JOIN THE  2025-2026 ATLANTA MUSIC PROJECT YOUTH ORCHESTRAS & YOUTH CHOIRS!

Calling all young musicians! Are you ready to take your musical talent to the next level? The Atlanta Music Project announces auditions for our celebrated Youth Orchestras & Youth Choirs!

Whether you’re a voice, string, woodwind, brass, or percussion student, the AMP Youth Orchestras & Choirs offer you the opportunity to grow as an musician, artist, and collaborate with other talented young musicians, as well as perform on stages in Atlanta and beyond.

Accepted students will enjoy high-quality, tuition-free programs designed and led by professional musicians and conductors. Instruments and concert uniforms are provided, as are performance opportunities outside of Atlanta.

If you or a young musician you know is passionate about music and eager to join a community where talent meets opportunity, this is your moment!

AUDITION DATE & TIME

August 23, 2025 | 9am-4pm

REGISTER FOR THE 2025 AMP ORCHESTRA AUDITION BOOT CAMP

From August 2-19, 2025,  the Atlanta Music Project will offer its Orchestra Audition Boot Camp to help prepare prospective students for their AMP Youth Orchestra auditions.

This program is designed for late elementary, middle and high school students who may need assistance preparing their required scales and excerpts at a high level.

During this three-class boot camp, students will receive specialized instruction on their specific instrument by top-level instructors.

Students may attend all or part of this program, as their schedule allows.

The Atlanta Music Project Presents: Summer Soiree at the Orchestra

On Tuesday, June 24, the Atlanta Music Project invites you to an evening of musical excellence, international collaboration, and youth leadership through the arts.

The Summer Soirée at the Orchestra will feature our AMP Senior Youth Orchestra and is honored to welcome guest musicians from two distinguished ensembles: the Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestras from Atlanta, GA and the Antigua & Barbuda Youth Symphony Orchestras from Saint Johns, Antigua and Barbuda.

Taking place at the Church at Wieuca in Atlanta, this multinational collaboration reflects AMP’s mission to not only train exceptional young artists, but also to foster meaningful cross-cultural partnerships through music education and performance.

Under the direction of guest conductor Boris Cepeda, the combined orchestra will present a thoughtfully curated program of works by composers from Europe, the Caribbean, and Latin America.

The program for the evening will consist of Finlandia by Jean Sibelius, Nimrod from Elgar Elgar’s Enigma Variations, Ballade for Orchestra by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, and Danzon No. 2 by Arturo Marquez.

ATLANTA MUSIC PROJECT ANNOUNCES GRAMMY-WINNING SOPRANO KAREN SLACK AS 2025 SUMMER SERIES ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE

MS. SLACK’S RESIDENCY TO INCLUDE MASTERCLASSES, FIRESIDE PERFORMANCE & INTERVIEW, AND WORLD PREMIERE SOLO WITH AMP SUMMER SERIES FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA

(Atlanta, GA) (May 5, 2025) — The Atlanta Music Project announces soprano Karen Slack as Artist-in-Residence for the 2025 Atlanta Music Project Summer Series. Praised by the New York Times for her “sizeable voice that captured all of the vacillating emotions,” Ms. Slack is winner of the 2025 GRAMMY® Award for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album.

Her residency at AMP will include a fireside performance and interview with Terrance McKnight, the evening host on WQXR, New York’s Classical Music Station, and creator and host of the new WQXR podcast “Every Voice with Terrance McKnight.” Ms. Slack will also conduct masterclasses with AMP voice students and the AMP Senior Youth Choir.

Ms. Slack’s residency will culminate in her appearance as featured soloist at the Opening Night concert of the 2025 AMP Summer Series, where she will perform solos with the AMP Summer Series Festival Choir. With the AMP Summer Series Festival Orchestra she will also perform operatic arias and the world premiere of unpublished songs by Florence Price for soprano and orchestra. The orchestra will be under the direction of John Young Shik Concklin and the choir under the direction of Dr. Kay Pace.

