Jonathan Wright, Co-Founder & Co-Director
The Kabbage director chair
Jonathan Wright started studying violin at the age of 5 and has spent over 25 years teaching and performing. An active performer, he has played with the Orchestras of Macon, Valdosta, Columbus, Charleston, Atlanta, Hilton Head, and Savannah, among others. In addition to orchestral work, he has had the opportunity to perform with artists like Christina Aguilera, Phil Collins, Sarah McLaughlin, Josh Groban, The Trans-Siberian Orchestra, to name a few. Mr. Wright has been on over 25 domestic and international tours as a principal violinist and contractor, most recently, a month long tour in Japan. In June of 2015, he took a position as agent/manager with OmniPops Entertainment.
As a teacher, he has maintained an active teaching studio since 2000. A number of his students have gone on to pursue careers in music in the fields of performance, education, and therapy. He is also a frequent guest clinician for the Cobb, Cherokee, Gwinnett, and Fulton County school systems.
As a teacher, he has maintained an active teaching studio since 2000. A number of his students have gone on to pursue careers in music in the fields of performance, education, and therapy. He is also a frequent guest clinician for the Cobb, Cherokee, Gwinnett, and Fulton County school systems.
Dr. Jessica Sherer, Co-Founder & Co-Director
The UPS director chair
An adventurous flutist hailed for her "versatility and depth of understanding" (composer Eva Kendrick), Dr. Jessica Sherer has earned a reputation for taking on many unique and varied musical projects. Jessica currently serves as principal flutist with Sinfonia Gulf Coast and piccoloist with the Spartanburg Philharmonic, and previously held positions with the Valdosta, LaGrange, Albany, and Northwest Florida Symphonies. She performs regularly with orchestras throughout the Southeast, including the Atlanta Opera Orchestra, Greenville Symphony, Savannah Philharmonic, South Carolina Philharmonic, Columbus Symphony, and Symphony Orchestra Augusta. She has also appeared with the New World Symphony, Orlando Philharmonic, and Columbia Symphony.
As a chamber musician, Jessica has performed with members of the Atlanta Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Metropolitan Opera. Jessica is an Artist in Residence at the Orfeo Music Festival in Vipiteno, Italy, and co-founder of Anon Ensemble, a flute, viola, and bassoon trio whose commissioned work, Juntos, by Eva Kendrick, was awarded the Judith Lang Zaimont Prize for the International Alliance of Women in Music New Music Search. A strong advocate for new music, Jessica has commissioned and premiered works by many composers, including Eva Kendrick, Nicole Chamberlain, Marc Yeats, Richard Applin, Michael Daughterty and Ladislav Kubik. She has performed with Atlanta's Chamber Cartel, the Pierrot Lunaire Ensemble (in residence at Berklee College of Music), and Longitude New Music Ensemble (Cambridge, MA).
Currently the flute instructor for the Conservatory of Music at the Lovett School in Atlanta, Jessica has previously served on the faculties of Valdosta State University, Emory University, Agnes Scott College, and University of North Georgia, and has maintained a large and selective pre-college studio. Her students have won prizes in the Atlanta Flute Club, Florida Flute Club, Kennesaw State University, and other competitions; earned regular first chair placements in GMEA All-State ensembles; attended such prestigious summer festivals as Interlochen Arts Camp, Eastern Music Festival, and Brevard Music Festival; and earned acceptance at the Oberlin Conservatory, New England Conservatory, Rice University, Northwestern University, Florida State University, and more. They have also earned positions in the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra, Emory Youth Symphony Orchestra, and all other major Atlanta area youth orchestras. She has served as a teaching artist for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and given masterclasses at Florida State University, Tennessee Tech University, Valdosta State University, and others.
A long-time advocate of social justice through music, Jessica founded the Play It Forward Scholarship Program, Inc., a nonprofit which provides private lesson scholarships in exchange for hour-for-hour volunteer work, for which she won the 2016 National Flute Association Arts Venture competition. She served as the Flute Teaching Artist for the Atlanta Music Project, an El Sistema organization providing intensive music training for children in underserved communities, from its inception in 2010 until 2015, and she represented AMP as a speaker at the 2012 TEDx Centennial Park Women conference.
Jessica holds a D.M. from Florida State University, a M.M. from the Longy School of Music, and a B.M. from Boston University, and has studied at the Brevard and Bowdoin music festivals. Her principal teachers include Robert Willoughby, Eva Amsler, Laura Gilbert, Marianne Gedigian, Linda Toote, Elizabeth Goode, and Trygve Peterson. She can be heard on recordings with the FSU Symphony Orchestra (Naxos) and Chamber Cartel (independent).
