Otis Music Camp concert finale comes to The Grand

Magic happens every day at the Otis Redding Center for the Arts downtown, and on Saturday, the public is invited to get a taste of what it’s all about.

That’s when campers at this year’s three-week summer music program, Otis Music Camp, bring their talents to the Piedmont Grand Opera House stage for the music camp grand finale.

Karla Redding-Andrews, Otis Redding’s daughter, leads the center and the Otis Redding Foundation. She has called the camp and its energy “absolutely electric.”

While such camps have been held in various locations for years and predecessor camps were conducted by Otis Redding himself in the 1960s, this is only the second camp since the Otis Redding Center for the Arts, or ORCA, opened in March 2025.

Imagine spending three weeks learning aspects of the music business, including musicianship, singing, songwriting and performing, then getting to take the songs you’ve written and record them in the center’s state-of-the-art recording studio.

At the end of it all, you get to bring the songs and all you’ve learned, rehearsed and worked for to the Grand for the public to enjoy as well.

Of course, everything in the less-than-two-year-old, 15,000-square-foot facility is state-of-the-art. That includes seven creative labs, five private lesson rooms, an amphitheater with its indoor-outdoor stage and O3 Recording Studio, named for the late Otis Redding III.

The Otis Music Camp is for ages 12-18 and strives to not only serve young people — and thereby the community — in all things musical but also teach how to successfully make dreams come true regardless of one’s ambitions, according to Redding-Andrews.

In turn, kids 5-11 years old get to participate at Camp DREAM, a two-week musical arts exploration camp.

The Otis Music Camp Grand Finale show is free and starts at 7 p.m. — but attendees are welcome to make a $10 donation.

And just a note: Fall music lesson registration at ORCA opens July 6 at noon.

ORCA is located at 436 Cotton Ave. There’s more information on lessons, events and how to support the center’s work at orcamacon.org and otisreddingfoundation.org.

More in Macon

Here are a few other things going on this weekend, not just in Macon but around Middle Georgia and maybe a little off the beaten path:

—The Atlanta-based folk-rock band Drivin N Cryin, a Macon favorite, comes to the Robins Financial Capitol Theatre Thursday to celebrate 35 years of performing. The show starts at 8 p.m. For more information visit capitoltheatremacon.com.

— Macon artist collective, the Ocmulgee Artist Guild, presents its exhibit, “Euphoria: Edge of Bliss,” Friday from 6-11:59 p.m. at 452 First St. Called by organizers a “fine-art exhibit and art party,” the show explores ideas connected to pop art, psychedelia and Macon in the summer — all created by local artists. It’s free to attend, and all displayed art is for sale at tiered and competitive prices.

—When’s the last time you enjoyed one of Macon’s most unique spots: the Mark Smith Planetarium at the Museum of Arts and Sciences? Check it out on Friday and see its “Sky Over Macon” presentation and, weather permitting, stick around for a look at the actual starry sky from the museum’s observatory. The planetarium show is at 7 p.m., and, hopefully, a glimpse through the museum’s telescope begins at 8 p.m. Get there early at 6:15 p.m. to attend a guided tour along the Sweetgum Trail for a plant-identifying look at good old terra firma. The cost for the planetarium show is $5 for children and $10 for adults. The museum is located at 4182 Forsyth Road. Visit masmacon.org for more information.

—Speaking of terra firma, how about a visit to the native plant sale Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.? It’s hosted by the Fringed Campion Chapter of the Georgia Native Plant Society at Smoke Stack Farmers Market, 342 Rose Ave.

Visit gnps.org/fringed-campion-chapter for more information.

Contact writer Michael W. Pannell at mwpannell@gmail.com. Find him on Instagram at michael_w_pannell.