He’s a world-renowned musician but doesn’t forget his Macon, Georgia, roots

Any given month, acclaimed violinist Robert McDuffie could be anywhere in the world playing. He founded Italy’s Rome Chamber Music Festival in 2003. Still, he’s always made time for his hometown of Macon.

He opened the McDuffie Center for Strings at Mercer University nine years ago, and he returns to Macon frequently to help teach students and for concerts.

But McDuffie isn’t content just to entertain audiences with beautiful sounds from his Guameri del Gesu violin, made in 1735. He’s orchestrated two citywide performances aimed at improving race relations.

This story was originally published November 15, 2016 at 12:02 PM with the headline "He’s a world-renowned musician but doesn’t forget his Macon, Georgia, roots."