The Auburn Community Orchestra’s (ACO) mission is to continue to build on tradition by showcasing excellent performances for the Auburn, Opelika and East Alabama area in order to immerse Alabama communities in orchestral concerts. The group is comprised of musicians in the community including public school and university students, professors, as well as both amateur and professional musicians.

The ACO partners with the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center to provide orchestral concerts in the community. The ACO is governed by a board made up of local musicians, artists and business persons in the community. Chris Rodger, ACO Board President, encourages membership to anyone, individual, student, senior, family, benefactor and corporate sponsors. If you would like to become a member, volunteer or sponsor the ACO, please contact him at rodgec2@auburn.edu.

Dr. Russell (Rusty) Logan is a native of Wetumpka, AL, and graduated from Wetumpka High School. He attended Auburn University and received a Bachelor of Science in Music Education and a Master of Music in Trombone Performance. Following this, he attended the University of Mississippi, where he was awarded the Doctor of Arts in Music Theory. Dr. Logan has served as Director of Bands at Monroe Academy (Forsyth, GA), Victoria High School (Victoria, TX), Auburn High School (Auburn, AL), and Huntingdon College, serving as an Instructor of Music/Director of Bands, where he taught music education and music theory classes. Dr. Logan currently serves as a part-time instructor at Auburn University, where he teaches all levels of Music Theory and Aural Skills.

Dr. Logan is currently the Principal Trombonist and the Executive Board Chair for the Alabama Winds Concert Band and performs with the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra. He is active as a guest conductor, band adjudicator, and clinician. He has served as President of the Alabama Bandmasters Association and is currently serving as Executive Director for the Alabama Music Educators Association.

Dr. Logan’s professional affiliations include the Alabama Music Educators Association, Alabama Bandmasters Association, National Band Association, National Association for Music Education, and the National Fraternity for Band Directors, Phi Beta Mu. In 2019, Dr. Logan was selected as a member of the Alabama Bandmasters Hall of Fame.

Dr. Logan is married to his wife Betsy, and their son Jeremy is Assistant Director of Bands/Director of Percussion Studies at Boone High School in Orlando, FL.

Interested in playing with the ACO? Contact Chris Rodger, ACO Board member, at rodgec1@auburn.edu

Make sure to check out the ACO Facebook page. For more info, contact the JDCAC at (334) 501-2963.

Upcoming Concerts

Spring Invitational: March 3rd, 2026 at 7 pm

Gogue Performing Arts Center

Orchestra on the Hill: April 28th, 2026 at 6:30 pm

Pebble Hill

Your donation to the Auburn Community Orchestra helps us to work towards our mission to continue to build on tradition by showcasing excellent performances for the Auburn, Opelika and East Alabama area in order to immerse Alabama communities in orchestral concerts.