KENNESAW, Ga. | Sep 10, 2026

Kennesaw State University’s Dr. Bobbie Bailey School of Music and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) are joining forces to create new opportunities for the next generation of musicians in Metro Atlanta. Beginning this fall, the educational partnership will connect KSU music students with professional musicians through masterclasses, performance opportunities and access to ASO concerts — bringing students closer to the artistry, mentorship and professional experiences that define a career on the stage.

“This partnership with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra raises our profile on a national scale,” said Jawshing Arthur Liou, the Audrey Bailey Morgan Distinguished Endowed Dean’s Chair in the Robert S. Geer Family College of the Arts. “This opportunity puts students in the Dr. Bobbie Bailey School of Music in direct contact with professionals in their fields of endeavor, enhancing the University’s commitment to career readiness and professional development.”

Nathan Nabb, director of the Bailey School of Music and professor of music, regularly performs with the ASO and started working on this alliance after arriving at KSU in 2024.

“KSU is uniquely positioned in close proximity to Metro Atlanta’s vibrant arts scene, and we are committed to building and growing partnerships like this one that creates meaningful opportunities for our students,” Nabb said. “As we capitalize on our location as a school of music in an area that has significant arts and culture, we are also always seeking professional exposure and engagement for our students to position them for leadership in their musical careers. This agreement formalizes and allows us to deepen our relationship with a great institution of music in the Atlanta area — and the country.”

The partnership is made possible through generous support of the Audrey Bailey Morgan Distinguished Endowed Dean’s Chair Fund and the Bailey School of Music Fund. Under the agreement, KSU students will have opportunities to perform pre-concert programs at the Woodruff Arts Center on select ASO concert dates, giving them firsthand experience performing in front of the orchestra’s discerning audience. Students will also have access to college passes for more than 20 ASO classical concerts each season at no cost.

Bailey music students will also receive masterclasses with ASO musicians, open to studio members enrolled in the semester when the masterclasses take place. At least once a semester, the ASO will invite KSU faculty and college pass holders to open orchestra rehearsals. Nabb said these experiences go a long way toward turning music students into professional musicians.

“This agreement gives students access – to the performances, to the teachings, to their own performances in the symphony hall, and to the performers in a more pragmatic way than just admiring it,” he said. “It's the real interaction and learning from them that I think is super valuable.”

ASO Vice-President of Community Engagement Sarah Grant acknowledged a longstanding informal relationship between KSU and the Symphony, as KSU students have volunteered in the ASO’s education department, and KSU professors continue to perform with the Symphony. This agreement solidifies that partnership.

“Strong partnerships open the door for organizations to grow together, collaborate and build lasting connections,” Grant said. “Through our education and community engagement efforts, we connect with local universities in meaningful ways. Kennesaw State’s robust music department makes this collaboration a natural fit and an exciting opportunity to support the growth of its students and programs.”

The Geer College of the Arts is thrilled to welcome ASO concertmaster David Coucheron and his sister Julie, a pianist and part-time assistant professor of piano at KSU for a concert on Oct. 19. The ASO will also perform its annual holiday repertoire at Bailey Performance Hall on Dec. 18.

– Story by Dave Shelles

Photo by Matt Yung

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 51,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university's vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.