Talent Development Program
c h a n g i n g t h e f ac e
o f A m e r i ca n
O r c h e s t r as
A Learning Community Program of the
A t l a n t a S y m p h o n y O rc h e s t r a
talent development program
For promising young
African American and Latino
classical music students,
the
Talent Development
Program of the Atlanta
Symphony Orchestra opens
the door to opportunity
and achievement at the
highest level.
atlanta symphony orchestra
class
of 2 0 02 , w a s t he f i r st T DP
graduate to join a professional
orchestra when the Charlotte
Symphony Orchestra selected
him as a fulltime substitute bassist.
This is the latest of many “firsts”
for Eric: first TDP student to
win an Azira G. Hill Scholarship
for summer study, first to win
a principal seat in the Atlanta
Symphony Youth Orchestra, first
to be a featured soloist in an ASO
performance, and first to place in
the national Sphinx Competition.
Ralph Jones, principal bass with
the ASO, was Eric’s TDP teacher
and mentor. Eric says that one
of his happiest memories is the
day he called Ralph to report he
had been accepted at the Curtis
Institute of Music.
Eric Thompson
Eric Thompson,
Changing the face of
A m e r i can o rch es tras
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is influencing
the evolution of the American Orchestra
through the Talent Development Program. In the
future, orchestras will be more reflective of the
community, more diverse in membership,
more ethnically inclusive.
Bridging the gap from dream to concert stage,
the TDP prepares a select group of outstanding
young instrumentalists from across the greater
Atlanta community to pursue classical music.
It trains and mentors African-American and
Latino student musicians who have shown
exceptional musical skill, talent and commitment.
Leading in young
mus i c i a n de vel o pmen t
The Atlanta Symphony was the first American orchestra to establish an intense development program
designed to diversify the professional orchestra of the future. The Talent Development Program, nationally
recognized for excellence, is often used as an education model by other orchestras across the country.
Within the classical music world, TDP participation signals superior talent and exacting training
under the guidance of top professionals. Since 1993, 100 percent of students completing the Talent
Development Program have graduated from high school and many attend leading conservatories
and college and university music departments, including Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the Juilliard
School, Cleveland Institute of Music, New England Conservatory, the Curtis Institute of Music,
Berklee College of Music and others.
TDP students will influence the orchestras of tomorrow, as highly trained musicians, who are role
models and ambassadors for classical music throughout the community.
Katie Algarra
To rea l i ze how fa r she ha s
come as a musician,
Algarra
K atie
recalls her first
bass recital after entering the
TDP. “I was terrified,” Katie says.
“Now I am ver y comfortable
speaking to the audience and
presenting my piece.” Taught by
Ralph Jones, principal bass in the
Atlanta Symphony, she has played
with the Berlin Youth Orchestra
in its home city and hosted one of
its bass players in Atlanta. Katie’s
favorite achievement of all — so
far — is holding the position of
principal bass in the Atlanta
Symphony Youth Orchestra. Katie
hopes to play in a professional
orchestra and perhaps one day to
teach students like her. “For me,
the TDP is the difference between
playing bass and not having music
as part of my life.”
i s t he he a r t of t he T DP, a s
accomplished musicians pass
to pupils the technical skill
a nd d iscipline to excel, the
poise to present well, and the
assurance to uniquely cultivate
their talent. For ASO Violinist
Ronda Respess,
the TDP
is “a great solution” to the need
to bring more diversit y into
American orchestras. “I’ve had
some wonderful students in the
program,” she says. In addition
to the T DP, Ronda coaches
string players in the A t l a nt a
Symphony Youth Orchestra
and is the founder and artistic
d i r e c t or of Fr a n k l i n Pond
Chamber Music, a summer string
quartet development program for
pre-college musicians. Ronda is
among an elite group of master
teachers who are dedicating their
talents to educate the musicians
of tomorrow.
