from such favorites as Next to Normal and Bonnie and Clyde.

For a complete list of our 2021 concerts, please download the list below.

At Georgia College, we encourage our students to become lifelong learners. It is in this spirit that we offer a series of workshops for music educators. We encourage you to join us for our 2021 workshop.

Intro to Orff, led by Mandy Wood and Tiffany English, January 23, 2021, 12–3 pm, location/format TBA

For more information, please contact Tina Holmes-Davis at tina.holmes-davis@gcsu.edu.

• Song Creations Concert, featuring original music by Music Therapy Students, details TBD
• Creative Expressions Performance, location TBD, April 19, 2021, 6:00 pm
• End of Semester Seminar, Friday, virtual, April 23, 2021, 2:00 pm-5:00 pm

For more information, please contact Katie Whipple at katie.whipple@gcsu.edu.

Fall 2020 was a challenging time for the GC Bands. With both Wind Symphony and Jazz Band rehearsals held online, the groups had to adapt to new ways of making music. Zoom rehearsals, Flipgrid playing assessments, and recorded performances using Soundtrap allowed the students to experience different aspects of musicianship. But even with all of the successes the groups have had, one thing was still missing: the joy of in-person group rehearsals. That is all changing for Spring 2021 as GC Bands Under the Big Top is rolled out. Rehearsals will take place, socially distanced and in fresh air, under the tent in the Bell Hall parking lot. Director of Band Activities, Dr. Cliff Towner, will monitor the weather conditions for each day’s rehearsal and have contingency plans in the event of inclement weather. You can now follow the bands on our new Instagram account, @gcsubands.

We opened the year with virtual auditions for Max Noah Singers during the first week of school. The Cat’s Meow, our pop a cappella ensemble, is taking a hiatus this year, with the hopes of returning in 2021-22. Women’s Ensemble continued with face-to-face rehearsals utilizing both McComb and Porter 304 to reduce the size of the group to acceptable levels. Max Noah Singers and University Chorus started the semester rehearsing in Zoom. In October, they started face to face rehearsals at First Baptist Church, Milledgeville. Given the large sanctuary, each ensemble was able to rehearse all together. Women’s Ensemble then moved their rehearsals to First Baptist Church so they could rehearse all together. All choral ensembles limited indoor or outdoor rehearsals to thirty minutes with a break for air exchange, wore masks at all times, and were spaced at least six feet apart. We held a pre-recorded concert, Gems of Stage and Screen, at the end of October. This event, streamed on Facebook, featured choruses from operas, operettas, and music theatre; three of these videos are below. During the last day of class, we had a Pop-Up Carol Concert on Front Campus, featuring members of the Women’s Ensemble. Each choir also recorded one piece for the departmental holiday concert. Members of Women's Ensemble also sang at one of the candlelight tours at the Old Governor’s Mansion.

In November, we held a Choral Alumni Reunion as part of GC's Virtual Alumni Week. Over 20 people joined us in Zoom and we reminisced about our favorite memories of choral experiences at Georgia College. The slideshow above details some of the history of choral activities back to Max Noah. In order to find out about what we are up to, we hope you will follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/gcchoral.

The GC Faculty Jazz Combo (Andrew Allen-saxophones, Don Parker vibes/drums, Nathaniel Gworek drums-vibes, and Chris Enghauser-bass) performed a live-streamed welcome back concert performance from the McComb Building on September 15th. In addition to local performances, the faculty combo has served as the host band for the Bell Hall Tent Jazz Jams which occurred during the fall semester.

Guest artist Jerry Tachoir presented an in-person/live-streamed improvisation clinic for the jazz ensemble, jazz improvisation class, and percussion students on October 27, 2020. As a vibraphonist, marimba, and mallet synthesizer master, he has authored contemporary mallet method books and has been Artist/Clinician for the Musser Vibraphone and Marimba co./division of Ludwig Drums since 1972. His group, Duo Tachoir (with his wife Marlene on piano), performed a concert of contemporary jazz originals from their recent album, Shades of Blue, on October 26th from Max Noah Recital Hall.

