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, Andy D. Pittman, Dantes Rameau, John Sparrow
Atlanta Music Project Staff
Aisha Moody, Co-Founder & Chief Program Officer
Amber Taylor, Associate Director of AMP Academy
Breanna Johnson, Director of Choral Programs
Cruz Duhart, Operations Associate
Dantes Rameau, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Dennis Freeman, Van Driver
D’Laney Bowry, Development & Grants Manager
Durand Bailey, Senior Director of Operations
Isaiah Cuffey, Preparatory School Program Manager
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
Nassareen Rahman, Van Driver
Ron Pace, Finance Manager
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.
BORIS CEPEDA | CONDUCTOR
Boris Cepeda, a distinguished German pianist and conductor, recently relocated to Atlanta under a visa for extraordinary abilities, following significant roles in opera and academia in Germany. He founded the European Piano Academy and the Richard Wagner Society of Atlanta and collaborates with the Opera program at GSU.
Boris has enchanted audiences with his piano recitals across iconic venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York, Berlin Philharmonie, Konzerthaus Berlin, Laeiszhalle Hamburg, Beethoven Haus in Bonn, CCK in Buenos Aires, Istana Budaya in Kuala Lumpur, and Teatro Nacional Sucre in Quito. His performances are celebrated for their emotional depth and technical brilliance, earning widespread acclaim from critics and audiences alike.
Boris has held significant positions at leading opera houses in Germany, where he demonstrated his versatility as a conductor, répétiteur, and vocal coach. At Theater Münster, he served as Head of Music and Deputy Choir Director, conducting opera productions and preparing soloists for acclaimed performances. At the Anhaltisches Theater Dessau, he worked as répétiteur and Deputy Head of Music. His repertoire includes a diverse range of over 70 works, spanning from Handel to Eötvös, showcasing his adaptability and expertise across genres.
Renowned as a vocal coach, Boris has prepared singers for leading opera houses and festivals, including Bayreuth, Royal Opera House London, the Salzburg Festival, and Theater an der Wien. His expertise in Lied performance has earned him critical acclaim, particularly for his dedication to the works of Schubert, Reger, Eggert, and Reimann.
Boris is currently completing a doctoral thesis on the 18th-century composer Maximilian Droste-Hülshoff at the University of Münster. His research has already resulted in performances and recordings of Droste-Hülshoff’s piano works. In 2024, Boris performed Maximilian Droste-Hülshoff’s 4th Symphony to great acclaim on two occasions in Ecuador, bringing renewed attention to this underrepresented composer’s works. 4 | AMP
JORDAN OWEN | GUEST CONDUCTOR
Jordan Owen is a conductor and composer from Flagler Beach, Florida. Originally a cellist, he transitioned to composition and conducting, earning his Bachelor of Music in Theory and Composition from the Petrie School of Music at Converse University. In Fall 2025, he will begin his Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, where he will serve as Graduate Assistant Conductor for the UNCG Symphony Orchestra.
Jordan was the 2024–2025 Conducting Fellow of the Spartanburg Philharmonic, assisting on Classical Series concerts and studying with John Young Shik Concklin. He was named the 2024 New York Session Symphony Emerging Conductor and has led ensembles including the Spartanburg Philharmonic, NIU Philharmonia, ICWC Festival Orchestra, and Petrie Festival Orchestra, participating in numerous national workshops.
He is the founder of the Calm Cadence Collective, a summer ensemble promoting friendship and musical excellence. In 2025, he will conduct the Sounds of Carolina Orchestras and serve as Guest Assistant Conductor for the Atlanta Music Project Orchestras’ Southeast tour. He will also be a LEAD Conducting Fellow at the Wintergreen Music Festival.
A two-time RISE Symposium Winner, Jordan has received awards for both film scores and concert music. Outside music, he enjoys working out and grilling for his partner and friends.
ANGELA REX | GUEST CONDUCTOR
Angela M. Rex is a Greenville, SC native and currently serves as the Orchestra Director at Riverside Middle School, in Greer, SC. Prior to teaching at Riverside, Ms. Rex taught orchestra at Hillcrest High School and Bryson Middle School, increasing the orchestra program enrollment by 150%. Under her leadership, her orchestras at Riverside Middle have earned consistent Superior ratings at SCMEA Concert Performance Assessment and Grand Champion ratings at OrlandoFest. Ms. Rex serves as the co-director of the Riverside Middle School Symphony.
In 2019, the Riverside Middle School Symphony was selected to perform at the SCMEA Professional Development Conference. Before returning to Greenville to teach, Ms. Rex taught at Western Kentucky University and served as elementary strings coordinator in Spartanburg School District 7 from 2000-2005.
Ms. Rex earned her bachelors in Violin Performance from Appalachian State University and her master’s degree in Violin Performance from Converse College. During her 20 plus years as an educator, Ms. Rex has served as a guest conductor for Region and All-County orchestra events throughout South Carolina, North Carolina, and Kentucky. Ms. Rex has been selected as Teacher of the Year and third runner-up for Greenville County’s TOY, a semi-finalist for the Grammy Music Educator of the Year Award the PTSA Teacher of the Year at Riverside Middle. Outside of teaching, Ms. Rex enjoys working in her yard and gardening.
