A premier honor ensemble of high school musicians is coming to Waleska. The North Georgia Youth Wind Symphony (NGYWS) will hold auditions on Saturday, August 12 for its inaugural season, and all musically talented 9th-12th grade students are encouraged to audition. Rehearsals and performances will be on Sunday afternoons at the Falany Performing Arts Center, including a combined concert with the Atlanta Wind Symphony.
The NGYWS will provide a positive musical and social experience in a welcoming environment for advanced woodwind, brass, harp, string bass, and percussion instrumentalists. This concert band will be co-conducted by Dr. Kerry Bryant and Dennis Naughton, faculty in the School of Performing Arts.
Dr. Bryant says Naughton pitched the idea and they agreed there is a demand by young musicians in northwest Georgia to have an opportunity like this to enhance their talents. Dr. Bryant explained, “We are offering a year-long enhanced musical opportunity that young, highly accomplished musicians might not get every day in their home band.” They hope for 50-60 members this year.
A youth choir is also coming to Cherokee County and all singers ages 10 to 14 are encouraged to audition. Nationally renowned choral conductor Dr. Martha Shaw will be leading the Young Singers of Flint Hall (YSOFH).
Reinhardt Choir Director Dr. Shaw has been honored for her success in creating and leading two children’s choirs at Clayton State University for 29 years. Over the years, her choirs have performed with the Atlanta Symphony, at the Vatican, Carnegie Hall, in the Beijing concert hall, and recorded four CD’s. Dr. Shaw will now bring out the young voices of North Georgia, based out of Waleska.
The Young Singers of Flint Hall will be a community of young singers who share a love of music, a passion for excellence, and a sense of adventure for learning. Dr. Shaw strives to help create beautiful people while creating beautiful music. She not only inspires excellence in singing but encourages children to be the best they can be. She’s not looking for a perfect voice, she’s looking for a good heart.
The inaugural choir will rehearse in Flint Hall at the Falany Performing Arts Center on the Reinhardt campus Thursdays at 4:45pm, starting August 17. They will perform concerts in November and April.
