Am're Ford is a native of Oklahoma City, OK. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) and a Master of Music in Music Composition from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). While attending UCO, Am’re was a member of a number of large ensembles and chamber ensembles, all while being the director of the UCO Ebony Gospel Choir. It was at UCO that Am’re discovered his gift of writing music.
In March of 2014, Am’re debuted a song cycle, Freedom Suite, at the National Association for the Study and Performance of African American Music National Convention alongside faculty members of Langston University. In May of the same year, he debuted a string orchestra piece, Transcendence, written about the passing of his late grandfather. In the fall of 2014, Am’re moved to Greensboro, North Carolina to study composition with Mark Engebretson, Alejandro Rutty and Steven Bryant. For his master’s thesis, Am’re composed, Unrest. This chamber piece was written to honor the lives of innocent Black men killed due to police brutality.
Am’re has an extensive history of being an organist and pianist for local churches and community events. He enjoys any opportunity to engage in meaningful experiences and is passionate about making a positive impact on the next generation of musicians.
Am’re’s accomplishments include being a recipient of the Next Gen Under 30 award and a Sphinx Connect Fellow for 2020. Am’re is a member of National Association for Music Educators, Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity Inc. and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America Inc.