On September 12th, Georgia College hosted the 2nd Annual Jazz Workshop, featuring virtual clinics on fundamentals and improvisation techniques by Georgia College faculty Dr. Andrew Allen, Dr. Cliff Towner, and Dr. Don Parker.

On November 14th, several of our faculty taught students from around the state in our 2nd Annual Georgia College Winds and Percussion Workshop! This virtual event focused on fundamentals and the Georgia All-State Band audition materials. Be on the lookout for an in-person return to this event in the Fall of 2021.

Four music education students (B.M.E., B.A. music precertification minors, and M.M.E.) had articles published in The Corinthian Vol. 20. These research projects were completed under the supervision of Dr. Tina Holmes-Davis in MUED 6400 Research in Music Education and MUED 3820 Music for the Exceptional Child.

It was a semester of thinking outside of the box in Music History, but as always the students were ready to meet new challenges. The students completed various projects throughout the semester that engaged with the works of lesser-known composers. In order to remedy the erasure of women and BIPOC in histories of Western Classical music, the students researched and prepared video presentations on important figures absent from their textbook and examined their life and career in comparison to their more well-known contemporaries. Curious as to the musical contributions of Francesca Caccini, Cristobal de Morales, or Vicente Lusitano? Our students can fill you in. Once again the students worked together in groups to plan a concert, festival, or other musical activity intended to educate and entertain a reluctant audience. This project requires students to develop a theme, program, budget, and marketing plan for their event, thus synthesizing the historical information that they learned in class and applying it to a real world task. On the final day of class, the students presented their grant proposals to a panel of professionals in the fields of marketing, grant writing, and music. The winners—Cassidy Weber, Kiele Kaupe, Conner Garmon, Torri Harris, Robyn Meeks, Carrie Hunter—impressed the judges with a proposal titled “Battle of the Bands: Before Baroque,” a Renaissance-themed event intended to bring area bands to Milledgeville for competition and community gathering.

The students and faculty in the music therapy program have been busy in their clinical, scholarly, and creative endeavors, navigating both the obstacles and opportunities presented by the pandemic. While this semester was definitely a difficult one in numerous ways, the music therapy students and faculty of Georgia College rose to the challenge by leaning on their resilience and flexibility! This semester our students switched to a telehealth platform where we had sixty students placed in virtual clinical settings across the state. While our students were presented with technological and logistical issues due to the virtual platform, they also developed creative and innovative music-based interventions that took advantage of the unique web-based applications offered through technology. Many of these applications were compiled on a padlet where students and faculty could collaborate together. Some of the most popular applications were Chrome Music Lab, ToneCraft, and ChordChord, just to name a few. These applications allowed students to lead songwriting, improvisational, and interactive music-making experiences with a variety of clients. Whether through low-tech or high-tech, we are incredibly proud of our students and their ability to still connect with clients through music, albeit through a computer screen. We are also incredibly grateful for our community partners who were just as resilient and flexible as our students. Our students were placed in facilities, schools, and community centers across Georgia and we’d like to thank our following partners for the engaged learning opportunities they provided our students: GNETS of Oconee, The Boys & Girls Club of Baldwin and Jones Counties, Georgia Academy for the Blind, the Montessori Academy at the Early Learning Center, the Baldwin County School District Programs for Exceptional Children, Small Steps Music, LLC, The Life Enrichment Center, Carlyle Place-Navicent Health, the Music Therapy Clinic of Georgia College, and Smitha Middle School.

Creative Expressions hosted its first-ever virtual concert, Cinema Sensations: Music From the Movies, under the direction of music therapy alumnus Jay Warren. The performance featured the talents of adults with disabilities from the Life Enrichment Center and Georgia College music therapy students across five different performance groups. Our music therapy student organizations have been extraordinarily adaptive this semester, finding creative solutions to continue providing outreach to the community and providing fellowship among our students.