As a chamber musician, Jessica has performed with members of the Atlanta Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Metropolitan Opera. Jessica is an Artist in Residence at the Orfeo Music Festival in Vipiteno, Italy, and co-founder of Anon Ensemble, a flute, viola, and bassoon trio whose commissioned work, Juntos, by Eva Kendrick, was awarded the Judith Lang Zaimont Prize for the International Alliance of Women in Music New Music Search. A strong advocate for new music, Jessica has commissioned and premiered works by many composers, including Eva Kendrick, Nicole Chamberlain, Marc Yeats, Richard Applin, Michael Daughterty and Ladislav Kubik. She has performed with Atlanta's Chamber Cartel, the Pierrot Lunaire Ensemble (in residence at Berklee College of Music), and Longitude New Music Ensemble (Cambridge, MA).
Currently the flute instructor for the Conservatory of Music at the Lovett School in Atlanta, Jessica has previously served on the faculties of Valdosta State University, Emory University, Agnes Scott College, and University of North Georgia, and has maintained a large and selective pre-college studio. Her students have won prizes in the Atlanta Flute Club, Florida Flute Club, Kennesaw State University, and other competitions; earned regular first chair placements in GMEA All-State ensembles; attended such prestigious summer festivals as Interlochen Arts Camp, Eastern Music Festival, and Brevard Music Festival; and earned acceptance at the Oberlin Conservatory, New England Conservatory, Rice University, Northwestern University, Florida State University, and more. They have also earned positions in the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra, Emory Youth Symphony Orchestra, and all other major Atlanta area youth orchestras. She has served as a teaching artist for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and given masterclasses at Florida State University, Tennessee Tech University, Valdosta State University, and others.
A long-time advocate of social justice through music, Jessica founded the Play It Forward Scholarship Program, Inc., a nonprofit which provides private lesson scholarships in exchange for hour-for-hour volunteer work, for which she won the 2016 National Flute Association Arts Venture competition. She served as the Flute Teaching Artist for the Atlanta Music Project, an El Sistema organization providing intensive music training for children in underserved communities, from its inception in 2010 until 2015, and she represented AMP as a speaker at the 2012 TEDx Centennial Park Women conference.
Jessica holds a D.M. from Florida State University, a M.M. from the Longy School of Music, and a B.M. from Boston University, and has studied at the Brevard and Bowdoin music festivals. Her principal teachers include Robert Willoughby, Eva Amsler, Laura Gilbert, Marianne Gedigian, Linda Toote, Elizabeth Goode, and Trygve Peterson. She can be heard on recordings with the FSU Symphony Orchestra (Naxos) and Chamber Cartel (independent).
Kaitlyn Calcagino, Director of Residence Life & Social Media Coordinator
Kaitlyn Calcagino is an active flutist and teacher based in Tallahassee, FL. Kaitlyn maintains an active freelance career performing at local churches in North Florida, surrounding universities, as well as local symphonies such as the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, Valdosta Symphony Orchestra, and Sinfonia Gulf Coast. Most recently, Kaitlyn was named a finalist in the 2025 Nancy Clew Eller Young Artist Competition. She also maintains an active private studio in Tallahassee.
She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Music at Florida State University where she studies with Dr. Karen Large. At Florida State University, Kaitlyn is a Graduate Assistant where she teaches undergraduate applied flute lessons, directs the undergraduate flute choir, and teaches the undergraduate and graduate Introduction to Baroque Flute. Kaitlyn holds a Master of Music from Florida State University and Bachelor of Music from Valdosta State University. During her time at VSU, Kaitlyn tutored individuals and groups in Music Theory, held principal positions in the ensembles, and taught local private lessons.
Kaitlyn has performed in masterclasses with Jeffrey Khaner, Brian Luce, Jonathan Bailey, Eva Amsler, and George Pope. Her major teachers include Mary Matthews, Karen Large, Jessica Sherer, and Elizabeth Goode.
She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Music at Florida State University where she studies with Dr. Karen Large. At Florida State University, Kaitlyn is a Graduate Assistant where she teaches undergraduate applied flute lessons, directs the undergraduate flute choir, and teaches the undergraduate and graduate Introduction to Baroque Flute. Kaitlyn holds a Master of Music from Florida State University and Bachelor of Music from Valdosta State University. During her time at VSU, Kaitlyn tutored individuals and groups in Music Theory, held principal positions in the ensembles, and taught local private lessons.
Kaitlyn has performed in masterclasses with Jeffrey Khaner, Brian Luce, Jonathan Bailey, Eva Amsler, and George Pope. Her major teachers include Mary Matthews, Karen Large, Jessica Sherer, and Elizabeth Goode.
