El Sistema comes to Atlanta
In the past few months, Abreu Fellow Dantes Rameau has taken the helm of the Atlanta Music Project (AMP), the city’s first El Sistema program. Launching this fall, AMP’s pilot year will consist of a 5-day-a-week after school youth orchestra program, targeting kids from grades 1 through 6. Acting as a safe haven for them to spend time doing homework and receive tutoring, the kids will participate in orchestra, choir and group lessons. The program has been granted office space at the Woodruff Arts Center, home of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and, in return, AMP will give the symphony’s youth orchestra the opportunity to become mentors.
For more on the Atlanta Music Project click here. For those interested in supporting AMP, they are currently trying to raise $15,000 by Labor Day on Kickstarter with proceeds going towards orchestral music instruments, sheet music, and a drum and dance residency for the students in the Fall.
Dantes recently gave an interview on Atlanta’s NPR station, WABE 90.1 FM, about the Atlanta Music Project and El Sistema. You can listen to the interview here (scroll down to Wednesday August 4 and click on “listen here”).
