Mercer University will bring diverse music selection to a free show at a Macon hotspot

Want to hear a rendition of Toto’s “Africa” or A-ha’s “Take on Me” in the next few days? Or maybe enjoy something classical in a relaxed atmosphere – some Haydn or Bach, maybe? Or how about Chick Corea jazz wanderings or a modern composer’s explorations in minimalist works like Steve Reich’s “Clapping?”

Surprisingly, you can hear all that and more in one place at one time when The Society Garden welcomes the Mercer University Wind Ensemble Chamber Players on April 24 at 6 p.m.

That’s right, a uniquely diverse presentation in a unique setting by some of Mercer’s finest young music students and their faculty. Entry is free for an evening like few others. But it’s not likely to be the last of these types of performances.

“We’ll be creating 10 small chamber music groups from the larger wind ensemble and playing a huge variety of music, much of it selected by the students themselves,” said Brittan Braddock, director of bands, assistant professor of music and coordinator of music education at Mercer’s Townsend School of Music.

“This is a way for people to get out, have a beer or a beverage at The Society Garden or dinner from Liliana’s food truck there and enjoy a mix of high classical music along with some Toto, A-ha and others. It’ll be a fun outdoor evening at the Garden and a way for us to connect with the community and people who might not normally be inclined to come to a regular chamber group concert. I’m excited The Society Garden is willing to host us, it’s definitely my favorite outdoor hangout spot in Macon. There’s such a great ambiance.”

Society Garden co-owner Brad Evans said he’s equally happy to have the group perform.

“It is something different but we do ‘different’ pretty well here,” he said. “It was an easy yes for us to say. I mean, there aren’t a lot of wind ensemble groups knocking at our door to play and Mercer’s been such a big supporter since we started here. We’re happy to be involved and hope to do more of this in the future. It’s not the norm but I think it’s something our patrons will truly enjoy.

“We’re the perfect place to sit out and listen to good music. I’m super excited about an ongoing partnership.”

Gary Gerber is dean of Mercer’s Townsend School of Music and a professor of music there. He said though some might consider it unusual, the event is warranted and a benefit for students and the community.

“One of the things Dr. (Brittan) Braddock is trying to do is give students an opportunity to play in smaller chamber groups instead of always playing in the larger ensemble,” he said. “It’s something they need to know as they go out into their careers in music. Playing in a unique setting, a setting they’re not so used to, broadens their experience and gets them out of the academic concert hall situation.

“I think it’s something fun and different the crowds will enjoy and the students are enjoying. It’s a different setting with different instrumentation and some different music and that’s really the theme of the concert. Hopefully, this will pique the interest of folks who haven’t come to hear our student concerts and they’ll get a taste for what they’re missing. And, we don’t just do classical 24 hours a day. I appreciate Dr. Braddock for having the creativity to put a program like this together.”

Braddock has been at Mercer for three semesters, coming from a stint at West Florida’s Dr. Grier Williams School of Music and having taught in public schools. While completing doctoral studies at the University of Colorado Boulder, she and other students were challenged to make their music more accessible.

While many said to play more modern music, Braddock also said the music should be taken to where people are rather than always making people come to the music in traditional, unfamiliar concert halls. She picked a favorite Boulder outdoor venue, The Rayback Collective restaurant, and took the music there.

“It was awesome,” she said. “Here at Mercer, our players are high-achieving classical players but they need to know how to concentrate, be focused and have fun playing music in non-formal situations. They were kind of shocked when I said, ‘Hey kids, don’t wear your concert black outfits when you get ready for Wednesday.’“

“It’s good to think outside the box and we want everyone to enjoy the music we love which is pretty wide-ranging when you come down to it. We want the classical music and our musicians to be accessible and entertaining. We want people to feel welcomed and understand that even the highest and maybe hard-to-understand pieces offer something to them on a very real human and emotional level.”

The event is free and The Society Garden is at 2389 Ingleside Ave. For more on The Society Garden, go to thesocietygarden.com. For the Townsend School of Music go to music.mercer.edu. The event, titled “Mercer University Wind Ensemble Free Community Concert,” also has a Facebook event page.

Contact writer Michael W. Pannell at mwpannell@gmail.com.