Friends of the Arts (FOTA) Newsletter
 

Piedmont University | PO Box 10 | Demorest, GA 30535 US

Welcome to the first edition of our newsletter. In the coming editions, we’ll share highlights from across all four of our departments — Art, Music, Theatre, and Communications — including museum openings, concerts, theatre productions, media projects, faculty and student achievements, and opportunities to get involved.


Piedmont University’s performing, visual, and media arts programs are among the best in the state, and we take pride in bringing joy, insight, and beauty to the lives of our students and the communities we serve. Through music, theatre, visual arts, and mass communications, our students and faculty work together to enrich lives, inspire wonder, and share stories that matter.


The 2025–2026 season is filled with opportunities to experience that creativity and talent first-hand — from museum exhibitions to theatre performances, musical events, and student-led media productions. These programs not only enrich campus life but also connect us with the wider Northeast Georgia community.


Your investment through Friends of the Arts (FOTA) directly benefits each department, providing essential resources for productions, exhibitions, field experiences, and professional development. Thanks to generous supporters like you, we can continue building on this strong foundation and fulfill our mission to help people see the world differently — through the lens of art and the power of communication.


Thank you for being part of our creative community. We look forward to keeping you informed, inspired, and connected all season long.



Chris Kelly

Associate Dean, School of Fine Arts & Communications

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On the Horizon – Upcoming Events

Mason-Scharfenstein Museum of Art


Quiet Reflections

Reception – Thursday, August 21 | 4:30–6:30 p.m.


Photograms by Ann Beason and Merri Lawrence. Created using nineteenth-century photographic techniques, these images transform overlooked plants and organic forms into works that invite environmental awareness and creative reflection. Meet the artists and enjoy the first gathering of the new season.

Conserving America’s Wildlands: The Vision of Ted Turner – Photography by Rhett Turner

On view August 21 – May 2026


Rhett Turner, Emmy Award–winning filmmaker and photographer, celebrates his father’s historic conservation efforts in this compelling exhibition based on his new book Conserving America’s Wildlands: The Vision of Ted Turner (Rizzoli New York). The photographs showcase twenty-three Turner family properties — once totaling more than two million acres — spanning the Rocky Mountains, Dakota prairies, and the foothills and coastal plains of the American Southeast. Turner’s dramatic landscapes and wildlife portraits illustrate how private land stewardship, practiced for the benefit of native species and in economically sustainable ways, can be both successful and enduring. A formal reception will be held in October.

Music


Piedmont University Camerata

Sunday, September 7, 2025 | 3:00 p.m., University Chapel


The university’s resident professional piano quintet, now in its 12th season, has earned rave reviews as one of the finest chamber ensembles in the region. Members include: Heather Baird-Strachan, violin; Rachael Fischer, violin; Scott Garrett, viola; Ismail Akbar, cello; Jeri-Mae G. Astolfi, piano. The group will perform a variety of chamber music by Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms, César Franck, Maurice Ravel, and Robert Schumann. Piedmont University Dean of Libraries and University Librarian, Bob Glass, will serve as the concert host.

Theatre


Godspell

November 6–8, 2025


Directed by Bill Gabelhausen

Music Direction by Joshua DeVane



A timeless musical that blends the parables of Jesus with a vibrant contemporary score by Stephen Schwartz. This uplifting and energetic production will inspire audiences with its message of community, compassion, and joy.


🎟 Purchase Tickets

Mass Communications


Our Mass Communications students are engaged year-round in producing high-quality content across video, radio, and digital media. You can explore their work and listen live through ROAR, Piedmont’s student-run media outlet.


🎙 Visit ROAR

FOTA BENEFIT CONCERT


Bogey and the Viceroy

Saturday, September 20, 2025 | 6:00-8:00 p.m.



Join us for an unforgettable night of live music with Bogey and the Viceroy, benefiting Friends of the Arts (FOTA). The band’s signature blend of soul, funk, and R&B will have everyone dancing, all while supporting student experiences in the arts.


🎟 Purchase Tickets

▶ Watch Promo Video

Get involved


Come sing with the Piedmont Chorale!


The Piedmont University Chorale is our large choral ensemble open to Piedmont students, faculty, staff, and interested singers from the community. All interested singers are invited to share their musical talents by singing in the Chorale on Mondays, 6:00 - 8:00 pm, in the Concert Hall of the Conservatory of Music. Rehearsals begin August 18 as the Chorale prepares for the 37th Annual Lessons and Carols performance. Please contact Bobby Ivey, Director of Choirs, for more information about joining the Piedmont Chorale.

rivey@piedmont.edu or 706-778-8500, ext 1211

Thank you for being part of the Friends of the Arts community.

Your support makes it possible for us to continue presenting exceptional programs and creating transformative opportunities for our students.
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