“We are honored to welcome Karen Slack as Artist-in-Residence for the upcoming Atlanta Music Project Summer Series,” stated Dantes Rameau, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Atlanta Music Project. He continued, “Ms. Slack’s incredibly generous spirit will inspire our young musicians, and her world-class artistry will enchant our audience members and community.”

Karen Slack stated, “I have deep admiration for the mission of the Atlanta Music Project. My teachers and mentors were so important to my development as an artist, and so I look forward to paying it forward at AMP.  I am excited to work with their students and faculty this summer to make wonderful music together.”

Ms. Slack has performed at the Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Washington National Opera, Scottish Opera, and many others. In concert, her credits include the Melbourne and Sydney symphonies, Bergen Philharmonic, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Orchestra of St. Luke’s at Carnegie Hall, and Philadelphia Orchestra. She made her New York Philharmonic debut in May 2024.

A recipient of the 2022 Sphinx Medal of Excellence and 2025 MPower Artist Grant, Slack is an Artistic Advisor for Portland Opera, serves on the board of the American Composers Orchestra and Astral Artists, and holds a faculty position at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. In the 2024-2025 season, she serves as Artist-in-Residence at both Lyric Opera of Chicago and Babson College.

A native Philadelphian, Slack is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and the San Francisco Opera’s Merola Opera Program.

Celebrating its tenth year, the Atlanta Music Project Summer Series is a 4-week music festival and school based in Southwest Atlanta. The 2025 AMP Summer Series will feature symphony orchestra, string orchestra, wind ensemble, choir, chamber ensembles, and several concerts by AMP students, faculty, and guest artists. The AMP Summer Series serves novice, intermediate, and advanced musicians in grades 4 through 12.

Ms. Slack’s AMP Summer Series residency schedule is as follows:

June 4  

Masterclass with AMP Senior Youth Choir (Private Event)

June 5

Mentorship Session with AMP Summer Series Students (Private Event)

June 5 | 6:30pm

Fireside Performance & Interview

Fireside Performance & Interview with Karen Slack & Terrance McKnight

Atlanta Music Project Center for Performance & Education

883 Dill Ave SW Atlanta, GA 30310

June 6 | 7:00pm

Opening Night 2025 AMP Summer Series

Karen Slack, soprano

John Young Shik Concklin, conductor

Dr. Kay Pace, conductor

AMP Summer Series Festival Orchestra & Choir

Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church

1660 N. Decatur Rd Atlanta, GA 30307

June 7 | 10:00am

Masterclass with AMP Voice Students

Karen Slack, soprano

Atlanta Music Project Center for Performance & Education

883 Dill Ave SW Atlanta, GA 30310

About Karen Slack

Praised for her “sizeable voice that captured all of the vacillating emotions” (The New York Times), Karen Slack is “not only one of the nation’s most celebrated sopranos, but a leading voice in changing and making spaces in classical music” (Trilloquy). Her debut album, Beyond the Years: Unpublished Songs of Florence Price on Azica Records, won the 2025 GRAMMY® Award for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album.

In the high point of her 2024-2025 season, Slack embarks on a nationwide tour of her new commissioning project, African Queens, an evening-length vocal recital of new art songs celebrating the history and legacy of seven African queens revered as rulers but not widely heralded in the Western world. Featuring new works by acclaimed composers Jasmine Barnes, Damien Geter, Jessie Montgomery, Shawn Okpebholo, Dave Ragland, Carlos Simon and Joel Thompson Slack performs the world premiere of African Queens at the Ravinia Festival, followed by performances at co-commissioners Aspen Music Festival, Tanglewood Music Festival, 92NY, Washington Performing Arts, Denver Friends of Chamber Music, University of Toronto, and Newport Classical Festival. Beyond the Years, her debut recording project featuring unpublished songs by Florence Price, developed in collaboration with ONEcomposer and pianist Michelle Cann, was released on Azica Records in July 2024.

