DEAR FRIENDS
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to the Atlanta Music Project’s 16th season. For those of you who may not know, our first program, back in 2010, was a small but mighty after-school orchestra program at the Gilbert House, a City of Atlanta Recreation Center in Southwest Atlanta. We had 30 elementary school students attending five days per week, in class for two hours each day! I remember being so inspired by their enthusiasm and natural ability. I was also grateful for their parents, who had the courage to entrust their children to a brand new organization. The teaching artists we hired were not just absolute professionals, they were fully behind our mission to empower youth to realize their possibilities through music.
Sixteen years later, those three groups - students, families, and teaching artists - remain the heart of our success. If they are the heart, our donors are our lungs. Donors breathe life into our vision that music training can lead to life-changing outcomes for youth. Without our cherished donors, AMP would simply not exist. Therefore, they have our ever-lasting gratitude. Tonight’s concert represents all the best parts of AMP coming together. The young musicians of our current youth orchestras and choirs have taken on the repertoire and coachings of our faculty with remarkable courage and artistry. I’m excited to follow their progress throughout this season. Thank you to you all for your continued involvement and support. Cheers to 16!
With Gratitude,
Dantes Rameau, Co-Founder & CEO
Atlanta Music Project INSTITUTIONAL DONORS
Funding provided in part by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners under the guidance of the Department of Community Development.
Major funding for this organization is provided by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners. This program is supported in part by the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs.
ROBERT BOONE
TUBA LEVEL I
Robert Boone is a freelance musician and music educator based in the metro Atlanta, Georgia area and is pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Tuba Performance at the University of Georgia. An active educator and clinician, he serves as a Tuba Instructor for the Atlanta Music Project World Music Festival and Summer Series Festival and has worked with low brass students across middle and high school band programs in Georgia and the DMV region. Boone has held principal tuba positions in the University of Georgia Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra and has also performed with the British Brass Band and various chamber ensembles. His achievements include placing third at the Leonard Falcone International Tuba Student Competition in 2021 and earning finalist recognition at the SERTEC Mock Military Band Audition in 2022.
HERBERT JACKSON JR.
FRENCH HORN LEVEL I
Herbert Jackson is a proud Black male music educator from Snellville, GA. A graduate of Central State University, a Historically Black University in Wilberforce, OH, he earned his Master’s in Music Education from Boston University with an emphasis in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. He is currently pursuing an Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in Advanced Educational Studies at Augusta University, focusing on AI curriculum and technology for music education.
With 10 years of experience teaching band and choir at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, Mr. Jackson currently serves as Director of Bands at the School of the Arts at Central Gwinnett High School in Lawrenceville, GA. Under his leadership, the band program has earned superior and excellent ratings at state-adjudicated performances, and graduating seniors have received more than $1 million in scholarships.
In addition to his work in education, Mr. Jackson serves as a teaching artist with the Atlanta Music Project and as Board Secretary for Georgia Educators for Equity and Justice Inc. He is also an active member of several professional and service organizations dedicated to music education and community engagement.
BERNARD FLYTHE
TUBA LEVEL II
Bernard H. Flythe is a distinguished tubist, educator, and performer with decades of experience in music education, orchestral performance, chamber music, private instruction, adjudication, and community engagement. He has held faculty appointments at several institutions, including the University of North Florida, where he served as Adjunct Tuba Instructor in 2023, and Oglethorpe University, where he was Artist Affiliate in Brass in 2022. Previous positions include Artist Faculty in Tuba and Euphonium at Columbus State University, Artist-in-Residence at Kennesaw State University, and Visiting Professor at Appalachian State University. Throughout his academic career, he has taught tuba and euphonium, coached chamber ensembles, conducted ensembles, and mentored aspiring musicians.
As a performer, Mr. Flythe has enjoyed an extensive orchestral career as both a principal and substitute tubist. Since 2002, he has performed with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and has also appeared with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra, Nashville Symphony Orchestra, and numerous ballet and summer festival orchestras. His broad experience as both an educator and performer has earned him a respected reputation throughout the brass and orchestral music communities.
DILON BRYAN
FRENCH HORN LEVEL II
Dilon Bryan (he/him) is a British-born hornist from Birmingham, United Kingdom, currently residing in Atlanta, GA. Dilon is a dedicated pedagogue and an accomplished performer, known for his approachable demeanor and fun-loving spirit. He’s the Adjunct Professor of Horn at the University of North Georgia and University of West Georgia where he helps uplift the next generation of musicians. His expertise and commitment to teaching have earned him a formidable reputation as a respected educator.