The Music Therapy Society has been hard at work providing fun and educational experiences for our students, from advocacy on campus to outdoor jam sessions and sing-a-longs in the community. Music therapy students have continued to build their skills through serving others at events such as the “front porch” sing-alongs at Fellowship at Meriwether. With hybrid virtual and face-to-face experiences, the Music Therapy Society made the best out of the semester and found ways to bring music to those in need during this virtual and socially-distanced semester.

The GC Community Drumming Group (CDG) also continued to provide community outreach through music, whether on front campus, in the music tent, or in the improvisation room. Although there was a down-tick in central Georgia community (non-university) participation, the group was happy to see non-music majors and especially students new to the GCSU continuing to participate in sessions. The CDG experimented with various ways to continue community outreach and student services by providing limited live sessions paired with online sessions. In response to the COVID 19 pandemic, the community drumming group developed guidelines in addition to the standard university protocols to help ensure the safety of participants. The majority of sessions were held outside, and all individuals agreed to temperature checks before participation. During all sessions, the CDG adhered to mask-wearing policies and also limited the number of participants during each session. Check out the GC Community Drumming Group YouTube Channel: Community Drumming Group GCSU.

Our music therapy program currently has nine students completing or starting their internships. Although Covid has changed the structure of many internships and has closed some internship sites altogether, our students have successfully found placements both near and far. Many of the interns are providing telehealth sessions and pre-recorded therapeutic activities, while some are providing face-to-face sessions. We are incredibly thankful for each of the internship supervisors who are providing our students with the opportunity to complete their clinical training.

The graduate music therapy program began the 2020 fall semester with a seminar weekend welcoming Dr. Carolyn Denard, who spoke to the students about the Black Lives Matter Movement. In addition, graduates of the GCSU music therapy program Natalie Rousseau Fouty (’09), John Moon (’15), and Jay Warren (’20), spoke about their experiences providing music therapy services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This semester concluded with our first-ever, synchronous, virtual seminar where approximately eighty music therapy students, community members, and parents attended the event. The seminar featured junior music therapy students who presented on their clinical work and seniors who presented Burnt, a topic exploring student burnout. We were also very pleased to welcome country singer-songwriter Thomas Archer, who shared how country songs are written through creativity, collaboration, and connecting to the listener. We are looking forward to a great spring, both on and off the computer screen!

The Music Therapy Clinic of Georgia continued to serve the Milledgeville community seamlessly by providing both in-person and virtual music therapy sessions since the start of classes. MT Clinic coordinator and faculty member, Mrs. Katie Whipple, aimed to ensure that services could still be provided for clients safely and in the setting that best suited their needs. This semester, Ms. Kelsey Adams, LPMT, MT-BC, served as the primary MT Clinic music therapist to provide seven telehealth sessions each week for K-12 students with disAbilities in the Baldwin County School District. Accompanied by GC music therapy students, she developed creative virtual music therapy experiences that were engaging and therapeutically beneficial for approximately fifty-five students. In lieu of an end of semester performance, parents and friends were invited to attend the last virtual music therapy session of the semester to see music therapy “in action” and watch their child sing, play instruments, dance, and have fun with their classmates. The MT Clinic is also excited to welcome Ms. Caroline Miller, LPMT, MT-BC, who will be providing services for the MT Clinic, along with Mrs. Whipple, starting January 2021. For more information about the music therapy services at Georgia College, click here.

On September 11, 2020, Dr. Nathaniel Gworek (part-time percussion faculty) hosted a virtual mallet percussion masterclass with virtuoso Julie Spencer.

The Keyboard area was able to do a lot of its work (lessons, classes, recital hour performances, juries, and studio classes) safely in-person this past semester, with a few modifications. Our more recent tradition, the annual week six piano studio recital, happened as planned in the Magnolia Ballroom, live-streamed to the world. This all-Chopin program was enhanced by historical commentary from our faculty musicologist, Dr. Dana Gorzelany-Mostak. We also invited Georgia College alumni to perform in the concert, as well as our staff pianists. Our biennial piano pedagogy course met this fall, where the typical lecture experience was augmented with eight expert guest presenters (both in-person and virtual), as well as a weekly teaching practicum with two local homeschool students.

