Media Inquiries:
Dantes Rameau
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Atlanta Music Project
678-235-4267 | info@atlantamusicproject.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ATLANTA MUSIC PROJECT ANNOUNCES OBOIST TITUS UNDERWOOD
AS ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE FOR 2024 AMP SUMMER SERIES
UNDERWOOD’S RESIDENCY TO INCLUDE MASTERCLASS & SOLO PERFORMANCE WITH AMP SUMMER SERIES FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA
(Atlanta, GA) (May 29, 2024) — The Atlanta Music Project announces oboist Titus Underwood as Artist-in-Residence for the 2024 AMP Summer Series. Mr. Underwood is Principal Oboe of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra. His residency at AMP will culminate with his performance as soloist in 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 of conductor John Young Shik Concklin.
Now in its ninth straight year, the Atlanta Music Project Summer Series is a 4-week music festival and school, based in the Capitol View neighborhood in Southwest Atlanta. The 2024 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.
Titus Underwood is Principal Oboe of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra and the 2021 recipient of the Sphinx Medal of Excellence award and a 2021 Midsouth Regional Emmy winner for his work on “We Are Nashville”. Prior to the NSO, he was Acting Associate Principal of Utah Symphony, and has performed as guest principal of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Miami Symphony Orchestra, and Florida Orchestra. A sought-after freelance performer, Titus has also performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Atlanta Symphony, Puerto Rico Symphony, and San Diego Symphony. Titus regularly plays principal oboe in Chineke!, the Gateways Music Festival, and Bellingham Festival of Music.
“It is a wonderful pleasure to welcome Titus Underwood as our Artist-in-Residence for the 2024 AMP Summer Series,” stated Dantes Rameau, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Atlanta Music Project. He continued, “To have an oboist and artist of his stature is an incredible opportunity for our organization and young musicians. We look forward to Mr. Underwood’s time with us in Atlanta.”
Titus Underwood stated, “I am honored to join the Atlanta Music Project as Artist-in-Residence for the 2024 AMP Summer Series. I am a passionate artist and pedagogue and therefore AMP’s mission to empower youth to realize their possibilities through music resonates deeply with me. I look forward to sharing wonderful musical moments with AMP’s faculty and young musicians.”
Mr. Underwood’s residency at the 2024 AMP Summer Series is sponsored by Cricket Wireless and will consist of an Opening Night performance, a masterclass, a mentorship session and curated panel discussion. Most components of the residency will be ticketed events that are open to the public. Tickets are available on the AMP website.
Mr. Underwood’s residency schedule is as follows:
June 6 | 9:00am | Oboe Masterclass with Titus Underwood
Atlanta Music Project Center for Performance & Education
883 Dill Ave SW Atlanta, GA 30310
June 6 | 6:30pm | Fireside Chat with Titus Underwood & Terrance McKnight
Atlanta Music Project Center for Performance & Education
883 Dill Ave SW Atlanta, GA 30310
June 7 | 12:45pm | Mentorship Session with Titus Underwood and AMP Summer Series Students (Private Event)
2024 AMP Summer Series Opening Night
June 7 | 7:00pm | Impact Church
Titus Underwood performing Oboe Concerto in F Major, RV 455 by Antonio Vivaldi
AMP Summer Series Festival Orchestra
John Young Shik Concklin, conductor
AMP Summer Series Festival Choir
Kay Pace, conductor
About Titus Underwood
Titus Underwood is Principal Oboe of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra and the 2021 recipient of the Sphinx Medal of Excellence award and a 2021 Midsouth Regional Emmy® winner for his work on « We Are Nashville ». Prior to the NSO, he was Acting Associate Principal of Utah Symphony, and has performed as guest principal of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Miami Symphony Orchestra, and Florida Orchestra. A sought-after freelance performer, Titus has also performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Atlanta Symphony, Puerto Rico Symphony, and San Diego Symphony. Titus regularly plays principal oboe in Chineke!, the Gateways Music Festival, and Bellingham Festival of Music.
As a pedagogue, Titus has been teaching music lessons and classes, and coaching chamber music since he was a student at Cleveland Institute of Music in 2006. He has maintained a private studio and taught in precollege programs at C.I.M., Juilliard, and the National Youth Orchestras program at Carnegie Hall. He has taught in the Nashville Symphony’s Accelerando program since 2017, and he teaches and mentors for the National Alliance for Audition Support program maintained by the League of American Orchestras, The Sphinx Organization, and New World Symphony.
Titus received his Master of Music degree from The Juilliard School, where he studied with Elaine Douvas, and pursued additional studies with Nathan Hughes and Pedro Diaz. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music where he was a student of John Mack, legendary principal oboist of the Cleveland Orchestra, with additional studies from Frank Rosenwein and Jeffrey Rathbun. In 2013, he received his artist diploma from The Colburn School as a student of Allan Vogel.
About the Atlanta Music Project
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 700 young musicians annually through: beginner-level choir, band and orchestra through the AMP Preparatory School; the intermediate and advanced AMP Youth Orchestras & Choirs; private instrumental and vocal lessons through the AMP Academy; and the annual month-long AMP Summer Series. Additionally, AMP runs a college and career program, supporting AMP high school students and AMP alumni. Since 2021, AMP has awarded 70 college scholarships to its alumni totaling $306,375.
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, performed with the Atlanta Opera and the Atlanta Ballet, and have concertized as far away as Los Angeles, Aspen, Mexico, and Canada.
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 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.
AMP’s current and past funders include Carnegie Hall, PwC, Georgia Power, Bank of America, the Chick-fil-A Foundation, the Coca-Cola Foundation, Mailchimp, The Zeist Foundation, the Abraham J. & Phyllis Katz Foundation, the Harland Charitable Foundation, the Arthur M. Blank Foundation, Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, Fulton County Arts Council, Georgia Council for the Arts, Georgia Music Foundation 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 is a member of “El Sistema USA,” the National Alliance of El Sistema Inspired Programs.
For more information visit http://www.atlantamusicproject.org