The Music Pathway at Georgia State University Perimeter College is linked to a vibrant cultural life, not only for the college, but the greater Atlanta community. Whether you are a prospective student who wants to develop professional music skills; a local resident who wants to join a quality music ensemble; or someone who simply wants to enjoy impressive concerts—there’s something for you in the Perimeter music program.
We invite you to explore our web page and learn about our faculty and ensembles, peruse the calendar of events and discover how to prepare for music study at Perimeter College. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to call or stop by the Fine Arts and Humanities office in the Fine Arts Building on our Clarkston Campus.
Department of Fine Arts and Humanities
Fine Arts Building, Clarkston campus
Department Office: CF-2230
Department Telephone: 678-891-3556
Department Email: [email protected]
Brian Bonin
Assistant Chair of Fine Arts and Humanities (Clarkston)
[email protected]
678-891-3561
Vicente Della Tonia
Clarkston CF-2240
[email protected]
678-891-3559
Greg McLean
Clarkston CF-2190
[email protected]
678-891-3566
Slava Prudchenko
Online
[email protected]
678-891-3556
Music Events Calendar
Overview
For decades, the Georgia State University Perimeter College Music Pathway — highlighted by a rigorous curriculum and small classes — has been preparing students for success in a variety of music careers.
Our faculty members are active performers, composers and arrangers who bring a wealth of practical knowledge and enthusiasm to the classroom. A full calendar of recitals, concerts and master classes provide students opportunities to perfect their performance skills and benefit from the skill of faculty and guest artist performers.
Among the most highly regarded features of our program are the professional-in-residence and community ensembles, in which students are able to perform alongside professional musicians and music educators — as well as gifted and enthusiastic amateurs — who visit from throughout metro Atlanta and beyond to create music on Perimeter’s Clarkston Campus.
The Perimeter Music Pathway, housed in the Fine Arts building on Georgia State’s Clarkston Campus, is supported by facilities such as the 500-seat Marvin Cole Auditorium, an intimate Performance Studio for recitals, 12 studios for student practice, a computer lab equipped for music editing/notation and audio/video production, and several multimedia classrooms.
Student Community Ensembles
Perimeter College Community Wind Ensemble
The Perimeter College Community Wind Ensemble, founded in 1967, consists of Perimeter faculty and students, high school students and community musicians. The Wind Ensemble has been invited to perform at regional and national conventions throughout the Southeast.
Perimeter College Jazz Ensemble
The Perimeter College Jazz Ensemble is a community performing group comprising Perimeter students and some of the finest amateur, semi-professional and professional jazz musicians in the Atlanta area.
Perimeter College Jazz Lab Band
The Jazz Lab Band provides an environment for Perimeter students to study and perform the stylistic elements of jazz, including improvisation.
Perimeter College Chorale
The Perimeter College Chorale is a mixed-voice (male and female) ensemble that is open to all Perimeter students and faculty. The chorus sings a variety of styles of music in concerts on campus and throughout metro Atlanta.
Professional-in-Residence Ensembles
Founded in 2013 as a cornerstone element of the Atlanta Guitar Guild’s Education and Outreach program, the orchestra performs seasonal concerts of music on guitar in all of its stylistic variety.
The DeKalb Symphony Orchestra (DSO), established in 1964, is composed of community members, Perimeter College students and select professional orchestra musicians. The DSO offers a season of up to 15 concerts a year, including its popular annual Children’s Concert, Picnic Pops Concerts and free Community Concerts.
Peach State Opera (PSO) is a professional touring company that enriches the cultural life of small communities in the Georgia region and nurtures the careers of emerging professional opera singers. PSO presents condensed, audience-friendly, English-language productions of famous operas.
The flute quartet “Perimeter Flutes” was created in 2005 to bring the rich cultural diversity of flute literature to Atlanta area audiences through concerts, recitals, public broadcasts, and recordings.
Welcome from the Program Director
Assistant Chair, Arts and Humanities Brian Bonin
One of the most special aspects of the Music pathway at Perimeter College is the diversity of people who come together in the pursuit of musical excellence. Traditional college students interact with professional musicians and talented community members in our community or professional-in-residence ensembles. Established adults, who have raised children and are returning to school, study in the classroom and the studio with our excellent artist teaching faculty. A steady stream of guest artists from across the country and beyond contribute to the fertility of our program through concerts and master classes. This special environment has inspired and cultivated generations of successful performers, music educators, arts administrators, and amateur enthusiasts.
I invite you to contribute to our diversity – whether it be joining an ensemble, pursuing formal training, or just attending top-quality concerts, we have a place for you. I welcome your questions about our program and look forward to participating in your musical journey.
