DEAR FRIENDS
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to the Atlanta Music Projectâs 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. Tonightâs 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. Iâm 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 Mayorâs Office of Cultural Affairs.
LATASHIA BRIDGES
AMP PREPARTORY STRING ORCHESTRA LEVEL I
Ms. LaTashia S. Bridges, is a native of Atlanta, GA and a product of the Atlanta Public and Fulton County School systems. She holds a Bachelorâs Degree in Music Education from Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, GA. As a violinist, she has performed with several well-known symphonies including Cobb Symphony Orchestra, Valdosta Symphony Orchestra and Word of Faith Family Worship Cathedral Orchestra.
Ms. Bridges currently teaches Kindergarten in the Cobb County School System. In the past Ms. Bridges has taught middle school and elementary orchestra in the Atlanta, Cobb and Fulton County Area Schools.
An accomplished violinist, Ms. Bridges teaches orchestra with the Atlanta Music Project.
Ms. Bridges has also been an active instructor of the William Grant Still and African American Black Heritage Orchestras.
Ms. Bridges is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota, the womenâs professional music fraternity and the Tau Beta Sigma Sorority, as well as Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.
Ms. Bridges is also actively involved in music education organizations such as The National Association of Music Education (MENC) and American String Teachers Association (ASTA).
DR. LANA TEKO
AMP PREPARTORY STRING ORCHESTRA LEVEL II
Dr. Lana Teko is a freelance violist and teacher in the metropolitan Atlanta area. She is in demand for adjudication, clinics, and master classes in Metro Atlanta and beyond. An avid chamber musician and enthusiast, Dr. Teko coaches chamber music and Viola Choir for At First Sight Chamber Music Workshop each summer.
Dr. Teko began playing the violin as a sixth-grader in her school orchestra and holds dear the encouragement of Kimbraly Grimes, her first significant teacher-mentor.
Dr. Teko holds music degrees from Florida State University, Georgia State University, and the University of Alabama where she obtained the Doctor of Musical Arts degree.
Under viola study with Dr. Susan Dubois of The University of North Texas, she became acquainted with Karen Tuttleâs âCoordinationâ techniques; bringing profound insight to Lanaâs teaching and performing style. Her other influential teacher-mentor include Karen Clarke and the late Dr. Michael Allen.
Dr. Teko has maintained a private teaching studio and performed in regional orchestras since 1998. She currently resides in Decatur, Georgia with her two sons. When not teaching and performing, she is a homeschool mom to her sons and enjoys trail walking with her family.
ATLANTA MUSIC PROJECT PREPARATORY STRING ORCHESTRA LEVEL I
VIOLIN I
Elijah Drew
Emerie Forogo
Euna Saxton
Kyler Drew
Leah Waithe
Maiayana Cyrus
Savannah Adeyele
Tafari Bradford
Zestlan Thomas
VIOLIN II
Amari Brown
August Sasfy
Azizi Wesley
Elijah Pope
Evan Barlaan
Isaiah Pope
Jett Thompson
Langston Chapman
Miles Gordon
VIOLA
Abigail Lawrence
Ever Byrd
Kalia James
Kannon Primus
Quinn Turner
Tristan Coleman
CELLO
Joelle Credle
Josiah Dawkins-Williams
Layla Credle
London Watson
Roman De Leon
William Walls
DOUBLE BASS
Sulaiman Abdul-Samaad
ATLANTA MUSIC PROJECT PREPARATORY STRING ORCHESTRA LEVEL II
VIOLIN I
Aya Brown
Braelin Pittman
Cymone Francis
Hunter Graves
Jayla Billingsley
Kandia Diawara
Sally Erwin
Zara Francois
VIOLIN II
Feruzi Tiya
Foster Kolts
Jude Sasfy
Melody Hayes
Silas Philatre
Tobias Teko
Tymeir Malloy
VIOLA
Andrew Walls
Kylee James
Ori Hamilton
Sola Hamilton
CELLO Auriyah Johnson
Austin Waithe
Greyson Copeland
Karis Smith
Manzo Tiya
DOUBLE BASS
Quinn Fuller
Sadie Westmoreland
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, Aaron C. Mitchell, 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
DâLaney Bowry, Development & Grants Manager
Durand Bailey, Senior Director of Operations
Jack W. Wagner, Director of Grants
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, AMPâs 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 NPRâs Tiny Desk concert series.
AMPâs 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 Presidentâs 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).
AMPâs 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 Richâs Foundation, the Sartain Lanier Foundation, the Luluma Foundation, Mayorâs 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.
AMPâs partners and collaborators include the City of Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation, Atlanta Public Schools, Clayton State University, and the Chestnut Family Foundation.
AMPâs existence is a direct result of the 2009 TED Prize, which was awarded to Dr. Jose Antonio Abreu, founder of Venezuelaâs El Sistema. AMPâs co-founders were members of the Sistema Fellows Program at the New England Conservatory in Boston. AMP is a member of âEl Sistema USA,â 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