ABSYO, AMP and the SPYO wish to acknowledge and thank the musicians who led our sectional rehearsals in Spartanburg:
Angela Rex, 1st violins
Susan Baier, 2nd violins
Ginger Rich, violas
Kathy Foster, cello
Susan Wines, double basses
Dr. Darian Washington, winds
ABOUT ANTIGUA & BARBUDA YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Founded in 2018 with the support of the Kanneh-Masons, the ABYSO operates year-round, after school programmes for young people at all levels of instrumental or choral learning, from beginners to seniors. Public performances throughout the year showcase the young people’s hard work and talent, ranging from orchestral standards to musical theatre shows and intimate chamber events. Exciting international partnerships bring world class musicians, composers and conductors to work alongside the young musicians, while traineeships bring new skills such as instrument repair and piano tuning to the islands. Thriving under the patronage of Their Excellencies Sir Rodney Williams and Lady Williams, ABYSO is proud of its many achievements in just seven years of existence. ABYSO is a registered non-profit organisation served by an eleven (11) member Board of volunteers drawn from the arts, business and philanthropic communities. ABYSO holds 501(c)3 charitable status and is a registered non-profit with the Antigua and Barbuda Inland Revenue department.
ABOUT SPARTANBURG PHILHARMONIC YOUTH ORCHESTRA
The Spartanburg Philharmonic Youth Orchestra was founded in 2019 to bring together the best young players from across the Upstate as a core education program of the Spartanburg Philharmonic
We provide a place where musically inclined students learn to master their instruments and collaborate with others to produce three high-quality performances each year.
Working with the SPYO challenges talented young musicians to grasp difficult repertoire and perform at a higher level than what is possible in their school orchestras.
CONCERT PROGRAM
SUMMER SOIRÉE ORCHESTRA
Boris Cepeda | Conductor
Finlandia...........................................................................................Jean Sibelius
Jordan Owen | Conductor
Nimrod from Enigma Variations........................................................Edward Elgar
Angela Rex | Conductor
Ballade for Orchestra.......................................................Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Danzon No. 2 ................................................................................Arturo Marquez
PROGRAM NOTES TO KNOW
Finlandia – Jean Sibelius
A stirring tone poem composed in 1899, Finlandia became a symbol of Finnish national pride and resistance against Russian oppression. Its powerful brass fanfares and sweeping melodies evoke a spirit of defiance and hope.
Nimrod from Enigma Variations – Edward Elgar
One of the most beloved movements from Elgar’s Enigma Variations, Nimrod is a deeply emotional tribute to a close friend. Known for its solemn beauty, it often accompanies moments of remembrance and reflection.
Ballade for Orchestra – Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
This richly expressive work, composed in 1898, showcases Coleridge-Taylor’s lyrical style and orchestral skill. The Ballade blends romantic warmth with dramatic contrasts, reflecting the composer’s unique voice in late-Romantic music.
Danzón No. 2 – Arturo Márquez
A vibrant and rhythmic piece inspired by a Cuban dance form popular in Mexico, Danzón No. 2 bursts with Latin American flair. Márquez’s dynamic orchestration and infectious energy have made it a favorite in modern concert halls. 8 | AMP
SUMMER SOIRÉE ORCHESTRA PERFORMERS
VIOLIN I
Marlee Carter - AMP | Concertmaster
Ella Hayes - SPYO
Azza Obeng - AMP
Graison Saba - AMP
Foster Wilson - AMP
Jackson Sewell - SPYO
Elena Alejandro -AMP
Eva Burnett - SPYO
Aria Tulloch - ABSYO
CELLO
Mauricio Alvarado - AMP | Principal
Ervin Gonzalez - SPYO
Raiah Wright - AMP
Alexander A. Arenas-Vitela - SPYO
Avery Austin - AMP
Julianna Moronta - AMP
Alycia Alie - ABYSO
Kendel Felton - AMP
Sage Mae Lima-Jeffries*^
Sakyah Leadeatte - ABYSO
TRUMPET
Solomon Carr | Co-Principal*^
Ethan Crawford - AMP | Co-Principal
VIOLIN II
Jackson Betts | Principal
Ethan Truong - SPYO
Caliah Matamoros - AMP
Luke Gardner - SPYO
Reyna Case - AMP
Fayth Moses - ABYSO
Donovan Fuller*^
Anaiah Francis - ABYSO
TUBA
Miguel Quistian - SPYO | Principal
Emilio Perez-Salas - SPYO
ABYSO - Antigua & Barbuda Youth Symphony Orchestra
AMP - Atlanta Music Project
SPYO - Spartanburg Philharmonic Youth Orchestra
* Music Mentor
+ Faculty/Pro Musician
^AMP Alum
VIOLA
Joshua Croom - AMP | Principal
Bella Blackwell - SPYO
Amari Cornelius - ABYSO
Andrew Atkinson - AMP
Liam Sewell - SPYO
DaQuan Christopher - ABYSO
Kree Willingham - AMP
Iker A. Arenas-Vitela - SPYO
DOUBLE BASS
Brooklyn Chaney | Principal
Avi Bhatia - SPYO
Yusef Henry - AMP
Kyndall Thomas - SPYO
Joshua Sheperd*^
Draeden Gibbs - ABYSO
Paris Lallis*^
FRENCH HORN
Dilon Bryan | Principal+
Matthew Price - SPYO
Natali Huff*
Katy Ray+
TROMBONE
Joel Patrick - AMP | Principal
Caleb Alexander - AMP
Gianna Calliste - ABYSO
PERCUSSION
Caleb Herron+
Patrick Lowery+
Bryan Wysocki+
Blaze Benavides+
Cameron Wells*
BASS TROMBONE
Lovrick Gary | Principal+
TIMPANI Dominic Ryder+
PIANO Eli Manos+
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
& CAREER SCHOLARSHIPS, EMPLOYMENT, ADVISING
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
