Brief History of the GC Community Drumming Group

Past. Present. Future.

• The Georgia College Community Drumming Group (CDG) began in 2001 as a response to the September 11 attacks on the United States and the destruction of the World Trade Center. The CDG was originally an unnamed drum circle focused on community mourning and the emotional needs of the community, university students and personnel. At the time, the drum circle group was led by faculty from the music therapy and psychology programs of GCSU.
  
  

• After establishing the group, it was decided that student leaders would be put in place to continue the group under supervision of the music therapy department. Following many changes in the group, in 2017 it was formally named the GC Community Drumming Group under the leadership of graduate students Christopher Karow and Jay Warren with Dr. Chesley Mercado, MT-BC acting as the group departmental advisor.
  
  

• Today the group has been featured in regional news including the Fox News affiliate in Macon, GA, and has provided volunteer assistance for various organizations and non-profits in the Central Georgia region. As of 2019 the CDG has 56 rostered members some of whom travel over 90 miles to take part in events. The CDG is the largest continuous community and recreational drumming group outside of Atlanta, GA.