Georgia Bulletin

The Newspaper of the Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta

Education
  • St. Pius X High School senior Amelia Temme and junior Benjamin Whitaker, background, rehearse for an upcoming performance in their advanced jazz guitar class. Photo By Michael Alexander
  • St. Pius X High School's Brion Kennedy, guitar instructor and Fine Arts department chair, walks among students in the beginning classical guitar class discussing barre chords. Kennedy has been teaching at the Atlanta school since 2010. Photo By Michael Alexander
  • Brion Kennedy, far end, sits with some students in the beginning classical guitar class as they play The Eagles song,
  • (Foreground to background) Freshmen Andrew Mattei and Paul Van Rooijen and senior Paulina Rey look up at the video screen as they work on barre chords in the beginning classical guitar class. Photo By Michael Alexander
  • Brianna Harris, a senior in the advanced classical guitar class at St. Pius X High School, rehearses The Nutcraker’s “Overture” with three fellow seniors for the 2019 Christmas concert, which took place December 4-5. Photo By Michael Alexander
  • (Foreground to background) St. Pius X High School seniors Alex Ratchford and Vy Nguyen and junior Natalie Mohr rehearse a song in their advanced jazz guitar class. Photo By Michael Alexander
  • Matthew McDaniel tunes his guitar strings before a Nov. 20 performance last year at Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw. Photo By Michael Alexander
  • (L-r) Vy Nguyen, Ben Wulkan, Reagan Andrews, Sarah Escoffery and Cooper Harlan practice a song before the actual Nov. 20 performance last year at the Dr. Bailey & Family Performance Center, Morgan Hall, on the campus of Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw. Escoffery and Andrews are the only freshman and sophomore, respectively, in the advanced guitar ensemble. Photo By Michael Alexander
  • Members of the St. Pius X advanced guitar ensemble perform The Meters composition, “Cissy Strut.” Last year’s jazz performance took place, Nov. 20, at the Dr. Bailey & Family Performance Center, Morgan Hall, on the campus of Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw. Photo By Michael Alexander
  • The advanced guitar ensemble performs the Miles Davis song, “Bag’s Groove.” Photo By Michael Alexander

St. Pius X High School senior Amelia Temme and junior Benjamin Whitaker, background, rehearse for an upcoming performance in their advanced jazz guitar class. Photo By Michael Alexander

Atlanta

Guitars as guides: St. Pius X program shapes student musicians

The award-winning guitar program of St. Pius X High School has been around for 20 years. Guitar instructor, Brion Kennedy, knows of only a handful of similar programs. His goal is to be a guide as students deepen their talents, giving them freedom to teach their peers and develop as musicians and leaders.

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