Over recent seasons, Slack has amassed a body of work reflecting her dedication to premiering works by living composers, with particular focus on using her platform to elevate works by Black artists. When the pandemic limited live performances during the 2020-2021 season, Slack made premiere digital performances with Houston Grand Opera, Madison Opera, and Minnesota Opera. She starred in a new production of the opera Driving While Black, presented by UrbanArias, and launched a digital talk show, #kikikonversations, drawing acclaim from Opera News and The New York Times.

Karen Slack has performed on the stages of the Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Washington National Opera, Scottish Opera, San Francisco Opera, Dallas Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Austin Opera, New Orleans Opera, Minnesota Opera, Vancouver Opera, Edmonton Opera, Sacramento Opera, Opera Philadelphia, Madison Opera and Arizona Opera, among others. Abroad, she has appeared with the Melbourne Symphony, Sydney Symphony, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestras, and St. Petersburg Philharmonic. Slack made her Carnegie Hall debut with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s and performed as a soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra in the world premiere of Hannibal Lokumbe’s Healing Tones with conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin. She made her New York Philharmonic debut in May 2024.

A recipient of the 2022 Sphinx Medal of Excellence and 2025 MPower Artist Grant, Slack is an Artistic Advisor for Portland Opera, serves on the board of the American Composers Orchestra and Astral Artists, and holds a faculty position at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in Alberta, Canada. She has been named Lyric Unlimited Artist-in-Residence at Lyric Opera of Chicago for the 2024-2025 season as well as Artist-in-Residence at leading entrepreneurial institution Babson College.

A native Philadelphian, Slack is a graduate of the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music, as well as the Adler Fellowship and the Merola Opera Program at the San Francisco Opera. For more information, please visit www.sopranokarenslack.com

AMP Spring Concerts Start This Week!

We are excited to invite you to join us as we kick off the Atlanta Music Project’s Spring Concert Series!

Over the past few months, our young musicians have poured time and focus into their music. These performances are more than just concerts—they are milestones that reflect our students’ growth, confidence, and artistry.

This season features performances from our After-School Orchestra & Band, AMP Preparatory School, and a joint concert with our Youth Orchestras & Youth Choirs. Be sure to reserve your tickets below!

Join the 2025-2026 Atlanta Music Project Youth Orchestras & Choirs!

Young musicians, are you ready to take your artistry to the next level? The Atlanta Music Project announces Spring Auditions for our celebrated Youth Orchestras and Youth Choirs!

Whether you’re a singer, wind player, percussionist, or string player, the AMP Youth Orchestras & Choirs offer you the opportunity to grow as an artist, collaborate with other talented young musicians, and perform on stages in Atlanta and beyond.

Accepted students will enjoy high-quality, tuition-free programs designed and led by professional musicians and conductors. Instruments and concert uniforms are provided, as are performance opportunities outside of Atlanta.

If you or a music student you know is passionate about music and eager to join a community where talent meets opportunity, this is your moment.

Audition Dates

• Spring Auditions: May 12 – 16, 2025

• *Your exact audition time will be scheduled after we receive your application.

These auditions are for students interested in joining the AMP Youth Orchestras & Choirs for the 2025–2026 school year. All auditions will be held in-person at the AMP Center for Performance & Education.

Come out to the Atlanta Music Project’s 2025 Spring Open House!

This is a great opportunity to see what we are all about!

• Observe Rehearsals

  • 10am -11am – AMP Youth Choirs 

  • 12pm -1pm – AMP Senior Youth Orchestra

• Tour the AMP Center for Performance & Education

• Meet & Greet AMP Staff and Faculty

• Apply to audition for the AMP Youth Orchestras & Choirs

Celebrating its tenth year in 2025, the Atlanta Music Project Summer Series is a 4-week music festival and school. Based in Southwest Atlanta, the AMP Summer Series has the goal of providing young musicians with an unforgettable, summer music experience.

The 2025 AMP Summer Series will be held in two sessions during June 2025 and feature symphony orchestra, string orchestra, wind ensemble, choir and several concerts by AMP students, faculty, and guest artists.

