Robert McDuffie Center for Strings

04/24/2026

Robert McDuffie Center for Strings sophomore Benjamin Linton stepped on the Piedmont Grand Opera House stage as a soloist April 13 to perform Jean Sibelius’s Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47. He received the honor of being featured with the Macon-Mercer Symphony Orchestra as winner of Mercer University’s 2026 Concerto Competition.

It’s a long work in three movements.

“It was a big-time performance of arguably the most technically and musically challenging violin concerto there is, and Benjamin stepped up to it big time,” said Robert McDuffie, who was present for the concert.

Benjamin Linton, a sophomore violinist with the McDuffie Center for Strings recently won Mercer University's concerto competition.

04/13/2026

Meet the winner of the 2026 Mercer University Concerto Competition, Benjamin Linton. He earned the title performing a longtime favorite, Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47.

Tonight, you have the chance to see him take the stage alongside the Macon-Mercer Symphony Orchestra and returning conductor Yaniv Segal for the final performance of the season.

Join us tonight, Monday, April 13 at 7:30 PM at the Piedmont Grand Opera House.

Also on the program is Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 and
Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro Overture.

Tickets are $25–35. Mercer students are always free with a valid ID. Get tickets here or at the link in our bio: https://tixr.com/e/151970

04/10/2026

Don’t miss the final performance of the Macon-Mercer Symphony Orchestra season this Monday, April 13, 7:30 PM at the Piedmont Grand Opera House.

Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 anchors the evening - a work composed under intense political pressure, often interpreted as both a public compliance and quiet defiance. Its emotional weight and ambiguity continue to resonate decades later.
The program opens with Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro Overture - iconic and full of theatrical energy. This is followed by Sibelius’ Violin Concerto, an expressive work showcasing the impressive technical range of the violin.

The concerto will be performed by 2026 Mercer University Concerto Competition winner Benjamin Linton, under the direction of conductor Yaniv Segal.

Tickets range from $25–35. Mercer students with a valid ID receive free admission. Get tickets: https://tixr.com/e/151970

03/10/2026

Tonight!

02/21/2026

02/20/2026

Thank you to Michael Pannell and The Macon Melody for writing about the appointment of Emily Brandenburg and our upcoming symphony concert. To get tickets, go to: https://tixr.com/e/151968

https://maconmelody.com/new-director-to-lead-mercer-center-for-strings-symphony-orchestra-concert-fast-approaching/

The McDuffie Center for Strings will welcome a new director this fall. Also, the Macon-Mercer Symphony Orchestra will perform Monday.

02/19/2026

Join us for an unforgettable evening of collaboration as internationally acclaimed conductor Mei-Ann Chen leads the Macon-Mercer Symphony Orchestra, young artists from the Otis Redding Center for the Arts perform original songs with full orchestral arrangements, and Mahler’s monumental “Titan” brings the night to a powerful close.

Monday, February 23
7:30 PM
Tickets: $25-35, Students FREE with valid ID
Get your tickets now for a moment Macon won’t forget: https://tixr.com/e/15196

01/28/2026

Have you been to Macon and Mercer's best kept secret? The Fabian Concert Series has world-class chamber performances in an intimate hall, and our next show is coming up this Tuesday, Feb. 3. Limited seats available, get yours now: https://tixr.com/e/147981

01/13/2026

Tonight's Fabian concert is SOLD OUT - please note if you're planning to attend. If you already have tickets, we ask that you be in your seats by the concert starting time of 7:30 PM.

11/17/2025

🚨 SOLD OUT! 🚨
Tonight’s Macon-Mercer Symphony Orchestra concert (11/17) featuring the Mills Concerto and Brahms Symphony #1 is officially SOLD OUT! Students can still obtain limited seats at the door with a valid student ID. Please come to the box office, which will open at 6:30 p.m., with any questions or concerns.