Another artistic endeavor

Although he lives in New York City, where he will begin teaching at the Manhattan School of Music in the fall, Damien Sneed wants to give back to the city that put him on track to where he is now.

“It’s my hometown,” said Sneed, who lists pianist, composer and conductor among his many musical occupations. “I could’ve done this anywhere, but I wanted to do it in Augusta.”

Sneed, a 1996 graduate of John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School, who has several college degrees under his belt including a doctorate in musical conducting from the University of South Carolina, is bringing his inaugural performing arts institute to the Jessye Norman School for the Arts from Aug. 14-17.

The free institute is open to high school and college students and is designed to educate and empower young people in a variety of artistic disciplines including instrumental music, vocals and dance.

The deadline for the institute is Aug. 7, and applications are available at damiensneedfoundation.org.

Sneed knows the power positive adults can have in the life of a young person.

Growing up in Augusta, Sneed said he had multiple role models and teachers.

His years at Davidson and the instruction he received there were invaluable, he said.

“Davidson was the place that gave me my foundation. It was my springboard,” he said.

While many teachers at the school and in the Augusta community made a difference in his life, there was one teacher who had a profound impact on Sneed and is still in regular contact with him.

“He only taught there one year. His name was David Bezano, and he was only there for my senior year. He was the one who said I should become a conductor,” he said.

After graduating Davidson, Sneed went to Howard University where he received his bachelor’s degree; his master’s degree came from New York University.

The 2014 recipient of the Sphinx Medal of Excellence, Sneed has worked with the Houston Grand Opera and served as the musical director for artists such as The Clark Sisters, Donnie McClurkin, Hezekiah Walker and Kim Burrell.

He’s worked with performers including Aretha Franklin, Wynton Marsalis, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and Jessye Norman.

He’s conducted numerous choirs including being chosen to conduct a 70-voice choir for Marsalis’s “Abyssinian: A Gospel Celebration Tour,” which stopped in Augusta in 2013. And in 2012, Sneed conducted the Mass at the Barbican during the London Olympics.

In 2015, he was the musical director and conductor for Central Park’s Summer Stage production of “The Wiz: A Celebration of Dance in Music.”

On Oct. 11, Sneed’s work “Our Journey: 400 Years from Africa to Jamestown” will make its New York City debut at Carnegie Hall.

Sneed said he hopes the performing arts institute will be an annual event in Augusta.