Sidney Johnson, Emily Kirkland, and Renata Kuswanto, all Bachelor of Music Therapy piano majors, co-presented at the Georgia Music Teachers Association annual state conference in November. Their paper, “Practical Applications of Music Therapy Concepts in Piano Teaching,” was also accepted as a collegiate presentation for the upcoming March 2021 Music Teachers National Association National Conference! GC piano students are becoming more active as collaborative players in the Georgia College chamber ensembles, and this spring will feature our first senior piano recital since Dr. Lovell joined the faculty in fall 2016: BA piano major and Eatonton native, Ethan Grimes.

Finding levity by laughing in the face of adversity, we unveiled the inaugural Piano Studio Pandemic T-shirt on the first day of classes in August. Designed by Aliyah Walker and Sidney Johnson, the shirt features personalized nicknames for each member of the GC piano studio, based on funny, odd, or frustrating things that happened to us during those bleak months of distance learning. We got in the habit of wearing them to school every Thursday.

Finally, we are retiring the seventy-three-year-old Steinway L grand piano from the “piano priority” practice room. It will be replaced with a brand new, 5’ 11” Steinway O grand piano which will serve our piano majors reliably for the coming decades, and keep Georgia College’s Department of Music in compliance with the “All-Steinway School” designation we earned several years ago.

Despite the challenges of a pandemic, the Georgia College Orchestra moved forward this fall with in-person rehearsals twice per week. This was possible because the twelve-student orchestra, under the direction of Dr. David Johnson, was able to regularly meet in the McComb building, a large and well-ventilated rehearsal venue. Every orchestra member wore masks and sat at least six feet apart from one another throughout the music-making.

This year’s orchestra program was quite ambitious, featuring Bizet’s Carmen Suite No. 1, Beethoven’s Egmont Overture, Vivaldi’s “Winter” from The Four Seasons, the first movement of the Mozart “Hunt” String Quartet, and Remi Giazotto’s Adagio in G Minor. Although the performance could not be done in person, it was live-streamed on the Georgia College Department of Music Facebook page with the invaluable help of Production Services Assistant Director Keith Bergeron.

Two new voice faculty joined the voice area this fall. Dr. Jennifer Piazza-Pick, Lecturer in Voice and Aural Skills, holds her doctoral degree from the University of Maryland, College Park. Dr. Piazza-Pick specializes in women composers. Originally from Germany, Adjunct Instructor Camilla Packroff holds a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Mercer University.

Due to the pandemic, most of the events in the voice area were held virtually, including weekly studio class, a masterclass, recital class, student recitals, and voice juries. Based on the current studies about COVID and singing, voice students were incredibly resilient as they navigated how to sing in a voice lesson while wearing a mask! In August, students learned how best to record their performances in a workshop called “On-Camera Techniques for Singers,” with soprano and actress Annie Gill. Although the guest artist’s recital was canceled, voice students had a virtual masterclass in October with South African soprano Dr. Bronwen Forbay, who is on the faculty at McLennan Community College in Texas. Students pre-recorded their performances and presented them via Zoom, then worked with Dr. Forbay online. Congratulations to students Erin Lamb, Julia Hufford, Abby Hearn, and Katie Eckman for making this virtual masterclass a great success!

In the spring semester, voice students will continue with similar safety protocols as in the fall, and there are several special events that will take place. On February 16th, art song composer Juliana Hall will talk to voice and composition students about her writing process via Zoom. On February 22nd, Dr. Piazza-Pick will give a faculty recital entitled “Anonymous Was a Woman,” which will feature one of Juliana Hall’s song cycles. Dr. Youngmi Kim will also present a faculty recital on March 9th. Although it will be difficult to continue singing in masks and performing via recording, students will continue to learn skills that will help them to become flexible and resilient musical artists.

