Jackson Berkey and Friends are appearing next Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Centre for Performing Arts in Newnan.

Tickets are $12 adults, $10 students and senior citizens 55 and up are available at The Centre from 8 a.m-4 p.m.

Jackson Berkey is the primary keyboardist and a composer for the group “Manheim Steamroller”.

He is best known nationally as a pianist and recording artist. He is the featured keyboardist on the Manheim Steamroller Fresh Aire and platinum Christmas recordings. His solo classical albums “Sunken Cathedral,” “Ballade,” and “109” have brought rave reviews.

Jackson will be joined at The Centre by conductor, lyric soprano and lyricist; Almeda Berkey. She has 40 years conducting credits and was the American jurist for the annual International Folksong Choir Festival in Barcelona, Spain. She has conducted three times at New York’s Carnegie Hall and will return there to conduct in June of 2007.

Jackson will also be joined by violinist, Kerren Berz. She is currently the Concertmaster of the Columbus, Georgia Symphony Orchestra and a member of the Nashville Chamber Orchestra.

Violoncellist Andre J. Gaskins will also be included in the group. He serves as assistant professor of cello and associate conductor of orchestral activities at Columbus State University. He has to his credit having served as the music director of the Earlham College Orchestra, assistant conductor of the Richmond Symphony Orchestra and the Conductor of the New World Youth Chamber Orchestra. Gaskins has served as principal cellist of the Columbus & LaGrange Symphony Orchestras since 2002. Most recently, he was appointed music director and conductor of the Columbus Ballet.

Katherine White, clarinetist, is an active performer, teacher and clinician throughout the Southeast. She is the principal clarinetist of the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra and of the Gwinnett Philharmonic.

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