The AMP Summer Series serves novice, intermediate and advanced musicians in grades 4 through 12. Rising fourth graders and seniors who finished high school in 2025 are eligible.

ELIGIBILITY, FAQ’s, & APPLICATIONS

2025 AMP Summer Series Session I – Large Music Ensembles

• June 2, 2025 to June 20, 2025

• For intermediate & advanced band, orchestra and choir students

• Grades 6 to 12 (including rising 6th graders)

• Completed Teacher Recommendation Form required

2025 AMP Summer Series Session II – Elementary Ensembles

• June 23, 2025 to June 27, 2025

• For elementary band, orchestra and choir students

• Grades 4 & 5 (including rising 4th graders)

• Participants must have 6 months of experience on their instrument (including voice)

IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE, ACCEPTED STUDENTS MUST COMMIT FULLY TO ATTENDING SESSION I OR SESSION II:

All accepted applicants will receive a full-tuition scholarship to attend the AMP Summer Series. Daily lunch and afternoon snack are provided. AMP has instruments available for loan during the program.

The AMP Senior Youth Orchestra was invited to perform at the16th Annual Atlanta Business & Human Rights Conference, held at The Coca-Cola Company headquarters in Atlanta.

In collaboration with the Emory University Schwartz Center for Performing Arts, the Atlanta Music Project welcomed internationally-renowned violinist Randall Goosby to AMP for a masterclass with AMP Academy violin students.

Read all about Randall Goosby’s masterclass and fireside chat.

On February 21, our Junior Youth Choir, conducted by Pamela Dillard, performed at Emory University Hospital Midtown for a special Black History Month concert. Many thanks to EUH’s DEI and Belonging Advisory Committee and Ambassador Program for inviting our singers to share the gift of music with the Emory University Hospital staff and community!

 Watch their performance here.

AMP was excited to announce acclaimed violinist Helen Kim as an Artist-in-Residence during the fall  of 2024. Kim serves as Professor of Violin and Chair of the String Department at Kennesaw State University and Assistant Concertmaster of the Atlanta Opera Orchestra. Her residency at AMP highlights the organization’s commitment to providing world-class music training to our students.

Read more about Helen Kim’s AMP residency.

On June 8, our Senior Youth Choir, conducted by B.E. Boykin, performed in the closing ceremony of Chorus America, receiving multiple standing ovations. Chorus America is the advocacy, research, and leadership development organization that advances the choral field.

To commemorate the inauguration of our brand new Steinway & Sons Model B Grand Piano, we invited Steinway Artist Isaiah J. Thompson and his jazz trio to perform at the AMP Center.  Thompson performed with our Senior Youth Choir and Senior Youth Orchestra. With his trio, he delivered a captivating set of jazz standards and original compositions that delighted the packed audience.

View images from the performance here.

Titus Underwood, Principal Oboe of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, was AMP’s Artist-in-Residence for the 2024 AMP Summer Series. His residency included masterclasses, interviews, and his solo performance of the Concerto in F Major, RV 455 for Oboe, Strings, and Continuo by Antonio Vivaldi, with the AMP Summer Series Festival Orchestra under the direction conductor of John Young Shik Concklin.

Read more about his residency here.

A heartfelt thank-you to our keynote speaker, Christopher Moses, The Jennings Hertz Artistic Director at the Alliance Theatre, for helping us honor this incredible milestone. Along with Christopher Moses, we had Artist Speaker, Timothy Miller, Assistant Professor of Voice and Music at Morehouse College, who also gave words of encouragement and congratulations.

The Class of 2024 has achieved amazing success, earning acceptances and scholarships to prestigious institutions such as Howard University, Spelman College, and Morehouse College.

Watch Christopher Moses’ Keynote Speech at AMP

We were thrilled to announce that once again our AMP Senior Ensembles had the amazing opportunity to perform on Monica Pearson One on One during her special holiday episode! This remarkable experience for our talented young musicians brought the spirit of the season to life with stunning renditions of beloved holiday classics.