Ronda Respess
The student-teacher relationship
Offering unparalleled
o pp or t uni ty
The student musicians of the Talent Development Program enjoy a wealth of opportunities designed to optimize
their skills, confidence, and potential. The TDP experience includes, but is not limited to:
• Private lessons from professional musicians, who are noted master teachers
• Abundant performance opportunities, from individual recitals to large ensemble performances
• Opportunities to represent the ASO in community engagement projects
• Preparatory support for auditions and musical competitions such as the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra,
national summer music programs, and conservatory or university applications
• Advancement through regular evaluations based on defined benchmarks and progress measurements
• Coaching for small ensemble performance and public speaking
• Opportunities for students and their families to regularly experience ASO performances and rehearsals
Partnering in the
c ommuni ty
The Talent Development Program was conceived in 1993 by a committee of
community and volunteer leaders associated with the Atlanta Symphony. It was their
aspiration to create authentic classical music opportunities for African-American
students — as musicians and as members of the audience. Their hard work inspired
an expanded group of dedicated volunteers to continue to invest in the TDP year after
year, donating their time, talents, and treasures to the advancement of the students
and the mission of the program.
Reflecting its genesis as a community vision, the Talent Development Program has
an uncommon commitment to nurturing program graduates to likewise model service
in their community. Engagement training and activities are woven into the fabric of
the program’s curriculum and are viewed as critical ways to expose students to their
multifaceted roles as 21st Century orchestra musicians — performer, educator and
community partner.
Each TDP student devotes a minimum of 10 hours each year to community
engagement work, including participation in education programs and activities, and
performances at high-profile events like Maya Angelou’s 80th birthday festivities,
Georgia’s annual celebration of Grammy® Award nominees, and events of the Arthur
M. Blank Family Foundation, a longtime supporter of the program.
Azira Gonzales Hill
While her husband Jesse Hill was
reshaping business and politics in
Atlanta,
Azira Gonzales
H ill
appl ied her energ y to
creating opportunity for young
minority musicians. Born in
Cuba, Azira studied nursing in A
tlanta and met Mr. Hill when
he was a young man rising to
the top of America’s largest blackowned insurance company. For
over six decades they have
promoted community advancement,
worked for civil rights and
helped African-Americans attain
leadership in local, state and
federal offices. Azira joined the
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Board
in
1990
and
soon
inspired formation of the Talent
Development Program. ASO
President
&
CEO
Allison
Vulgamore praises Azira’s “sense
of joy, detail and perseverance.”
For Mr. and Mrs. Hill, involvement
in the TDP has been hands-on
and personal. TDP violinist Lewis
Eichelberger characterizes it his
own way. “They cheerleaded me.”
Rhyne
Casey
went to the Brevard
Music Center Summer Institute
& Festival, he was in the process
of changing his embouchure —
the way a horn player places his
mouth on his instrument — the
equivalent of a baseball player
adopting an entirely new batting
stance. The six-week Brevard
program, which Casey attended
with an Azira G. Hill Scholarship,
helped him make the adjustment
quickly and elevated his playing
to a new level. “Musically it was a
massive improvement,” he
says. This was evident as soon
as he returned home. Within
weeks Casey was named first
chair horn in both the Atlanta
Symphony Youth Orchestra and
All-State Band.
Casey Rhyne
When TDP horn player
Providing scholarships for national
s u m m er pro gram s
TDP students are invited regularly to attend prestigious summer music
programs, including the Interlochen Center for the Arts, the Heifitz Institute
for Strings, and the Tanglewood Music Center. The TDP faculty believes
that total musical and social immersion, which occurs during these
summer training programs, is a catalyst for dramatic development.
However, these national programs are beyond the reach of many TDP
families. Since 1999, TDP students have received summer tuition
scholarships, through the Azira G. Hill Scholarship Fund, to ensure that
students may benefit from the opportunities and life experiences these
summer programs offer. The scholarship fund is named in honor of Azira
Hill, a long-time ASO Board Member who, with ASO volunteer Mary Gramling,
envisioned and inspired the creation of the Talent Development Program.
professionalism
In addition to developing as polished and
disciplined performers, TDP students
acquire the full range of qualities involved in
professional musicianship. They learn how to
introduce programs and selections; interact
with organizations and employers; give media
interviews; and manage musicians’ many
responsibilities beyond performance.
