Mills, McDuffie reunite for Macon-Mercer Symphony

By: Michael W. Pannell for The Macon Melody

If you’ve not heard Mike Mills’ “Concerto for Violin, Rock Band and Orchestra,” you can hear it Nov. 17, performed by Mills, Robert McDuffie and the Macon-Mercer Symphony Orchestra.

Mills, a founding member and bass player for R.E.M., was commissioned to write the concerto by McDuffie. Friends since their youth in Macon, each went their own way to become stellar performers in the rock and classical music worlds, respectively.

In recent years, the two have renewed their friendship and sealed it with combined musical exploits.

Mills and McDuffie have presented, recorded and toured performing the concerto numerous times — always accompanied by Mills on bass and sometimes on piano, McDuffie as violin soloist, a guitar-and-drums contingent and students from Mercer University’s McDuffie Center for Strings.

In 2022, Mills’ concerto was the centerpiece of the Emmy-winning “A Night of Georgia Music,” recorded live at The Grand for Georgia Public Television and other public broadcasting outlets. 

Macon’s Chuck Leavell, current Rolling Stones and former Allman Brothers Band pianist, joined the lineup which included songs made famous by Georgia singers and songwriters.

“We’ve never presented Mills’ concerto to our Macon-Mercer Symphony audience,” McDuffie said. “Mills is one of America’s great living composers, so we get to showcase his work in the classical field while following our model of always mixing things up a bit during each Macon-Mercer Symphony Orchestra concert. Because of the matriculation of students at the center, it will be the first time many of our students get to play it.”

“Concerto for Violin, Rock Band and Orchestra” had its world premiere with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, McDuffie added, where Peter Oundjian served as music director from 2004 to 2018. 

Oundjian will be the guest conductor for Monday’s concert. Like Mills, Oundjian and McDuffie are longtime friends, having been students together at The Juilliard School.

“He really helped make it happen,” McDuffie said. “He and the Toronto Symphony were among the major supporters of the piece.”

The connection between McDuffie, Mills and Oundjian makes the concert a reunion of friends. The evening’s second featured piece, Brahms’ Symphony No. 1, is a touchstone McDuffie said brings his and Oundjian’s musical relationship full circle.

“When I was a freshman and Peter was a couple of years ahead — this was while he was a tremendous violinist before becoming a famous conductor — I was in the middle of the violin section and Peter was concertmaster,” McDuffie said. “We had a master class with the Berlin Philharmonic’s chief conductor, Herbert von Karajan. Everyone was in awe — even the most cynical Juilliard students were just melting. One of the pieces done was this Brahms symphony, and there’s a beautiful violin solo which Peter played.

“It brought Karajan to tears and he singled Peter out in front of all his Juilliard colleagues for his beautiful playing. Obviously, a very special moment when arguably the most consequential conductor in the history of classical music identifies you as a great player.”

On Monday, the part will be played by McDuffie Center sophomore Ben Linton, a native Canadian like Oundjian.

“Bringing someone of Peter’s stature and musicianship to teach and engage with our students is a powerful experience for them and certainly a great treat for our Macon-Mercer audiences,” McDuffie said.

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra which rounds out the non-string sections of the symphony also loves Peter, who serves as a regular guest conductor, he added.  

During the evening, McDuffie said Mercer University President William D. Underwood will be honored for his instrumental role in the McDuffie Center and the creation of the Macon-Mercer Symphony Orchestra. Underwood is stepping down as president and returning to the classroom to teach law at the university.

The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Piedmont Grand Opera House, 651 Mulberry St. Tickets are available at thegrandmacon.com, and students are free to attend with ID.

Contact writer Michael W. Pannell at mwpannell@gmail.com. Find him on Instagram at michael_w_pannell.