MACON — The Macon-Mercer Symphony Orchestra (MMSO) launches its fifth season on Sept. 22 with the first of four blockbuster concerts featuring world-renowned guest conductors, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra musicians, rising stars from the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings, and special community collaborations.
The season opens on Sept. 22 with guest conductor Joseph Young leading Rossini’s “Overture to La Gazza Ladra” and Elgar’s “Cello Concerto.” The concerto shows off Mercer junior Kathryn Fakeley, co-winner of the 2025 Mercer University Concerto Competition. The evening finishes with Stravinsky’s blazing “Firebird Suite.”
Additionally, a special season highlight will feature founder Robert McDuffie, globally acclaimed concert violinist, as a soloist for the first time with the MMSO. On Nov. 17, the spotlight turns to reunion and reinvention. Peter Oundjian returns to the MMSO stage to conduct Brahms “Symphony No. 1,” while legendary rock bassist Mike Mills of R.E.M. joins McDuffie to play Mills’ thrilling “Concerto for Violin, Rock Band and Orchestra.”
The new year brings Mei Ann Chen to the podium on Feb. 23 for Mahler’s epic “Symphony No. 1,” also known as “Titan.” The evening will also feature original music by young songwriters from the new Otis Redding Center for the Arts, highlighting Macon’s next generation of creative voices.
The season concludes April 13 with MMSO conductor Yaniv Segal leading Shostakovich’s monumental “Symphony No. 5,” alongside a selection chosen for the 2026 Mercer University Concerto Competition winner.
“Each program this season reflects the heart of our mission: to bring world-class artistry together with the spirit of my hometown,” McDuffie said. “From R.E.M. to Mahler, from Stravinsky to Otis Redding’s legacy, this is a story only Macon’s premier symphony can tell.”
Macon-Mercer Symphony Orchestra is a groundbreaking intergenerational collaboration between emerging artists of the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings and principal musicians from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra working as orchestral mentors for the students. It has brought the grand power of symphony music back to Macon, filling a necessary role for the Middle Georgia community. For five years in a row, the number of subscribers has increased, showing a growing appetite for the unique program.
All performances take place at The Piedmont Grand Opera House at 7:30 p.m. Patrons can guarantee the same seat for the entire season with a subscription. Season tickets can be purchased online or by calling the box office at (478) 301-5470. Mercer faculty and staff and patrons under 40 years of age can get a special discounted $60 season ticket package by calling the box office or emailing morrison_j@mercer.edu for a promo code.
Single tickets for each concert are available for $25-$35 per concert and are free for students of all ages with valid ID. The Center is committed to making the symphony accessible and available for all. Substantial discounts, educational resources and more are available for groups of 10 or larger.
