Spotlight on Azira G. Hill and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s Talent Development Program

In Wednesday’s (12/20) Atlanta Journal-Constitution, a staff-written article states, “The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s Talent Development Program, established in 1993 to identify and nurture talented African American and Latino music students, began with a simple question from Azira G. Hill. She asked why there was so little participation among children of color in the ASO’s Youth Symphony Orchestra. She was told most Black children don’t know how to audition. Her response was simple: Why not teach them?… In the years since, the Talent Development Program has been a game changer. Each year, the 25 students who are accepted receive weekly private lessons from members of the ASO, funding for music camps and opportunities to perform live. Graduates have gone on to The Juilliard School and the Curtis Institute of Music. They have performed in the Oval Office for President Barack Obama. And one, Joshua Williams, has reached his dream job: performing with the ASO this season. ‘It’s hard to sum up in just a few words what Azira Hill has done for us, but I think changing the course of history is probably a good start,’ said Jennifer Barlament, the ASO’s executive director…. Hill just celebrated her 100th birthday.”