Atlanta Music Project announces GRAMMY award-winning operatic baritone, Edward Parks, as guest artist for 2022 AMP Summer Series

Mr. Parks will perform on Opening Night alongside AMP’s faculty and musicians, and will conduct a voice masterclass

[June 7, 2022, Atlanta, GA] The Atlanta Music Project (AMP) welcomes operatic baritone Edward Parks as the guest artist for the 2022 AMP Summer Series. Mr. Parks has been hailed by Opera News for his “warm, velvety baritone” and the New York Times for providing “precision, sensitivity and nuance in abundance” and a “robust, earthy voice”.

Mr. Parks will perform as the featured guest artist on Monday June 13 at 7:00pm at the Opening Night concert of this year’s AMP Summer Series. Mr. Parks will perform famous arias for baritone, as well as various songs, all accompanied by AMP’s faculty and young musicians.

On Tuesday June 14 at 9:00am, Mr. Parks will conduct a masterclass featuring vocal students from the AMP Summer Series and local college music students.

Mr. Parks is the recipient of a 2019 GRAMMY award for Best Opera Recording (Steve Jobs in The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs). He made his Metropolitan Opera debut in the 2009-10 season as Fiorello in Il barbiere di Siviglia and has since appeared there as Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Schaunard in La bohème and as Larkens in La fancuilla del West, which was broadcast in HD worldwide. On the concert stage, Mr. Parks made his Carnegie Hall debut in an evening of songs by Charles Ives, performed Orff’s Carmina Burana with the Prague Proms International Music Festival and the Czech National Symphony Orchestra, debuted with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in Duruflé’s Requiem, and performed Schubert’s Winterreise at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall. A native of Indiana, Pennsylvania, Mr. Parks received his bachelor of music degree from Oberlin Conservatory and his master of music degree from Yale University.

Edward Parks on his engagement with Atlanta Music Project:

“I’m ecstatic at the opportunity to perform and collaborate with the outstanding faculty and young musicians of the Atlanta Music Project. I’ve been following the wonderful progress of AMP’s youth ensembles and look forward to our time together in the classroom and on stage. I was fortunate to receive music lessons at an early age, and I know that changed the trajectory of my life, so I’m honored to be a part of AMP’s mission to empower these young musicians.”

Dantes Rameau AMP’s Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer comments on Summer Series:

“I can’t wait to see the growth of our young musicians in the coming weeks, not just musically but on a personal level as well. Programs such as AMP are few and far between on Atlanta’s southside. So for us to be able to bring in world-renowned baritone Edward Parks will be an unforgettable experience for our organization and community.”

The Atlanta Music Project Summer Series is a 4-week music festival and school, based in the Capitol View neighborhood in Southwest Atlanta. The 2022 AMP Summer Series will be held from June 6 – July 1, 2022 and feature symphony orchestra, string orchestra, wind ensemble, choir, chamber ensembles and several concerts by AMP students.

The AMP Summer Series offers a tuition-free, summer music experience for band, orchestra and choir students in middle school and high school. Classes consist of group lessons and ensemble rehearsals culminating in several free public concerts. Performances are open to the public and also live streamed on AMP’s socials. Free tickets to all concerts can be obtained at www.atlantamusicproject.org.