The Georgia State University School of Music will have two ensembles perform at the 2023 Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) annual in-service conference: the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and the Treble Choir – a very high honor for music ensembles across the state.
The Symphonic Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Dr. Robert J. Ambrose, is recognized as one of the finest ensembles of its type in the region. This premier wind band at Georgia State is comprised of the most advanced woodwind, brass, and percussion student players in the School of Music. The invitation to perform at this year’s in-service conference will be the ensemble’s third GMEA appearance. Other distinguished highlights for the Symphonic Wind Ensemble include two College Band Director’s National Association (CBDNA) regional conference performances, their debut CD American Manuscripts released on the Albany Records label in 2009 featuring several world premiere recordings, contribution tracks to the resource recordings for Volume 7 of the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band and a featured ensemble for the recently released double CD Composer’s Collection: Michael Colgrass.
The Georgia State University Treble Choir, formally known as the Women’s Choir, is under the direction of Dr. Jennifer Sengin. Although this is the Treble Choir’s first conference performance, the Georgia State Choir program has many notable achievements including appearances at divisional and national conferences of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), the National Collegiate Choral Organization (NCCO) and the Georgia Music Educator’s Association Conference. Georgia State Choirs have won several prestigious competitions including the International Chamber Choir Competition in Marktoberdorf, Germany and The American Prize in Choral Performance. Most recently, members of the choirs performed alongside Josh Groban and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra with Andrea Bocelli.
Each year, dozens of scholastic and community music ensembles apply for a chance to perform at the annual GMEA conference. Considered the premier annual event for professional development and attended by music educators from across Georgia, the conference showcases the work of musicians from Georgia and beyond.
Ensembles invited to perform at the GMEA conference are reviewed by a panel of their colleagues. Successful performing groups are selected based on their musical skill, advancement of their musical genre and a desire to share with conference attendees. Conference attendees can see these performances live to assist in the skill development of their students and also to learn about new repertoire that may be performed by the invited ensembles.
All GMEA performances are open to the public and will take place in Athens, Georgia in January 2023. The Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Treble Choir performance times will be released in the coming months.