We were happy to welcome Andrew Sehmann as our new instructor of horn this semester! Andrew originally hails from Kentucky, and holds degrees from Eastern Kentucky University and the University of Georgia. In addition to his activities at GC, Andrew also performs with the Augusta Symphony and the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra.

Sophia Clark, Erin Lamb, Nathan Whatley, Richard Guyton, Hue Jang, Haley Strassburger, Sarah Griffin, and Dana Gorzelany-Mostak, “Delightful Tunes from U.S. Presidential Campaigns, 1840–1964” A Constitution Week Concert (Virtual). Trax on the Trail, September 17, 2020.

Sarah G. Clegg, "Examining the Relationship Between Perfect Pitch, Auditory Processing Disorders, and Autism Spectrum Disorder." The Corinthian Vol. 20 , Article 7, 2020.

David Russell Dingess, II, "Literature Review: Student Interest and Motivation in Recorder Studies." The Corinthian Vol. 20, Article 3, 2020.

Sidney Johnson, “Interdisciplinary Collaboration Between Music Therapy and Medical Ethnomusicology and the Perceived Impact on Individuals From Traumatic Brain Injuries.” Presented at the National American Music Therapy Association National Conference, November 19-22, 2020.

Emily Kirkland, Renata Kuswanto, and Sidney Johnson, “Pedagogical Techniques from the Music Therapy Perspective.” Presented at the Georgia Music Teachers Association Conference, November 6-7, 2020.

Renata Kuswanto, Recipient of the 2020 SER-AMTAS scholarship to attend the AMTA National Conference.

Robyn S. Meeks, "Inside the Music Classroom: Deaf Students." The Corinthian Vol. 20, Article 5, 2020.

William M. Refuss, "Accommodations for Underserved Students in Music Education." The Corinthian Vol. 20, Article 6, 2020.

Haley Strassburger, Sarah Griffin, and Dana Gorzelany-Mostak, “Trail Tunes: From Tippecanoe to Trump and Biden Too.” Presented at Georgia College Alumni Weekend, November 3, 2020.

Aliyah Walker, opera nera: il retrogrado (Black Opera: The Retrograde) (original composition), featuring mezzo-soprano Torrianna Harris; Student commission sponsored by the Memphis Music Initiative Emergency Relief Fund.

Andrew J. Allen, Virtual seminar for composers. Presented at Tarrant County College, Fort Worth, TX, Summer 2020.

Andrew J. Allen, Recital with the SAGA Quartet (virtual), August 6, 2020.

Andrew J. Allen, Cleansing Fountain by Robert Meyers. Performance at the National Conference of the Christian Fellowship of Art Music Composers, October 17, 2020.

Andrew J. Allen, Virtual Recital featuring works for unaccompanied saxophone, Georgia College, November 3, 2020.

Andrew J. Allen, Virtual Guest lecture at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Weatherford, OK, October 15, 2020.

Andrew J. Allen, Virtual Guest lecture at East Tennessee State Johnson City, TN, October 15, 2020.

Andrew J. Allen, “Teaching Jazz Style Through Guided Listening.” JazzEd, October 2020, 20-21.

Andrew J. Allen, “Saxophone Trill Fingerings.” The Instrumentalist, September 2020, 22-24.

Andrew J. Allen, “A Brief History of the Saxophone’s Altissimo Register.” NACWPI Journal 68, no. 1 (2020), 5-8.

Jennifer M. Flory, “Program growth -- working with your Admissions, Marketing, and Advancement offices.” Presented at the COPLAC Summer Institute for Faculty in Music (Virtual), June 18, 2020.

Jennifer M. Flory, Meagan McIninch, and Sarah Clegg, American Treble Choral Index, database and website, August 2020.