Brian Bonin
Assistant Chair of Fine Arts and Humanities (Clarkston)
Fyodor Cherniavsky
MI KYUNG CHO
Thomas Cremer
ZACHARY EVANS
SIMONE EVANS
KATHERINE FARMER
PAUL FISCHER
ADAM FRANK
LAURA GORDY
TAYLOR HELMS
WILLIAM (CALEB) HERRON
EVELYN HUGHES
PATRICK HUTCHISON
AMY LEVENTHAL
KATHRYN LINDBERG
ALLISON LINGENFELTER
CHRISTOPHER RIGGENBACH
LEE TAYLOR
JANICE VERNON
JOHN WHEELER
FAQs
How do I become a music major?
Students should contact the Clarkston campus Fine Arts and Humanities office at 678-891-3556 to schedule an entrance audition and the music theory entrance exam. Below are the requirements for the entrance audition:
Voice: Candidates for a vocal music emphasis will perform two classical solos, arranged for voice and piano: 1) an art song, aria, or indigenous folk song in a foreign language (Italian, German or French); and 2) a song in English. Candidates are encouraged to select repertoire from anthologies such as the Twenty-Four Italian Songs and Arias anthology and the First Book of [Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano/Alto, Tenor, Baritone/Bass] Solos series, both published by G. Schirmer. Candidates will perform both of these selections from memory and need to bring a copy of the sheet music, in the proper key, for the pianist. Perimeter College will provide a pianist for the audition.
Piano: Candidates must perform, from memory, two classical piano solos, of contrasting styles and musical eras, chosen from the traditional piano literature. Candidates should also be able to execute the following skills from memory:
- all major and all harmonic minor scales, 4 octaves, hands together, in 16th notes; minimum metronome speed of quarter note = 84;
- all major and minor arpeggios, 4 octaves, hands together, in 16th notes; minimum metronome speed of quarter note = 40; and
- primary chord progressions in all major and minor keys (Major: I-IV64-I-V7-I / Minor: i-iv64-i-V7-i).
Orchestral/Jazz Instruments: Candidates will perform two selections of contrasting style, from memory or with music. Additionally, candidates must be prepared to play any of the major scales and arpeggios.
At what campuses do you offer music classes?
What genres of music do you study?
How will the Associate degree in music prepare me for bachelor’s level study?
What careers can I pursue with a music degree?
Looking specifically within the music industry, a music degree can open the door to a variety of careers:
- Music Educator (K-12 or college level)
- Private Music Teacher (one-on-one lessons)
- Music Textbook Writer/Editor
- Concert Music Composer
- TV/Theater/Movie Composer
- Performing Artist (concerts, recital)
- Studio Musician
- Audio Engineer (recording)
- Sound Designer (theater)
- Music Software Designer
- Music Production (producer)
- Arts Administration
- Artist Management
- Music Entrepreneur
- Church Musician/Minister
- Music Therapist
- Music Historian
- Music Journalist or Critic
- Radio Programming Specialist/Personality
- Orchestra Manager/Librarian
- Music Equipment Representative
- Music Publisher (print and online)
Can I participate in your ensembles without being admitted as a Perimeter College student?
FAQs
Campus Contact:
Brian Bonin, Assistant Chair of Fine Arts and Humanities (Clarkston) /[email protected]/ 678-891-3561
Pathway Emerges from a Strong History
Perimeter College’s Music pathway has grown and evolved during the college’s 50-plus-year history. Below are a few of the faculty members who helped to create and expand and preserve Perimeter’s music offerings:
Tommy Joe Anderson (born Bristol, Va., 1947) began his piano studies in Wytheville, Va., with Loretta Hannon and Rudolph BeCraft. He continued study with Henry Black at Shenandoah Conservatory of Music, receiving a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance, and with Herman Godes at West Virginia University, receiving the Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in composition. His primary composition teacher was Thomas Canning at WVU.
Jui-Wen Ginger Chen, born in Taipei, Taiwan, began the study of piano at the age of 5 and was selected to participate in the National Special Program for Musically Gifted Students in Taipei at the age of 9. She received her Doctor of Music degree in Piano Performance and Master of Music degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Northwestern University. She received her Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from the University of South Carolina at Columbia. All degrees were earned with high distinction. She also received a Certificate of Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the Piano Institute at Saint-Petersburg Conservatory, Russia.
Donald Glen Larson (June 1, 1931- Feb. 26, 2013) held a Bachelor of Music from MacPhail College of Music and a Master of Music from Northwestern University [Church Music].
