This panel discussion features a team of Hip Hop artists, organizers, composers, and ensemble directors representing the Athens Hip Hop community and UGA Hodgson School of Music. They will share their perspectives about being a part of the Athens Hip Hop Harmonic, the co-created music, what they've learned, and what makes the collaboration so impactful. 

In October 2019, the following dialog took place: 

“What is the university concert band not doing that it should be doing?” 

“Collaborating with the local music scene.” 

“What would happen if a local Hip Hop artist and a classically-trained composer co-created a piece of music?” 

As quickly as they asked these questions, UGA former director of bands Cindi Johnston-Turner and saxophone professor Connie Frigo met with Hip Hop artist and activist Mariah Parker (aka Linqua Franqa, PhD), Hip Hop impresario Montu Miller, and UGA faculty composers to pursue this artistic inquiry. The Athens Hip Hop Harmonic officially launched in August 2021 with university support, and includes a team of artists, composers, educators, students, and supporters eager to build bridges - and use them - in the Athens community. Creative muscles and comfort zones are stretched every step of the way. 

To date, there have been 9 Hip Hop artist/UGA composer pairings resulting in 9 new musical works, 4 public shows reaching over 1200 community members, 8 recording sessions and videos, 5 UGA ensembles involved totaling over 140 student musicians, and participation of 13 faculty and staff.