Earl Sharpe
Cultivating
“The TDP has given both of our daughters
w i ng s ,” s ay s
E a r l S h a r pe .
Violinist Chelsea and cellist Lindsey
are among several sibling groups to be
accepted into TDP since its founding.
“My wife and I decided they would play
instruments,” says Earl. “The girls decided
they would be leaders.” According to their
father, involvement in the program has
been beneficial for the whole family. For
Earl and wife Tanya, “TDP is a partner for
our journey. They have a vested interest
in our kids. They are with us, ahead of us,
behind us, guiding us.”
Selecting for
s ucc ess
Rigorous and challenging, the TDP seeks young musicians who are dedicated to a musical
future as well as sufficiently talented to attain it. Auditions are open to African-American and
Latino students in grades 4-10 across the greater Atlanta community in public, private, or home
schools. Eligible candidates are invited to audition in September and October. Criteria include:
• Demonstrated talent and skill playing an orchestral instrument
• Interest in a classical music career and commitment to its disciplined pursuit
• Participation in their school’s instrumental music program, if offered
• Agreement by their school to support the student’s participation
• Recommendation by the student’s instrumental music teacher or private music instructor
• Parent commitment to participate fully in TDP activities
Lucy Wright
c r e d it s t h e p r o g r a m w it h
preparing her and husband Al
to help their talented son Bryant
make choices for the future.
Bryant is an outstanding violist
who has known since 7th grade
that he wanted an orchestral
career. “We can give him better
parental support and help him
fine-tune his plans because of the
TDP,” she says. “We have grown
in our understanding of the
possibilities that are out there
for him.” Lucy says, “The TDP
really has been a family affair.
Parents are involved in helping
o u t w it h e v e n t s , o r i e n t i n g
new families in the program,
fundraising and participating
in parent board meetings every
month. With Bryant, this has
not been difficult. Bryant always
realized the opportunity he had
been given and took it seriously.
He h a s worke d ve r y h a r d .
Without the TDP, he would not
have had the opportunit y to
develop as he has.”
Lucy Wright
TDP parent
The Learning Community of the
Atlan ta Symp hony O rc he s t r a
C r e ati n g t h e 2 1 st C e n t u ry A m e rica n O rc h e stra
The Talent Development Program is part of the ASO Learning Community, a unique approach to
engagement that embraces the full range of ASO performances, education and collaboration programs
and initiatives. The Learning Community’s purpose has multiple dimensions, each aimed at expanding and
deepening the value that the greater Atlanta community experiences with the Atlanta Symphony, through
enlarging the Orchestra’s service capacity, strengthening its community partnerships, and advancing the
understanding of the ASO’s role as a music educator and community partner.
The Learning Community’s commitment to education, diversity, and community engagement reflects the
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s identity as a uniquely American orchestra. The ASO fully embraces its
multifaceted roles as performer, presenter, commissioner, educator and community partner. Cultivating
the innovative spirit of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the
groundbreaking Creative Partnership of Music Director Robert
Spano, Principal Guest Conductor Donald Runnicles and President
and CEO Allison Vulgamore have created the model of the
21st Century American orchestra.
atlanta symphony orchestra
Support the
TALENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM…
“The program has not only given them a dream, but
also has given them the tools to achieve that dream.”
These words of TDP parent Lucy Wright reflect the impact of the Talent Development Program. Charitable
contributions support the aspirations of talented young African-American and Latino music students — and
help to change the face of American orchestras.
With vital financial support, these student musicians receive the extraordinary benefits of the TDP, advancing
their talent and dreams of a future in the classical music world. Charitable gifts and grants provide worldclass instruction and mentoring from ASO musicians, unparalleled performance opportunities with the
Grammy® Award-winning Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and scholarships to the most prestigious national
summer music programs — all offering life-changing experiences for personal and professional growth.
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is the only major American orchestra that offers student musicians a
diversity program of this magnitude. Tax deductible contributions assure the Talent Development Program
will continue to thrive, and cultivates the musicians of tomorrow!
A Learning Community Program of the
A t l a n t a S y m p h o n y O rc h e s t r a
For more information:
404-733-5038
www.atlantasymphony.org