AMPlify, the choral music program of the Atlanta Music Project,
to serve 85 Kindezi students.
AMPlify teaching artists introduce students at The Kindezi School West Lake to the power of choral music.
ATLANTA, JUNE 18, 2015 – The Atlanta Music Project and The Kindezi Schools have formed a partnership to launch a flagship site for AMPlify, the choral music program of the Atlanta Music Project (AMP). Classes will begin in the fall of 2015 at The Kindezi School’s West Lake campus.
Founded in 2010, AMP provides intensive, tuition-free music education for underserved youth right in their neighborhood. AMP’s innovative program design has developed three, neighborhood-based, after-school youth orchestras and choirs. The launch of the AMPlify Flagship Site at The Kindezi School at West Lake will be AMP’s fourth site, bringing the total number of children served by AMP to 200.
Also founded in 2010, The Kindezi Schools are a high-performing network of public elementary through middle school charter schools with two locations – one on the east side and one on the west side of Atlanta. Each school offers classes of just six to eight students.
The AMPlify Flagship Site will offer an intensive choral music education for up to 85 Kindezi students. The program’s main feature will be its three choral ensembles serving grades one through eight, each of which will perform in numerous public concerts throughout the school year. Additional program components will consist of classes in vocal training, ear training, music theory, composition, improvisation, piano, guitar and percussion. Led by AMPlify‘s teaching artists, classes will be held after school four days per week, for two hours each day. As is the case at all Atlanta Music Project sites, students will be accepted on a first-come first-serve basis with no prior musical experience required.
Kindezi’s partnership with AMP is evidence of the school’s commitment to providing an arts and leadership curriculum to its students. “For the past five years, we’ve integrated the arts into our academic classes and that methodology has served our students well in the core subjects. It has not, however, given them the opportunity to develop into world-class artists. AMPlify will offer our kids the chance to work toward their full artistic potential under the tutelage of professional musicians who care deeply for them as individuals,” said Dean Leeper, founder and executive director of The Kindezi Schools.
“We are excited and honored to partner with The Kindezi Schools, which have established themselves as a leader in public education in Atlanta. With the launch of the AMPlify Flagship at The Kindezi Schools, we have the opportunity to offer a world-class choral music education that will allow children to discover their voice in a new way and be awakened to the possibilities life has to offer them.” says Aisha Bowden, Co-Founder and Director of AMPlify.
AMP’s pursuit of musical excellence builds character traits in youth that correlate with success in life, namely: grit, curiosity, ambition, team-building and leadership skills. The organization’s commitment to artistic excellence has resulted in performances at the Woodruff Arts Center, Spivey Hall, The Rialto Center for the Arts, and Morehouse College.
About the Atlanta Music Project
Founded in 2010, the Atlanta Music Project provides intensive, tuition-free, music education for underserved youth right in their neighborhood. AMP’s mission is to inspire social change by providing Atlanta’s underserved youth the opportunity to learn and perform music in orchestras and choirs. Currently at the tail end of its fifth year 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, providing advanced musical training to AMP’s most talented and dedicated students. In the fall of 2015 AMP will launch the AMPlify Flagship site at The Kindezi Schools, adding 85 new students. For more information visit www.atlantamusicproject.org.
About The Kindezi Schools
The Kindezi Schools are a high-performing network of public elementary through middle school charter schools with two locations – on the east side and one on the west side of Atlanta. Each school offers classes of just six to eight students. The Kindezi Schools aspire to transform public education in Atlanta by providing more students – including those with the highest needs – access to a genius-awakening education, built on family-sized classrooms, scholarly excellence, socioeconomic integration, and holistic growth. For more information visit www.kindezi.org.