A rare double bass performance will be showcased at Mercer this weekend. Find tickets.

Macon-Mercer Symphony Orchestra features something unusual Monday in the spotlight: the double bass. In this case, it’s played by Mercer University Concerto Competition 2024 student winner Eion Lyons.

There’s that and much more in the next few days to get out and about and enjoy. Here’s more on Lyons and a sampling of other happenings:

Lyons is originally from the Oley Valley in Pennsylvania near Reading. Lyons came to the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings at Mercer University in August to study double bass performance after gaining a master of music degree at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music and a bachelor of music degree from the Peabody Conservatory of The Johns Hopkins University.

A multi-instrumentalist, Lyons told me he grew up in a musical family that didn’t participate in classical music, but he enjoyed hearing and playing all types of music. He was involved in choruses in school and learned several instruments, including trumpet and tuba, but was drawn to double bass.

“A lot of factors drew me and after playing in jazz bands and being involved with the Reading Symphony Youth Orchestra I realized this was what I wanted to do full time,” he said. “Everyone thinks of double bass as a bluegrass, ‘oompa’ sort of instrument – and that’s great – but in an orchestra it’s different. It can be hard to be heard sometimes in an orchestra so you have to really work on that but it provides so much to the overall sound. It rarely takes center stage, though.”

But Lyons’ talent and his winning the concerto competition is giving him the chance to bring his instrument front and center Monday at the Macon-Mercer Symphony performance. He’ll perform Serge Koussevitzky’s Double Bass Concerto, Op. 3.

“It’s a piece ripe with Russian romanticism composed in the early 20th Century and is very luscious, almost a hyper-romanticism work,” he said. “It’s fun to listen to and its melodies are perfectly gorgeous.”

An added highlight of the evening for Lyons is that the concert’s guest conductor is Jeffrey Turner, Lyons’ double bass teacher at the McDuffie Center. Award-winning Turner enjoys multi-faceted roles as an educator, double bass orchestral musician, chamber musician, soloist and conductor.

In addition to playing widely and working with students as a visiting distinguished artist-teacher at the McDuffie, he’s a professor of double bass at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music and was on the faculties of Carnegie Mellon University and Duquesne University for nearly three decades.

Included in Monday’s program is the artistic suite, “Pictures at an Exhibition.”

“Jeffrey Turner has been super formative for me, pushing me further and further and embodying the bassist I want to be in the future,” Lyons said. “Monday will definitely be a special moment for me as we get to perform as mentor and student together. It’s great to share the spotlight with him and show off an instrument most don’t pay a lot of attention to or appreciate as much as they should.”

Lyons acknowledged a benefit of being at the McDuffie Center is its ability to draw internationally recognized musicians such as Turner, not only to teach but to conduct workshops and often play in the community as with the Macon-Mercer Symphony. This is based solidly on the international reputations of violinists Robert McDuffie and the center’s director, Amy Schwartz Moretti. This provides great opportunities, like getting to hear and learn from legendary double bassist Edgar Meyer, a musical hero of Lyons, whom he said he had never heard live before or expected to meet and learn from up close and personal.

Lyons, 25, youthfully considers Meyer “a monster on bass.”

To add greater appreciation for the caliber of students coming to Mercer, consider a sampling of what Lyons does outside his McDuffie schedule of classes: He plays with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, is a guest musician with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, and is substitute bassist with the Louisville Orchestra, Alabama Symphony Orchestra, Pensacola Symphony Orchestra and Reading Pops Orchestra.

But he’s here to fine-tune his craft and you can hear that Monday.

For information and ticketing for the concert, the final of the Macon-Mercer Symphony season, go to mcduffie.mercer.edu/symphony.

Macon Sculpture Walk

The Macon Sculpture Walk brings three new pieces of outdoor art to downtown this weekend, and there’s a party Friday at The 567 Center to celebrate. You can learn about and see photos of the new works, enjoy light refreshments and meet the artists whose work will be displayed for the next year. You can also pick up maps to get you to all the Sculpture Walk pieces scattered downtown.

“It’s always exciting to see the new sculptures,” said sculpture walk coordinator Melissa Macker, who’s also director of The 567. “Downtown Macon continues to grow as a public art destination and visitors and locals alike can enjoy engaging with these pieces in days ahead. The artists have done an incredible job creating works that people will stop and notice.”

This is the sixth year of the Sculpture Walk, made possible through a grant from the Linda Harriett Lane Fund of the Community Foundation of Central Georgia and supporters of The 567.

This year’s sculptors include one local and two from elsewhere. They are Alex Mendez, Flaminio Antonio and Macon-based James R. Bodell. The Macon Sculpture Walk exhibits high-quality public sculptures for one year. However, some sculptures from previous years remain permanently after being purchased by local businesses and organizations.

The Downtown Macon Community Association started the Macon Sculpture Walk in 2018 as a way to beautify downtown and attract visitors. Since then, The 567 Center for Renewal has continued the annual exhibit alongside community partners as part of its mission to bring creative life to downtown Macon.

Friday’s premier party is at The 567 at 456 First St. from 6-7:30 p.m. It is free. For more, visit the567center.org.

Fired Works Pottery Festival

It’s time again for the annual Fired Works Pottery Festival. This year, more than 30 artists bring their functional and sculptural pottery to the Round Building at Carolyn Crayton Park, 115 Willie Smokie Glover Drive.

If it’s your first time, you’ll be amazed at the creativity of the potters and the variety of their work both as decorative pieces and as useful items around the home or office. If you’re a regular, many favorite potters will be on hand so maybe you’ll find that cup you need to finish a set you’ve been creating. New creators will be there, too, so who knows what you’ll find.

Begun as a local pottery show by the Macon Arts Alliance, the weekend event has grown to be the largest exhibit of its kind in Georgia drawing the best of the best potters.

This year’s featured artist is Suzanne Kleese-Stamps who will give an artist talk Saturday at 11 a.m. Also Saturday, there’s a children’s workshop at 1 p.m. Space is limited. On April 18 there’s a happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m., when you can enjoy a glass of wine as you shop.

Fired Works runs Friday through April 20 with daily viewing and shopping from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more go to maconartsalliance.org/firedworks.

More events

• Friday, the Mercer University Jazz Ensemble presents “Things Ain’t What They Used to Be,” featuring the music of Miles Davis and Mercer Ellington at 7:30 p.m. in Fickling Hall of the McCorkle Music Building. The concert is free. Find more at facebook.com/TownsendSchoolofMusic.

• Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., don’t miss the 14th annual Magnolia Soap Box Derby at Washington Park along Magnolia St. The fun, family event is free and includes three classes of derby races, dozens of community race teams, food trucks, music, a Hot Wheels learning zone, art in the park and a big wheel race for kids. Details are at magnoliaderby.com.

• Saturday from 3 to 9 p.m., Central Georgia Autism again presents their Autism Rocks Music Festival at the Museum of Arts & Sciences, 4182 Forsyth Road. Featured are performances by Matt McMillan and the City Limits, Open Seas and Laura and the Dale Rivers (formerly Front Porch Radio). Plus there’s food and family-friendly activities. Enjoy the day and the music on the lawn – bring blankets and chairs. There are also items to bid on in a silent auction. Tickets are $20 online and $25 at the door but kids are free. The event offers a great afternoon and the chance to celebrate neurodiversity. There’s more at facebook.com/centralgaautism.

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