Edward L. Lormand began playing clarinet in 1944 while still in elementary school in his hometown, Crowley, La., and credits his Crowley High School clarinet teacher and bandmaster, Kenneth D. Long, a graduate of Indiana University, with setting him on the path to a career in music.
McClary has served as Principal Trumpet with the Chicago Chamber Orchestra, the Green Bay Symphony, the Augusta Symphony, Atlanta Opera, and Atlanta Ballet orchestras and the Savannah Symphony. He has played with the Chicago Symphony (Ravinia) and Dallas and Fort Worth symphonies.
Susan J. McEwen received Educational Specialist and Master of Music degrees from Georgia State University, where she studied piano with Carey Lewis and organ with Sarah Leathers Martin. She received a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Shorter University, studying piano with William Knight and organ with David Beatty.
John Mitchum held a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education (1957, University of South Carolina), a Master of Music Education (1965, VanderCook College of Music and a Doctor of Education degree in Music Education (1969, Florida State University).
TESTIMONIALS
“My experience in the music pathway at Perimeter College at Clarkston is amazing! The staff is very nice and the music teachers help me a lot! The recitals and concerts provide me an important musical experience, and I am satisfied with my learning results.”
Mirna Hatanaka Kikawa
Music Pathway, Piano Performance
Perimeter College
Plans to transition to Georgia State Atlanta Campus to pursue her bachelor’s
“I have fond and lasting memories of time well spent in music theory classes, performance ensembles such as the Chorus and Jazz Ensemble and private lessons. The skills taught in these classes directly shape my day and decisions as a professional musician and teacher.”
Erik Herndon
Featured in the book “American Teacher: Heroes in the Classroom”
Perimeter College Alumnus, 2000-2002
“The fact that a [two-year] school like Perimeter College had a Fine Arts program and had the teachers that it did was quite unique and quite incredible.”
John Irvin
Tenor, Lyric Opera of Chicago
http://johnirvintenor.com/
Perimeter College Alumnus, 2005-2007
“Attending Perimeter College was a unique experience for me because I grew up as a self-taught singer. Perimeter College’s Clarkston music program exposed me to a very effective and innovative approach to learning classical repertoire for piano and voice. I never played the piano a day in my life, but after one semester at Perimeter, I performed my first piano recital and my first classical vocal recital–all because God graced me with the pleasure of learning from really great teachers like Dr. Bonin, who believed in my gifts as a musician and motivated and supported me every step of the way. I approached Perimeter like another opportunity to learn, perform, have a good time making music, and build my career. Already a gospel singer coming into Perimeter, I gained skills that have propelled my career, and I’m honored to have been a part of Perimeter’s music program.”
Angelique Wallace
Perimeter College alumna 2014-2016
Inspirational Gospel singer Anjolic Sky
TESTIMONIALS
“My experience in the music pathway at Perimeter College at Clarkston is amazing! The staff is very nice and the music teachers help me a lot! The recitals and concerts provide me an important musical experience, and I am satisfied with my learning results.”
Mirna Hatanaka Kikawa
Music Pathway, Piano Performance
Perimeter College
Plans to transition to Georgia State Atlanta Campus to pursue her bachelor’s
“I have fond and lasting memories of time well spent in music theory classes, performance ensembles such as the Chorus and Jazz Ensemble and private lessons. The skills taught in these classes directly shape my day and decisions as a professional musician and teacher.”
Erik Herndon
Featured in the book “American Teacher: Heroes in the Classroom”
Perimeter College Alumnus, 2000-2002
“The fact that a [two-year] school like Perimeter College had a Fine Arts program and had the teachers that it did was quite unique and quite incredible.”
John Irvin
Tenor, Lyric Opera of Chicago
http://johnirvintenor.com/
Perimeter College Alumnus, 2005-2007
“Attending Perimeter College was a unique experience for me because I grew up as a self-taught singer. Perimeter College’s Clarkston music program exposed me to a very effective and innovative approach to learning classical repertoire for piano and voice. I never played the piano a day in my life, but after one semester at Perimeter, I performed my first piano recital and my first classical vocal recital–all because God graced me with the pleasure of learning from really great teachers like Dr. Bonin, who believed in my gifts as a musician and motivated and supported me every step of the way. I approached Perimeter like another opportunity to learn, perform, have a good time making music, and build my career. Already a gospel singer coming into Perimeter, I gained skills that have propelled my career, and I’m honored to have been a part of Perimeter’s music program.”
Angelique Wallace
Perimeter College alumna 2014-2016
Inspirational Gospel singer Anjolic Sky