Emmy Award-winning violinist Robert McDuffie was born in Macon and trained at Juilliard. He has performed worldwide as a soloist with some of the most premier orchestras in the world including the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonics; the Chicago, San Francisco, Atlanta, Toronto and Jerusalem Symphonies; and all of the major orchestras in Australia.

This wide-ranging conversation covers McDuffie's early violin education; the invitation he received to start the McDuffie Center for Strings at Mercer University; "A Night of Georgia Music" for which he won an Emmy Award; the violin he plays; and the Macon-Mercer Symphony Orchestra.

The Macon-Mercer Symphony Orchestra begins its new season on October 21 at the Grand Opera House in Macon. More information about the Symphony, and for tickets, please visit Macon-Mercer Symphony Orchestra — McDuffie Center for Strings.

For additional information about The McDuffie Center for Strings, you can visit About Us — McDuffie Center for Strings (mercer.edu).

And for more information about McDuffie, visit Robert McDuffie