Not only were their performances showcasing their incredible musicianship, but we had AMP faculty members, Keeyen Martin, Chanell Childers, Logan Souther, and Kevin Smith, speak about their experience with AMP and the students!

A special thank-you to Monica Pearson and her team for inviting us to be part of this holiday celebration.

WATCH: The 2024 Monica Pearson One on One Holiday Special

During Spring Break, the AMP Senior Youth Orchestra traveled to Ottawa, the capital of Canada, to perform two concerts.

AMP’s program included  “Danse Negre” by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and “Visions of the Sky” by Adrian B. Sims. In an exciting artistic collaboration, Senior String Orchestra of De La Salle High School joined the AMP Senior Youth Orchestra Strings to perform “Adoration” by Florence Price and the “Serenade for Strings in E Major Opus 22” by Antonín Dvořák. The Serenade for Strings was co-conducted by John Young Shik Concklin and Jason Hutt, conductor of the De La Salle Senior String Orchestra. Talk about a memorable Spring Break trip!

Read what some of the Senior Youth Orchestra members had to say about the trip.

When we say this was a highlight, we truly mean that! Our Senior Youth Choir had the opportunity to compete in the World Choir Games in Auckland, New Zealand. Not only did the Senior Youth Choir give a compelling performance, they were also crowned the “Category Winner of the World Choir Games – The Open Competition.”

For its competition performance, the AMP Senior Youth Choir was also awarded the “Golden Diploma Level VI” with an overall score of 26.39 – out of a possible 30 – the highest in its competition category. In addition, its score of 26.39 was the second highest awarded on the night, of all the choirs in The Open Competition.

Conducted by B.E. Boykin, the AMP Senior Youth Choir’s competition repertoire consisted of four pieces: Dies Irae from “Requiem” by Michael John Trotta, Mata del Anima Sola by Antonio Estévez, Quiet Place by Ralph Carmichael and arranged by Jerry Rubino, and Elijah Rock, a Traditional Spiritual arranged by Moses Hogan.

In addition to the competition performance, AMP performed in two Friendship Concerts in Auckland, where they performed alongside youth choirs from Chinese Taipei, China, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia, in free, public concerts.

Read more about AMP at the World Choir Games.

We are beyond excited to say that our number one moment is the start of AMP’s 15th year, marking a decade and a half of inspiring young musicians, nurturing talent, and building a vibrant musical community!

Since our founding in 2010, AMP has been dedicated to providing world-class music training and performance opportunities supporting youth growth and development. From our After-School Program to the AMP Youth Orchestras, Preparatory School, and Youth Choirs, we have seen thousands of students grow not just as musicians but as confident individuals ready to make their mark on the world.

As we embark on this incredible milestone year, we reflect on all the moments that have shaped AMP—unforgettable performances, personal triumphs, and the unwavering support of families, educators, donors, and our community.

This anniversary is a celebration of every student who has walked through our doors, every mentor who has shared their expertise, and every supporter who has believed in the power of music to transform lives.

This year, we are looking forward to expanding our impact with more opportunities to showcase the incredible talent of our students. We’re committed to continuing our mission of fostering creativity, leadership, and growth through music education.

Read an article by the AJC about our 15 years of AMP, here.

Atlanta Music Project Featured for a Third Year on the Monica Pearson One on One Holiday Special!

Gather your loved ones, grab a warm holiday drink, and get ready as we are pleased to announce that, for the third year in a row, AMP will be featured on the Monica Pearson One on One Holiday Special!

This year’s one-hour long segment featured performances by the AMP Senior Youth Choir led by Keeyen Martin, and the AMP Senior Youth Orchestra led by Logan Souther. The orchestra was joined by guest musicians from local college music programs and AMP faculty.

Additionally, as a part of our 15th season celebration, audiences received a fresh and inspiring perspective on AMP via Ms. Pearson’s interviews with long time AMP faculty members, Keeyen Martin, Chanell Childers, Logan Souther, and Kevin Smith.

AMP’s appearance on Monica Pearson One on One has always been a pivotal moment, providing an opportunity to share our work with a broader audience.