As an established recitalist, conductor and head of the Department of Music at the University of North Georgia (UNG), Dr. Benjamin Schoening knows music is innate to all people.
"As a performer in an ensemble here at UNG, it is an opportunity to be creative and an opportunity to form a community with a group of individuals who share in a common passion despite the wide range of backgrounds and major interests represented," said Schoening, an associate professor of music. "All are striving toward the same ultimate goal of creating harmony … of creating a unified work of art that they perform to move the audience."
UNG students, faculty and staff will create that harmony this fall through several performances on UNG's Dahlonega and Gainesville campuses. Performing will be bands, orchestras, choirs, musical theater groups, chamber ensembles, and soloists.
These performances also are a chance for the UNG community to show off its talents.
Dr. Lee Barrow, professor of music at UNG, explained students in the musical theater class participate in showcases since they do not present full musicals on the Dahlonega Campus.
"I see the students who are in my class and find performances that will help them develop," he said, explaining about two-thirds of the class is music majors.
This fall, the Musical Theater Workshop will present its production called "A Million Dreams." In the first half, students will perform a one-act play called "The Reluctant Dragon." After intermission, they will perform excerpts from Broadway shows such as "Into the Woods," "Fiddler on the Roof" and "Les Miserable," as well as selections from movies including "The Greatest Showman" and "Tangled."
"These performances give students the opportunity to combine the visual aspect with the music aspect," Barrow said.
For the ensembles, they can share their music and passion with fellow students, faculty and the community, Schoening said.
"It is what the experience is all about," he said.
For students attending the concerts, it will broaden their horizons and allow them to explore new and exciting sounds.
"Live music is interactive in a way that recordings and videos simply cannot be," Schoening said. "Further, music touches the soul. It is motivating. It helps form a sense of community and provides an opportunity to escape the world if only for a couple hours at a time."
Of the roughly 50 performances on tap for the fall, some events of note include:
- David Brothers Trio — featuring Andy David, UNG professor of music on the trumpet and piano, John David on drums, and Tim Aucoin on bass — will perform at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 3 in the Ed Cabell Theatre lobby in Gainesville and 7:30 p.m. Oct. 4 in the Shott Performance Hall in Dahlonega.
- UNG Bands will perform with nationally renowned guest conductor Linda Moorhouse at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11 at Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville.
- The 31st annual "All American Piano Celebration" — founded by Joe Chapman, UNG professor of music — presents compositions by American composers and culminates with apple pie and ice cream at 6 p.m. Nov. 10 in Shott Performance Hall.
- Music Theater Workshop Ensemble will present "A Million Dreams" at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6 and 7 in the Shott Performance Hall in Dahlonega.
- Musicians from the Korean Cultural Center in Atlanta will present a program of traditional music at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15 in Shott Performance Hall in Dahlonega and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 28 in the Ed Cabell Theatre in Gainesville.
- Holiday Choral Festival will be at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1 at Grace Episcopal Church in Gainesville.
