Issuu

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.

MEETTHECONDUCTOR

LOGAN SOUTHER AMP JUNIOR YOUTH ORCHESTRAS

Logan Souther is quickly developing a reputation as an orchestra conductor and pianist of significant talent with a serious approach to music in Atlanta, Georgia. A gifted conductor of the operatic repertoire, Logan has served on the music staff of the Sarasota Opera, Atlanta Opera, OperaNEO (San Diego), The Harrower Summer Opera Workshop, The Augusta Opera Initiative, and for several years was the music director and principal conductor for the Georgia State University Opera Theatre. While leading the GSU Opera Theatre Logan consistently raised artistic standards among singers and instrumentalists alike while performing reperoite that ranged from Mozart to Stephen Paulus.

Logan has served as a recurring guest conductor with the Atlanta Pops Orchestra and the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra and for two seasons was the assistant conductor for the Bellingham Festival of Music, the premiere orchestral festival of the Pacific Northwest. Logan is the associate conductor of The Hamptons Festival of Music, where he also serves as artistic director of the THFM Salon Series community outreach programs. In partnership with The Hamptons International Film Festival Logan conducted a free performance of Charlie Chaplin’s A Dogs Life with the original score to an audience of over 200 residents of East Hampton, NY.

With a passionate commitment to outreach and education, Logan has worked closely with the Atlanta Music Project where he has taught music theory, coached chamber ensembles, accompanied recitals and conducted both of AMP’s symphonic orchestras. The Atlanta Music Project is an El Sistema based organization which reaches hundreds of students in underserved communities each year.

An engaging arts entrepreneur, at the age of 19 Logan founded the Gainesville Sinfonietta where he was fully responsible for all levels of production and successfully mobilized funding for the Sinfonietta each year. The Gainesville Sinfonietta was a fully professional orchestra which performed free concerts each year for the North Georgia community.

Logan began intensive studies in orchestral at the age of 15 with Michael Palmer with whom he went on to study with at Georgia State University completing a Master’s in Orchestral Conducting (2017) and a Bachelor’s in Piano Performance (2016.) Additional teacher’s include Dwight Oltman and David Effron.

MEETTHECONDUCTOR

JOHN CONCKLIN

AMP SENIOR YOUTH ORCHESTRA

John Young Shik Concklin is Music Director of the Spartanburg Philharmonic and Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra. He also serves as Conductor with the Atlanta Music Project, an El Sistema organization focused on social justice and music, and the Piedmont Chamber Orchestra, a mentoring orchestra for high school and collegiate musicians. In the 24/25 season, he completed his North Carolina Symphony debut and was announced as a National Finalist for the Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award for orchestral programming.

John is a values forward leader who believes that there is a unique pathway to success for every musical organization in every community, large or small. He seeks to humanize the orchestral experience for audiences through story telling, relationship building, and nuanced culture shifts that make accessibility more inclusive. Organizations for which he has played a leadership role have seen unprecedented artistic growth, a steady increase in ticket sales, and an intangible lift in spirit that translates across the organization and community.

John is deeply committed to the teaching of conducting and leadership and seeks to engage education and learning at every level. He readily seeks opportunities to discuss and share about conducting and makes regular school visits wherever he is working.

Previous positions include Associate Conductor of the Georgia Symphony, Assistant Conductor of the Cleveland Pops Orchestra, and faculty appointments at Vanderbilt, Clemson, Furman and Converse Universities He has been a fellowship conductor at the Aspen Music Festival, a teaching assistant at the Brevard Music Center, and a finalist at the New World Symphony and Debut Orchestras.

John has been a finalist for the 2019-2020 American Prize in Conducting. He has competed internationally at the Almaty, the Nino Rota, and the Città di Brescia Conducting Competitions. He is also regularly invited to cover-conduct for the the Nashville, Atlanta, and Kansas City Symphony Orchestras.

A flexible musician, John has also performed at the Super Bowl Halftime Show and has collaborated with Monica, a Grammy-winning R&B artist.

John studied at Vanderbilt University, Yale University, and the Cleveland Institute of Music. His mentors include David Zinman, Carl Topilow, Shinik Hahm, and Robin Fountain. He received further training from Lorin Maazel and Michael TilsonThomas.

