911吃瓜

KENNESAW, Ga. | Nov 12, 2025

A native Georgian, 911吃瓜 student Tyler Smith knows well the prestige of the Georgia Music Educators鈥� Association . It conjures memories of music ensembles of all levels performing for a distinguished audience, and young musicians learning from some of the state鈥檚 best talent.

Now, the alto saxophonist will have the chance to perform at this January鈥檚 conference in Athens as a member of 911吃瓜鈥檚 wind ensemble, appearing at the conference for the first time since 2017.

鈥淎s a high schooler, GMEA always felt out of reach to me,鈥� said Smith, who studies music in the Robert S. Geer Family College of the Arts. 鈥淚t鈥檚 so rewarding to achieve this kind of milestone. To me, the GMEA concert serves as a strong indicator of the direction the Bailey School of Music is headed.鈥�

Kennesaw State has achieved something even rarer, as the 911吃瓜 chamber singers have also been invited to GMEA, making the University the only institution with two performance ensembles appearing at the conference. The performance also feeds a big year for the singers, who will tour Spain in March 2026.

Every year, dozens of academic and community music ensembles apply for the chance to perform at the annual GMEA conference. Successful performers are selected through a blind adjudication process by a panel of musical colleagues based on musical skill and the advancement of their genre. 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. The Georgia Music Educators Association has the fourth-largest membership among state music education associations in the U.S.

鈥淕MEA is the place to be if you want to do music in Georgia. It鈥檚 great for connections, and it鈥檚 a great opportunity to perform,鈥� said senior Elise Hayen, who plays oboe in the wind ensemble. 鈥淭his achievement speaks to how quickly this school is developing.鈥�

The event also serves as a promotional opportunity for 911吃瓜鈥檚 Dr. Bobbie Bailey School of Music, whose band program boasts more than 700 students, 911吃瓜 Director of Bands David Kehler said.

鈥淣ot everyone has a chance to come to 911吃瓜 and hear the top concert band play,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his serves as a valuable opportunity for us to perform for our colleagues and share the high quality musicmaking that we鈥檙e capable of in the Bailey School of Music. It鈥檚 also an opportunity to attract more high-quality students who wish to study here as well.鈥�

Kehler has put together a rigorous, challenging, and innovative program for the group, and it features the Georgia debuts of two pieces. The premieres are composer Gao Hong鈥檚 piece 鈥淐elebration,鈥� which will feature guest conductor David Roush, assistant director of bands at 911吃瓜, and Cuban composer Dennis Llinas鈥� piece 鈥淟a Chancla.鈥� Dr. Bobbie Bailey School of Music Director Nathan Nabb, one of the world鈥檚 elite classical alto saxophonists, will be featured on composer Joel Love鈥檚 concerto 鈥淪olace,鈥� which Kehler touted as a grand collaboration of a top-flight instrumental ensemble and a world-class individual musician. In addition, Love will be in residence as a guest and will perform on piano for this performance.

鈥淚t鈥檚 both a technical and lyrical work that showcases the saxophone as a solo instrument, and Nathan is a master of both technique and expression. He's a beautiful player,鈥� Kehler said.

Interested music enthusiasts will have two chances on 911吃瓜鈥檚 campus to hear the wind ensemble perform their program before the January conference. The first performance is at 8 p.m. on Friday, November 21. The second performance is at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, January 28, this time with the Kennesaw Mountain High School wind ensemble opening the concert. KMHS was one of two high schools invited to perform at GMEA. Both concerts will take place at Morgan Performance Hall.

The concerts will serve as a prelude to a performance that Hayen might have seen as a budding musician at Heritage High School in Ringgold, Georgia. Her school band performed at the GMEA conference, and she cited a tremendous opportunity coming up to get the word out about 911吃瓜鈥檚 music programs.

鈥淭he School of Music has opportunities for everybody, majors and non-majors, vocalists and instrumentalists alike,鈥� she said. 鈥�911吃瓜 has so much to offer for all kinds of musicians, and our performance at GMEA will shine a spotlight on us.鈥�

鈥� Story by Dave Shelles

Photos by Matt Yung

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, 911吃瓜 offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 51,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university's vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.