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“WE KNOW THAT STUDENTS WANT TO TAKE OWNERSHIP
OF THEIR CAREERS. THROUGH COURSES IN SONGWRITING,
SCORING AND ARRANGING, AND MUSIC TECHNOLOGY, OUR
STUDENTS WILL DEVELOP THEIR UNIQUE MUSICAL STYLES
AND CREATE MARKETABLE PRODUCTS.”

—DR. REBECCA LANNING

Dr. Rebecca Lanning, mezzo soprano, is MGA’s music coordinator who wrote the program proposal for the new degree. Devoted
to modern music, Lanning presented the world premiere of McNair’s “Judas Wind” with the Macon Symphony Orchestra and the
Georgia premier of Einhorn’s “The Spires, The City, The Field” with the Albany Symphony Orchestra. As a member of Robert Shaw’s
Chamber Singers and Festival Singers, she has performed several times at Carnegie Hall. JESSICA WHITLEY

The message resonates with Rebecca Gaw, a although she’ll have to earn a master’s degree to 13
Middle Georgia State student from Warner Rob- do that full-time. She already has a part-time job
ins who plans to apply to the new music program. teaching woodwinds at an area middle school.
Years ago, Gaw, 35, gave up playing the saxo- “I’m not in a position right now to move
phone, her “first love.” The reasons went beyond somewhere else to get an affordable music
uncertainty about how to make a living, but it’s degree,” Gaw said. “This came along just in time.
notable that when her children were old enough It’s like God put it right here in front of me.”
for her to start college as a non-traditional stu- The degree launch follows last year’s decision
dent, she went for a “practical” accounting degree by University leaders to expand band instruc-
instead of something music-related. tion and facilities on the Macon Campus. Now
“I liked accounting, but it didn’t speak to me housed in larger space in a building adjacent to
like my music did,” Gaw said. the Student Life Center, the Band of Knights and
She had picked the sax back up after 17 years its various subunits, like the jazz ensemble, are
of not playing, and as word of a potential Middle poised for growth.
Georgia State degree in music began to spread, “The majority of Middle Georgia State stu-
she transferred to the University from another dents who want to participate in band programs
area college in fall 2016. take classes on the Macon and Warner Robins
Gaw now plays sax for the jazz ensemble of campuses, so consolidating instruction at a single,
MGA’s Band of Knights and is planning to pur- more convenient location gives them those op-
sue a music-related career, perhaps in teaching, portunities and makes it more feasible for them

Spring 2018 CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

MGA TODAY