ATLANTA MUSIC PROJECT SUMMER MUSIC CAMP TUBA LEVEL I
ATLANTA MUSIC PROJECT SUMMER MUSIC CAMP FRENCH HORN LEVEL I Herbert Jackson Jr. | Conductor
ATLANTA MUSIC PROJECT SUMMER MUSIC CAMP TUBA LEVEL II
Bernard Flythe | Conductor
O Canada (Canadian National Anthem).......................................Calixa Lavallee
2025-2026 GMEA Middle School Lyrical Etude...........................Marco Bordogni “Habanera” from Carmen............................................................Georges Bizet
FRENCH HORN LEVEL I
Bonnie
London
ATLANTA MUSIC PROJECT BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Philip M. Juravel, CPA, Chair
Jennifer Dorian, Vice-Chair
Byron Gibbs, Treasurer
Racheal Woods, Secretary
Sarah Griesenauer-Barros, Ben Cherian, Anne Cross, Deva Hirsch, Valerie L. Holmes, James F. Lock III, Ceasar C. Mitchell Jr., Aisha Moody, Shawn Pacely, Elijah Brown, Dantes Rameau, John Sparrow, Mick Brons, Jaylen Mize
ATLANTA MUSIC PROJECT STAFF
Aisha Moody, Co-Founder & Chief Program Officer
Amber Taylor, Associate Director of AMP Academy
Breanna Johnson, Director of Choral Programs
Dantes Rameau, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer
D’Laney Bowry, Development & Grants Manager
Durand Bailey, Senior Director of Operations
Jack W. Wagner, Director of Grants
Jessica Stinson, Music Career Advisor
José L. Morales, Marketing & Graphic Design Associate
Lauren Jones, Program Operations Associate
Lauren Spence, Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer
Liesl McWhorter, Youth Orchestras Program Manager
Lydia Falcon, After-School Programs Associate
Michael Crawford, Facilities Manager
Miriam Huppert, Director of College & Career Services
Monicia Banks, Van driver
Nassareen Rahman, Van Driver
Ron Pace, Finance Manager
the atlanta music project mission and history
Founded in 2010, the Atlanta Music Project (AMP) provides world-class music training and performance opportunities supporting youth growth and development. Operating in under-resourced communities, AMP’s mission is to empower youth to realize their possibilities through music.
AMP serves over 1,000 young musicians annually through band, orchestra, and choir programs, private lessons, and the annual month-long AMP Summer Series. The AMP Senior Youth Orchestras and Choirs perform and compete both nationally and internationally. Additionally, AMP houses a college and career program, supporting AMP high school students and alumni. Since 2021, AMP has awarded $545,000 in college scholarships to its alumni.
AMP music ensembles perform more than 60 concerts annually, performing in venues all across Atlanta, from community centers to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. AMP music ensembles have performed alongside international stars such as cellist Sterling Elliott, rapper Lecrae, operatic baritone Edward Parks, R&B singer Monica, The Piano Guys, the Harlem Quartet, electric violinist Lindsey Stirling, pianist Terrence Wilson, and the Imani Winds. AMP musicians can be seen performing with rapper T.I. on NPR’s Tiny Desk concert series.
AMP’s young musicians have successfully auditioned for Georgia All-State ensembles, and performed with the Atlanta Opera, the Atlanta Ballet, and the Fox Theatre. AMP ensembles have concertized as far away as Los Angeles, Aspen, Mexico, Canada, and New Zealand. The AMP Senior Youth Choir was crowned winner of the Youth Choirs category at the Open Competition of the 2024 World Choirs Games.
AMP is the recipient of several prestigious awards: 2015 Local Community Service Award (Spelman College), 2016 Neighborhood Builder (Bank of America), 2016 & 2017 Top 50 Youth Arts Program (USA President’s Committee on the Arts & Humanities), 2018 MLK Jr. Community Service Award (Emory University), 2019 Luminary Award for Arts Education (ArtsATL), and 2021 Infusion Award (Lewis Prize for Music).
AMP’s current major funders include the Chestnut Family Foundation, Intuit Mailchimp, the Abraham J. & Phyllis Katz Foundation, the Harland Charitable Foundation, the Arthur M. Blank Foundation, The Rich’s Foundation, the Sartain Lanier Foundation, the Luluma Foundation, Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, Fulton County Arts Council, Georgia Council for the Arts, Georgia Department of Education, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Delta Community Credit Union, the Next Generation Fund, and the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta.
In 2024, AMP became the recipient of five Steinway pianos and was awarded the prestigious honor of being a Steinway Select School, making AMP one of eight schools in the country with this distinction.
AMP’s partners and collaborators include the City of Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation, Atlanta Public Schools, Clayton State University, and the Chestnut Family Foundation.
AMP’s existence is a direct result of the 2009 TED Prize, which was awarded to Dr. Jose Antonio Abreu, founder of Venezuela’s El Sistema. AMP’s co-founders were members of the Sistema Fellows Program at the New England Conservatory in Boston. AMP is a member of “El Sistema USA,” the National Alliance of El Sistema Inspired Programs.
For more information visit http://www.atlantamusicproject.org
YOUNG MUSICIAN PATHWAYS
COLLEGE & CAREER
SCHOLARSHIPS, EMPLOYMENT, ADVISING ALUMNI STATUS
ADVANCED PROGRAMS
AMP SENIOR YOUTH ORCHESTRA & CHOIR
INTERNATIONAL TOURS & COMPETITIONS
COLLEGE & CAREER SERVICES
INTERMEDIATE PROGRAMS
AMP JUNIOR YOUTH ORCHESTRAS
AMP JUNIOR YOUTH CHOIRS
PREPARATORY PROGRAMS
AMP AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS
AMP PREPARATORY SCHOOL
EMPOWERING YOUTH TO REALIZE THEIR POSSIBILITIES THROUGH MUSIC