Dana Gorzelany-Mostak, “Music in U.S. Presidential Campaigns.” Presentation sponsored by the Great American Songbook Foundation (Virtual), Carmel, IN, November 2020.

Dana Gorzelany-Mostak, Trax on the Trail Podcast Pt. 7: An Interview with Paul Christiansen, Author of Orchestrating Public Opinion: How Music Persuades in Television Political Ads for US Presidential Campaigns, 1952-2016 Orchestrating Public Opinion: How Music Persuades in Television Political Ads for US Presidential Campaigns, 1952-201, featuring Naomi Graber, Dana Gorzelany-Mostak, and Paul Christiansen. Trax on the Trail in collaboration with WRGC 88.3FM, February 15, 2020.

Dana Gorzelany-Mostak, Trax on the Trail, Pt. 8, Eric Kasper and Benjamin Schoening on Pop Music in the 2016 and 2020 Elections, featuring Naomi Graber, Benjamin Schoening, and Eric Kasper. Trax on the Trail in collaboration with WRGC 88.3FM, August 7, 2020.

Dana Gorzelany-Mostak, Trax on the Trail, Pt. 9, Andrew Fletcher and Andrew Scotchie on Music’s Place in Progressive Politics, featuring Naomi Graber, Andrew Fletcher, and Andrew Scotchie. Trax on the Trail in collaboration with WRGC 88.3FM, October 27, 2020.

Dana Gorzelany-Mostak and Remi Chiu, “An American ‘Double Monster’ in Paris (1873-1874): Millie-Christine McCoy, Singing Phénomène, on Tour.” Presented at the American Musicological Society Conference (Virtual), November 14, 2020.

Owen Lovell, Interview about the piano industry during the pandemic and the Piano Buyer consumer publication. Piano Tech Radio Hour online broadcast, August 19, 2020.

Owen Lovell, Rebecca Rowell Cooke, and Laurie Peebles, “Wind Music of La République.” Live chamber recital, Georgia College, October 15, 2020.

Owen Lovell, Virtual lecture-recital on Aaron Copland’s “Piano Variations.” University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, October 22, 2020.

Owen Lovell, official YouTube channel; started November 13, 2020.

Don Parker, “Administrative Leadership during an Unprecedented Time of Uncertainty and Change.” College Music Society, May 29, 2020.

Don Parker, “Finding Balance in Your Career” (Virtual Percussion Seminar). Presented at Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, September 29, 2020.

Laurie Peebles, “Music Therapy and Autism.” Presented at Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN, September 30, 2020.

Laurie Peebles and Haley Shaheen, “Insight Into The Music Therapy Profession.” Panel presented at the American Music Therapy Association National Conference (online), November, 21, 2020.

Starr Batchelor, Carlyle Place-Navicent Health, Macon, GA, started January 2021

Amanda Brennen, Therabeat, Woodstock, GA, completed December 2020

Sara Demlow, Therabeat, Woodstock, GA, completed December 2020

Macy Fehl, Therabeat, Inc., Woodstock, GA, completed December 2020

Bess McIntire, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, started September 2020

Caroline Miller, Carlyle Place-Navicent Health, Macon, GA, completed September 2020

Annabeth Raffield, Carlyle Place-Navicent Health, Macon, GA, started October 2020

Madison Smith, Joseph Sams School, Fayetteville, GA, started August 2020

Alpha Torres, Carlyle Place-Navicent Health, Macon, GA, completed September 2020

Bachelor of Arts in Music

Adrian Matthew Fisher (F)

Bachelor of Music Education

Kassidy Rebekah Livingston (F)

Anthony Maxwell Pacchioli (F)

Bachelor of Music Therapy

Amanda Kay Brennen (F)

Sara Elizabeth Demlow (F)

Madeline Mobley Eads (S)

Macy Fehl (F)

Caroline Shaw Richardson Miller (F)

Victoria Sarah Morgan (S)

Jacqueline Nicole Sertell (S)

Jake Edward Thorn (S)

Alpha Leslie Torres (F)