ATLANTA MUSIC PROJECT JUNIOR youth orchestra I Winds

Logan Souther | Conductor

Swahili Folk Hymn............................................................................Traditional arr. Kevin Mixon

Mood Indigo...............................................................................Duke Ellington arr. Michael Sweeney

ATLANTA MUSIC PROJECT JUNIOR youth orchestra II Winds

Logan Souther | Conductor

Ijo Ajoyo...................................................................................Duroje Gwamna

ATLANTA MUSIC PROJECT JUNIOR youth orchestraS FLUTES

Go Down, Moses..................................................................................Spiritual

ATLANTA MUSIC PROJECT JUNIOR youth orchestra I STRINGS

Logan Souther | Conductor

Cat & Mouse................................................................................Adrian Gordon Great Times A Comin’..................................................................William Owens

ATLANTA MUSIC PROJECT JUNIOR youth orchestra II

Logan Souther | Conductor

Melody from Three Short Pieces..................................Samuel Coleridge-Taylor arr. Robert Debbaut

The Best of Bruno Mars............................................................arr. Victor Lopez

ATLANTA MUSIC PROJECT senior youth orchestra brass

John Concklin | Conductor

Priye Pou Ayiti..................................................................Christopher Ducasse

ATLANTA MUSIC PROJECT SENIOR youth orchestra

John Concklin | Conductor

Novelletten.................................................................Samuel Coleridge-Taylor I. Allegro moderato

Lakay...............................................................................Christopher Ducasse

Rit Lavi A..........................................................................Christopher Ducasse

ATLANTA MUSIC PROJECT JUNIOR YOUTH ORCHESTRA I

FLUTE

Amira Hadley

Michaela Armstrong

Suset Solano

HORN

Christian Harrison

Ora Collier

Tyler Slaton

TIMPANI

Maasai Jarrett

PERCUSSION

Lyriq Sibille

PERCUSSION

Raina Mcleod*

WINDS

Horton

PERCUSSION

Dave Anderson*

ATLANTA MUSIC PROJECT JUNIOR YOUTH ORCHESTRA I STRINGS

VIOLIN I

Antorio Lewis

Dulce Tapia

Journey Wilson

Nzingha Dunston

VIOLIN II

Rawls

Mahogany Williams

Jaden Oransky

Shannon Kuntz

Kai Malloy

Austin Waithe

DOUBLE BASS

Terry Dent

Diana Martinez

Xavier Francois

Joshua Allen-Hannans * AMP Student Mentor ** Collegiate Mentor

ATLANTA MUSIC PROJECT JUNIOR

YOUTH ORCHESTRA II

VIOLIN I

Ta’Kari Tatum

Gabrielle Evans

Anaika Dominic

Nathaniel Teko

Autumn Inman

FLUTE

Nubia Thompson

Harmony Rojas

Christina Paul

Hailey Haye

Taylor Starks

HORN

Preston Harris

Jameson Olowoyo

VIOLIN II

Malia White

Ethan Waithe

Ayla Gingrich

Ethan Ezzard

Blake Catherine

OBOE

Cesar Castrejon

Joseph Banks

VIOLA

Ky-Miya Russell

Huy Thuy

Raelan Robinson

Angel Mendez

CLARINET

Alauna Jolly

CELLO

William Spann

Bena-Nsilu Tiya

Jonathan Washington

Mauricio Alvarado*

BASSOON

Jonah Banks

DOUBLE BASS

Khamari McIver

Bella Rose White

Lourdess Culpatrick

TIMPANI

Raina Mcleod

TRUMPET

DeAngelo Hammonds

Ethan Crawford*

Dineo Halisi-Adams*

Samuel Leyimu*

Shanae Cousley*

* AMP Student Mentor

** Collegiate Mentor

PERCUSSION

Dave Anderson

TROMBONE

Jakob Cobbs

Israel Smith

TUBA

Joshua Peek*

PERCUSSION

Kori Harmon*

PERCUSSION

Dylan Mantione** Andres Lewis**

ATLANTA MUSIC PROJECT SENIOR YOUTH ORCHESTRA

VIOLIN I

Foster Wilson

Graison Saba

Marlee Carter

Maria Ortiz**

Giulliana Scaramazza**

Payton Everett**

FLUTE

Camden Ingram

Leighlah West

Lailani Smith

HORN

Joshua Wheaton

Anthony Flores

TIMPANI

Kori Harmon

* AMP Student Mentor

** Collegiate Mentor

VIOLIN II

Caliah Matamoros

Shani Gingrich

Reyna Case

Jasmine Anderson **

Gustavo De La Torre**

Lauren Trevathan**

VIOLA

Andrew Atkinson

Kree Willingham

Tyson Jones

Elena Martinez**

OBOE

Nehemiah Preston

Chineye Emenogu

TRUMPET

Dineo Halisi-Adams

Ethan Crawford

CLARINET

Samuel Leyimu

Amir Foster

CELLO

David Walton

Mauricio Alvarado

Priya Gingrich

Avery Austin

Preston Walton

Julianna Moronta

BASSOON

Shanae Cousley Iyanti Peart

DOUBLE BASS

Nia Blount

Malachi Beckham

Emir Zayas

PERCUSSION

Dylan Mantione**

TROMBONE

Inara Stewart

Joel Patrick

Caleb Alexander

PERCUSSION

TUBA

Joshua Peek

Andres Lewis** HARP

Danae St. Hill**

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