ION INDIE MAGAZINE September 2015, Volume 16 | Page 162

KP: ION Indie Magazine was born out of a need to fill a void…and that was providing exposure for independent artists and providing them a platform to get their music read about and heard. What was the catalyst that was the driving force within YOU to make the dream of Atlanta Music Project a reality? DR: In a nutshell, the driving force within me to make the dream of AMP a reality was a deeply held personal belief that music can changes lives. I grew up studying classical music and have two performance degrees in classical music, so I know what striving for a goal, practicing every day and performing on the world’s big stages can do for someone. I’ve learned that chasing your musical dream with intent, integrity and a sincere love of the art form will, at best, give you a life in music that most people can only dream of, and at worst, you’ll be left with life-changing experiences, a professional skill, strong work ethic, timemanagement skills and teamwork skills. In short, all the skills that employers are seeking and that children need to develop in order to be successful. I know that a lot of kids from lower socio-economic backgrounds don’t have the opportunity to pursue costly music lessons, so they miss out on the chance to experience both outcomes previously men F