Master of Music Education

Matthew Craig Andrade (S)

Lacey Johanna Barnes (S)

Aston Marquez Bryant (F)

Taylor M. Clayborn (S)

Bethany Marie Davis (S)

David Russell Dingess (S)

Sophia-Karis Harlan (S)

Keith Kimichael Heard (S)

Rachel Elizabeth LeGrand (S)

Earl Julian Puckett (S)

Matthew Scott Rubenstein (S)

Ashley Lauren Steen (S)

Greta Alberta Pritchett Thomas (S)

Sarah Elizabeth Waller-Price (S)

Joshua Richard-Edward Williams (S)

Master of Music Therapy

Kelsey Marie Adams (F)

Where are you from?

I am from Georgia. I was raised near Loganville/Monroe, GA and lived in Tifton for about eight years growing up. I currently live in Hampton GA and work at Carlyle Place in Macon.

What year did you graduate and what degree did you receive?

I graduated from GCSU in 2015 with my BMT and am about to return for my MMT.

What have you been up to since your graduation from Georgia College?

I got a job at my internship site, Carlyle Place, as the Activities Assistant in Skilled Nursing. I worked there for eighteen months as I got my certification, then moved to Greensboro, GA to work at a start up retirement community. I was the Director of Memory Care and Music Therapist there for three years. I have now returned to Carlyle Place as the Music Therapist and Outreach Coordinator since Feb 2020. We have started a virtual MT program due to Covid. I have supervised seven interns from Georgia College and many practicum students.

What is your fondest memory from your time at Georgia College?

I loved the Creative Expressions groups and concerts! I got to lead Music in Motion for several semesters and be a part of several other groups. I also love the campus. Milledgeville is so nostalgic, and my wife and I return often to walk the campus.

In what ways did your time at Georgia College prepare you to achieve your professional goals?

Georgia College prepared me to enter the field as an equipped music therapist. I have all of my foundational knowledge of music therapy that I have continued to build upon in continuing education and experience in the field. I am so thankful to Georgia College for my training! I am returning in January to continue my education and training under the GC faculty.

What advice would you give to current music students?

Play with music. It is a wonderfully malleable tool that we get to use in therapeutic ways. As we learn about music, there are so many rules that we sometimes get lost in them. Find freedom in making music. Play around with it. When you get sucked into making music, powerful things can happen.

Sammi Acconcio, accepted a music therapy position at Dynamic Music Therapy Services, Indianapolis, IN, March 2020.

Malorie Morris Acosta, started a new music therapy program at Serenity Hospice, February 2020.

Kesley Adams, starting a new music therapy program at Georgia Regional Hospital in Savannah, GA, January 2021; completed Master of Music Therapy at Georgia College, Fall 2020.

Sidney Alexander, Nationally Certified Director of Assisted Living, Director of Activities at The Glen at Lake Oconee Village.

Gabrielle Banzon, Johnathan Moon, et al., Clinical BOPulations, a music therapy podcast hosted by a collective of music therapists and music therapy educators.

Gabrielle Banzon and Johnathan Moon, Clinical BOPulations the Podcast: Recording LIVE from the 2020 World Congress of Music Therapy, 16th World Congress of Music Therapy hosted online from South Africa.

Gabrielle Banzon, created The Tech Nook: A Collaborative Technology Resource for Music Therapy; accepted a music therapy position at Annandale Village, May 2020.

Emily Beggs, Georgia College, Master of Music Therapy, 2019.

Katie (Seagraves) Branch, Georgia College, Master of Public Administration, started Summer 2020.

Amanda Brennen, accepted a music therapy position at Therabeat, Woodstock, GA, January 2021.

Leanna Caro, accepted an activities assistant position at Carolina Reserve of Laurel Park, Hendersonville, NC, January 2021.

Anna Chandler, accepted an elementary school music position in Athens, GA; awarded an AthFest educates grant.

Sara Demlow, accepted activity therapist position at Anchor Hospital, College Park, GA, January 2021.

