The fundamental purpose of the CCGS Composers in Residence Program is to provide a direct connection between our students and passionate, talented BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) composers-guitarists. CCGS commissions works that are accessible to student players, reflect a variety of musical styles, and convey the diversity of composers and artists working and producing today. Many works reflect social justice themes. Our Composers in Residence visit our classrooms, work directly with our students through lessons and feedback, and culminate their involvement with CCGS by playing with our students at our annual Cleveland Community Celebration.

The CCGS 2022-2023 Composers-In-Residence Program will feature

Alana Amore Colvin

Alana Amore is a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, composer, arranger, CEO, and educator currently based in Brooklyn, NY. Encapsulating a blend of R&B, rock, and soul, Alana got her start taking piano lessons at 5 and quickly started writing songs as she began to read and write. By the time she was 12, she had picked up guitar, bass, ukulele, and flute, extending the list as she entered high school. She played in an alternative rock group throughout middle school and high school landing her gigs at Warped Tour and the Cleveland House of Blues before getting accepted into Berklee College of Music and pursuing a solo career with her debut EP, “jane doe,” released in 2020 at the start of the pandemic. In May 2021, Alana founded a non-profit organization called Bipop, an online music instruction platform for women of color and the non-binary community. In the fall of 2021, Alana released her single “wallow.” In May 2022 Alana graduated from Berklee College of Music with a degree in Songwriting and Music Business.

To learn more about the CCGS Composers-In-Residence program, including how it began, what the goals are, and what artists have participated, click here.