Harmonic South String Orchestra Inc

Mrs. Michelle Mason Johnson, founder and CEO of Harmonic South String Orchestra, has a history of high-quality music instruction as well as a distinguished record of building community orchestras. Under her leadership, her students were invited to perform in venues across the city, state and nation. Their experiences include performing for Nelson Mandela, The National Black Caucus, The National NAACP Conference, President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore, the Inauguration of Harold Ford Jr. and the Memphis in May visiting dignitaries. Her efforts have even been recognized nationally as she was the local Jefferson Award winner for Community Service in 2004. Carl Everett Johnson, Jr., COO, has a 25-year tenure as a public school administrator of which the last 12 were in arts administration at Rozelle Creative and Performing Arts Elementary School. He is a product of Memphis and currently plays cello and bass in the orchestra of Temple of Deliverance, a church within the target community. The strongest assets of HSSO are the predominantly music instructors themselves, all of whom have earned degrees in instrumental music, hold active state teaching certificates and most of whom have teaching experience in public, private, parochial and charter schools in Shelby County. They are passionate and experienced with the students and communities HSSO seeks to serve. Our instructors have worked with such programs as Interlochen School of Music, El Sistemia Music Program, Dekalb Youth String Orchestra, Prizm, Memphis Youth Symphony and Sinfo-Nia Youth Orchestra of Atlanta. In addition to certification in music education, they hold certifications in Orff music, Suzuki Instruction, violin/viola performance, elementary education, reading and math and science. All HSSO personnel are accomplished string orchestra musicians.

Harmonic South String Orchestra (HSSO) puts violins, violas, 'cellos and basses in the hands of new or emerging young musicians. HSSO provides quality musical instruction paired with authentic performance opportunities. These performances enhance the communities in which they occur. Ultimately, for the children, music becomes as source of enjoyment, enrichment and employment. All youngsters between the ages of four (4) and eighteen (18) are welcome irrespective of their experience, skill or economic status.