Kally Fox, participated in national studies; conducting research at her hospital system; presentations at AMTA and SER-AMTA conferences.

Hugo Galvan, Florida State University, Master of Music in Music Therapy, Fall 2020.

Calia Howse, featured on the Etowah Jazz Society, album release, A Singin’, Swingin’, Christmas, December 21, 2020.

Ryan Johnson, named 2020 MTNA Woodwind Young Artist Division Alternate for Georgia.

Sarah Kitts, Shenandoah University, Master of Music in Voice Pedagogy, Spring 2019.

Lauren Lever, Florida State University, Master of Music in Music Therapy, Fall 2020.

Kat Kie Mann, Texas Tech University, Ph.D. Musicology, Fall 2020.

Meagan (Johnson) McAninch, American Treble Choral Index, database and website, August 2020, with Jennifer Flory and Sarah Clegg.

Cannon McClain, Mercer University, Master of Music in Choral Conducting, 2019.

Caroline Miller, awarded Leading Age Georgia’s Volunteer of the Year for 2020; starting Master of Music Therapy at Georgia College in January 2021.

Kayla Otim, University of Florida, Master of Music Education, started 2019.

Laurel (Rivers) Parkhurst, Berklee School of Music, Graduate Certification in Music Theory, starting 2021.

Cory Robinson, earned teaching certification in music education through the Georgia Teacher Academy for Preparation and Pedagogy (GaTAPP) program; earned a Southern Rivers Energy Bright Ideas Classroom Grant; 11 Alive Can A Thon Choral Performances with his elementary school choir.

Jan Serpan, Georgia College, Master of Arts in Teaching: Music Education, started Fall 2019.

Jacqueline Sertell, accepted music therapy position at West Central Georgia Behavioral Hospital, September 2020.

Miquel (Garland) Shanine, article publication: Myers-Coffman, K., Krater, C., Shanine, M., & Bradt, J. “Feasibility and acceptability of the resilience songwriting program for adolescent bereavement.” The Arts in Psychotherapy, 71 (2020).

Julia Splittorff, Georgia State University, Master of Public Health in Epidemiology, started Fall 2019.

Anthony Switala, SUNY Fredonia, Master of Music Therapy, started 2019.

Alpha Torres, awarded Leading Age Georgia’s Volunteer of the Year for 2020.

Dana (LaValley) Usry, Liberty University, Master of Arts in Teaching, started 2019

Sara Whitten, started new music therapy private practice in Macon and surrounding areas, launched January 2021.

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Friends of Music are alumni, members of the community, faculty, staff, and music-lovers from all walks of life who generously support the Department of Music.

Interested in joining our Friends of Music?

Your gift to the Department of Music allows us to offer our students scholarships, fund tours for our ensemble members, and support outreach efforts, such as the Bobcat Keys After-School Piano program.

If you would like to make an online donation, please click here. Once there, choose “Other” in the designation drop-down menu and type whichever designated music area(s) you prefer in the “Other” box.

If you would like to discuss ways your gift might support our endeavors, please feel free to schedule an appointment with us via email (music@gcsu.edu) or by phone at 478-445-8289.

2021 Audition Dates

To learn more about auditions for the Department of Music at Georgia College, please visit our website.

Majors, Minors, and Degrees

Bachelor of Arts in Music

Bachelor of Music Therapy

Creative Music Media Minor

Master of Music Education

Master of Arts in Teaching: Music Education

Master of Music Therapy

Music Minor

Music Precertification Minor

To learn more about the degree programs offered by the Department of Music, please visit our website.

202 Porter Hall | Campus Box 66

Milledgeville, GA 31061

Fax: (478) 445-1633

Email: music@gcsu.edu
Website: music.gcsu.edu
Location: 210 North Wilkinson Street, Milledgeville, GA, USA
Phone: (478) 445-8289
Facebook: facebook.com/GCMusicDepartment
Twitter: @gc_musicdept