Written by Quasha Ross

Music continues to thrive in Valdosta with the help of the South Georgia String Project.

Led by its director, Lauren Burns, the SGSP is a collaboration of the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra and the VSU Department of Music. The project provides an after-school music program where children can receive affordable stringed-instrument instruction.

The project also provides a valuable teaching experience for music students at VSU.

The SGSP aims to provide public school aged students with opportunities to better their craft in music by teaching them the essentials of stringed instruments. It also strives in providing undergraduate and graduate music students with vital teaching, administrative and leadership positions in a supervised environment as they continue their professional training.

There are several string classes provided by the SGSP that cater to musicians. The Explorer strings class is shaped for beginners and includes instruments such as the violin, viola, cello and bass. The Valdosta Symphony Youth Orchestra is at a more advanced level and includes advanced strings, wind, brass and percussion.

The SGSP performs several times throughout the year. Events such as the outreach performances at local schools and libraries and the annual Tunes for Tots event with the Valdosta Symphony are all a part of the SGSP’s annual performances.

Members of the SGSP will be showing off their hard work and talent in a free Valdosta Symphony Orchestra Youth Concert will be held this Friday at 10 a.m. in the Whitehead Auditorium. There will also be a concert on Saturday at 6 p.m. in the Whitehead auditorium.

For more information about the South Georgia String Project, visit www.valdosta.edu/sgsp