heritage and connects with the university's namesake, Jesse Mercer, who authored Cluster of Spiritual Songs, a hymnal first published circa 1800 with 11 subsequent editions. Celebrating Grace now owns the choral and printed music divisions of the John T. Benson Music Company, and successor groups, following its acquisition from Universal Music Group in 2023, and since 2025, Smith and Helwys, a publisher of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship-affiliated Bible study material.
The Robert McDuffie Center for Strings offers music training. McDuffie is a violinist who has served as Distinguished University Professor of Music since 2004. The focus of the center, housed in the School of Music on the Macon campus, is to provide string students the opportunity to learn with string musicians. Total enrollment is limited to 26 students: 12 violinists, 6 violists, 6 cellists and 2 double bassists.
=== College of Professional Advancement (Continuing and Professional Studies) ===
The College of Professional Advancement, formerly …
