African-American Philharmonic Orchestra returns to Milledgeville

By Erin Semple
Staff Writer

The African-American Philharmonic Orchestra returns to Milledgeville to perform on Friday, Feb. 8 at 8:00 p.m. in Russell Auditorium.
The group first performed in Milledgeville about a year ago. Tara Butcher, public relations coordinator of Allied Arts, saw that performance.
“The performance was very good. It combined elements of both classical and jazz with more contemporary works, and it was a delightful performance,” said Butcher. “The musicians and vocalists were quite accomplished.”
According to Butcher, the African-American Philharmonic Orchestra (AAPO) was founded in 1989 as a project of Music South Corporation to provide a performance showcase for professional musicians and composers of African-American descent. Music South Corporation (MSC) was formed as a non-profit organization in February 1988 to respond to the musical needs and interests of the Metropolitan Atlanta community through a wide range of musical programs and activities.
John Thomas Peek and Tommy Stewart founded AAPO. Each member of the group has the ability to exhibit a variety of artistry on the featured contemporary, classical, jazz and gospel works. Their past performances include the Montreal Jazz Festival, Atlanta Civic Center, Roxy Theatre, Georgia Tech and Morehouse College. Guest conductors have included Bruno Paige, Musical Director of the Van Nir Chamber Orchestra in Chicago.
AAPO released “Relaxin” at Underground,” which features six original tunes arranged and composed by Tommy Stewart.
John T. Peek is the Music Director for The African-American Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorale as well as The African-American Jazz Orchestra. He is a native of Atlanta, Georgia. A graduate of Booker T. Washington High School, Mr. Peek received a Bachelor of Arts Degree with Distinction from Clark College, now known as Clark Atlanta University.
Peek studied under the direction of Waymon Carver and Dr. J. Dekoven Killingworth. He also studied trumpet with Max Friedentard, First Chair Trumpeter with the show “Oklahoma,” as well as studying trumpet at the Conductors’ Institute, Columbia South Carolina University School of Music.
“He (Peek) has put together a group that is both entertaining and manages to maintain its mission by highlighting African-American musicians and works of composers,” said Butcher.
This performance will be co-sponsored by Allied Arts and the Georgia College & State University Arts Unlimited Committee with additional support from the Georgia Council for the Arts through the appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly. The Council is a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
Tickets for this performance will be available at the door, or advance tickets for the performance may be purchased at the John Marlor Arts Center, 201 North Wayne Street in Milledgeville, Georgia. Adult tickets are $10; senior citizen tickets are $8. Tickets for students are $6. GC&SU students are admitted free with a valid GC&SU I.D.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Feb 8 2002. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry