For media inquiries:
Dantes Rameau
203-887-5108, dantes@atlantamusicproject.org
Lindsay Aleshire
706-202-6132, lindsay@atlantamusicproject.org
Atlanta, Ga., April 21, 2015 – Joseph Young, Assistant Conductor of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) and Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra Music Director, will guest conduct the Atlanta Music Project Orchestra’s 2015 Spring Concert. The concert will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2015 at 12 p.m. at the Rich Theatre of the Woodruff Arts Center. MailChimp is the Presenting Sponsor for the concert.
“As a new member of the community I am learning the value that Atlanta has for the arts.” said Mr. Young. “In discovering the Atlanta Music Project I admire its importance to the Atlanta community, both for the fine arts and for youth development. I’m looking forward to being involved in the development of these talented young musician’s and leading them through a truly memorable performance.”
Maestro Joseph Young assumed his current post with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in June 2014. Mr. Young assists with the artistic leadership of the Orchestra and serves as the primary conductor for the ASO’s education and community concerts. Prior to joining the ASO, Mr. Young was Resident Conductor of the Phoenix Symphony. He also spent a season as Assistant Conductor and League of American Orchestras Conducting Fellow with the Buffalo Philharmonic.
Dantes Rameau, Executive Director of the Atlanta Music Project, said of the partnership with Joseph Young and the ASO: “I’m thankful for the support that the ASO has provided to the Atlanta Music Project since our first days five years ago. I’m also grateful to Mr. Young for taking the time to lead our orchestra students in their spring concert. His knowledge, talent and presence will be an inspiration to our young artists.”
The concert will feature the 50 young artists of the Atlanta Music Project’s Gilbert House-South Bend Orchestra. Mr. Young will lead the Orchestra in works by Offenbach, Holst, Handel and Mozart. This concert will mark the end of a celebratory fifth year anniversary of programming for the Atlanta Music Project that has included a number of special joint concerts with prestigious youth music ensembles in the Atlanta area, including the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony, the Metropolitan Youth Orchestras of Atlanta, and the Spivey Hall Children’s Choir, as well as performances in spectacular Atlanta venues such as the Rialto Center for the Arts, the W Atlanta – Midtown Hotel and Spivey Hall.
About the Atlanta Music Project
Founded in 2010, the Atlanta Music Project provides intense music education for underserved youth right in their neighborhood. Currently celebrating five years of programming and serving 115 students at three sites, AMP provides all its students with an instrument, a teaching artist, classes and numerous public performance opportunities.
AMP does not hold entrance auditions – the only requirement is commitment to attending all classes. AMP’s programs include: the AMP Orchestra; AMPlify, the choral program of the Atlanta Music Project; and the AMP Academy, which provides advanced musical training to AMP’s most talented and dedicated students.
AMP’s young artists have performed at Atlanta’s most prestigious venues, including the Woodruff Arts Center, Spivey Hall, the Rialto Center for the Arts and Philips Arena. In the next three years, AMP will expand to serve more than 300 students at multiple sites. For more information visit www.atlantamusicproject.org.
About Joseph Young
Joseph Young became Assistant Conductor of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) and Music Director of the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra in June 2014. Mr. Young assists with the artistic leadership of the Orchestra and serves as the primary conductor for the ASO’s education and community concerts.
Prior to joining the ASO, Mr. Young was Resident Conductor of the Phoenix Symphony. He also spent a season as Assistant Conductor and a League of American Orchestras Conducting Fellow with the Buffalo Philharmonic.
In 2007, Mr. Young made his professional debut as the first recipient of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO)-Peabody Institute Conducting Fellowship, and he worked with the BSO through 2009. His recent conducting engagements include the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Tucson Symphony, Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Delaware Symphony Orchestra and Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto Casa da Música.
Mr. Young’s other professional accolades include being named a semi-finalist in the 2013 Gustav Mahler International Conducting Competition and being featured in the League of American Orchestras prestigious Bruno Walter National Conductor Preview. Additionally, he was the first recipient of the Sir Georg Solti Foundation Career Grant for young conductors. He has furthered his conducting studies at the Cabrillo Contemporary Music Festival, the 2010 Jorma Panula International Master class in Porto, Portugal and at the Tanglewood Music Center.
Mr. Young received a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of South Carolina in 2004 and completed his graduate studies in conducting with Gustav Meier and Markand Thakar at the Peabody Conservatory in 2009.