2008 Woodie Awards
Music department goes to Savannah
by Kyle Thurmond
Issue date: 1/28/08 Section: A&E
On Jan. 23, Piedmont College took music students to a conference in Savannah, hosted by the Georgia Music Educators Alliance, GMEA. The conference is designed for up-and-coming educators, as well as those already in the field. They meet to discuss different techniques, practices and skills, as well as to present some of the music programs of Georgia an opportunity to perform for their peers.
Heather Vaughn, Benji Stegner, Emily Giardina, Jennifer Babel and Nick Golding attended the concert. Piedmont staff who chaperoned the trip included Dr. Lauren Ringwall, Dr. Wallace Hinson, Dr. Phillip Hayner, Eva Jameson and Thomas Jameson.
The conference took place from Thursday until Saturday, and gave the students and professors several opportunities to make contacts and learn from fellow musicians. Lectures were presented by Dr. Timothy Seelig, Dr. Andrea Strauss and Dr. Matthew Hoch. Along with the lectures, attendees could enjoy concerts from performers that would not normally be accessible, such as the Georgia State University Wind Ensemble and Kennesaw State University Chamber Singers.
The students and faculty were not limited to simply attending. Eva Jameson and Ringwall participated in a panel of presenters for a lecture regarding Large Group Performance Evaluation, LGPE, where high school groups come to certain locations and present two pieces to be judged. Stegner also participated in the All-State Band, a group of instrumentalists from across the state that grouped together, practiced 12 hours, and put on an amazing performance.
Along with the different concerts and lectures, participants were given the opportunity to pursue many different shops and business opportunities such as fund-raising programs, sheet music stores, instrument companies and other colleges such as UGA. Piedmont also had a booth at the event.
Graduate student Emily Giardina said that "...it was a lot of fun. I think that as you get closer to graduating and attend more it takes on more of a meaning, because these are skills you will need when you go into teaching."
Overall, the students seemed to enjoy the conference, and were glad Piedmont provided the opportunity for the trip.
Heather Vaughn, Benji Stegner, Emily Giardina, Jennifer Babel and Nick Golding attended the concert. Piedmont staff who chaperoned the trip included Dr. Lauren Ringwall, Dr. Wallace Hinson, Dr. Phillip Hayner, Eva Jameson and Thomas Jameson.
The conference took place from Thursday until Saturday, and gave the students and professors several opportunities to make contacts and learn from fellow musicians. Lectures were presented by Dr. Timothy Seelig, Dr. Andrea Strauss and Dr. Matthew Hoch. Along with the lectures, attendees could enjoy concerts from performers that would not normally be accessible, such as the Georgia State University Wind Ensemble and Kennesaw State University Chamber Singers.
The students and faculty were not limited to simply attending. Eva Jameson and Ringwall participated in a panel of presenters for a lecture regarding Large Group Performance Evaluation, LGPE, where high school groups come to certain locations and present two pieces to be judged. Stegner also participated in the All-State Band, a group of instrumentalists from across the state that grouped together, practiced 12 hours, and put on an amazing performance.
Along with the different concerts and lectures, participants were given the opportunity to pursue many different shops and business opportunities such as fund-raising programs, sheet music stores, instrument companies and other colleges such as UGA. Piedmont also had a booth at the event.
Graduate student Emily Giardina said that "...it was a lot of fun. I think that as you get closer to graduating and attend more it takes on more of a meaning, because these are skills you will need when you go into teaching."
Overall, the students seemed to enjoy the conference, and were glad Piedmont provided the opportunity for the trip.
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