ATLANTA—The College of the Arts (COTA) is excited to announce that the Community Music Programs office is repositioning itself as the Office of Educational Outreach (OEO) to better encompass a broader scope of arts programming and to connect each COTA school to the local Atlanta community through a range of educational opportunities.
While continuing its signature music programming, the office will explore new programming to showcase the visual arts, film, media and theatre. The office currently develops and supports numerous on-campus workshops, institutes, summer camps, professional development, and conferences to benefit participants ranging from middle or high school students, collegiate students, and public and private school teachers.
“In its previous iteration, this office was highly successful in connecting with students and educators in the local Atlanta community,” said college dean, Wade Weast. “Opening up this office to serve all schools across the College of the Arts will broaden the impact we have on artists of all disciplines.”
As new programs for visual arts, film, media and theatre are in development, the 2018 season of programs administered by the OEO is extensive. A packed schedule of music workshops and festivals is already planned for Summer 2018.
Harrower Summer Opera Workshop
Leading off the series is the Harrower Summer Opera Workshop, a unique program with a relaxed yet professional atmosphere offering acting classes, instruction in stage makeup and stage combat, foreign language diction, private coaching, seminars and master classes with international artists. This year, the event culminates in two fully-staged and costumed productions: The Ballad of Baby Doe and Little Women, performed by workshop participants. Harrower is led by Executive Director Dwight Coleman and Artistic Director Carroll Freeman.
The two-day Summer Leadership Institute, hosted by the Georgia State University Bands is designed to foster growth within the leadership of high school band programs. Guided by world-class faculty Josh Byrd, Joel Denton, Jeff Harper, Matt McCord and David Roth, over 400 students from around the Southeast come together to learn effective leadership strategies and skills that will better equip students to lead themselves, their sections, and their band.
Summer Leadership Institute
Featuring Atlanta’s top jazz artists including Director Dr. Gordon Vernick, the Summer Jazz Workshop, develops the next generation of jazz artists through combo rehearsals, improv sessions, jam sessions and performances in this day-camp for middle and high school students.
At the Atlanta Summer Conducting Institute, choral conductors of all skill levels immerse themselves in a week of musical mentorship with nationally-renowned conductors. Under the leadership of Dr. Deanna Joseph and Dr. Daniel Bara, participating conductors grow through seminars, reading sessions and conducting a professional choir in a master class setting.
The Office of Educational Outreach website will continue to announce new programming and event updates through their website https://www.thearts.gsu.edu/educational-outreach and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/gsu.cota.oeo/.