MISSION STATEMENT
OMS was established to offer music instruction to any person, regardless of age, race, creed, national origin, or musical goals, who wishes to learn and perform music on a variety of musical instruments, and/or serve in the community.
Students and teachers come from the entire Washington, D. C. metropolitan area, including Montgomery, Prince George’s, Charles, Howard, and Calvert counties in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Northern Virginia, and originate from North, South and Central America, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and the Caribbean.
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HISTORY
Established in 1973 by Nevilla E. Ottley, B. Mus. Ed., M.A., and M. Mus., as a private piano and music theory lesson studio, the Ottley Music School is now a non-degree-granting community school offering private music lessons (including techniques, ear-training, and literature) in voice, piano, organ, most band and orchestral instruments–drums, all strings including harp, all types of guitars, woodwinds and brass. Lessons in indigenous instruments like the Steel Drums of Trinidad and African Drums are also offered. Other offerings include church music, music theory, conducting, orchestration, the history of music including Black composers, Drama and Dance.
Ottley Music School also offers classes for pre-schoolers (Music for Little Mozarts), for ensembles—symphony orchestra, choir, opera production, jazz ensemble, string and flute ensembles. Students return with their children, or as teachers, or to serve on the Board of Directors, going full circle. The following is its history in a nutshell:
1973–founded by Nevilla E. Ottley, B.Mus., M.A., M.Mus. (1971, ’72,’80) in Silver Spring, Maryland
1987—moved operations to Takoma Park, Md; began the Summer Fun! Music Camp in D.C.;
1988—established branches in Hyattsville and Newburg, MD and in D.C. and diversified its offerings;
1996—moved to Adelphi, added teachers and steel drum classes;
1997—became the National Guild of Piano Teacher’s Adelphi Center, Ms. Ottley, Chairperson;
1998—added preschool classes in Little Mozarts and Kindermusik;
Edgar E. Adjahoe became Administrator;
Four students selected by National Symphony Orchestra to perform in their Young Mozarts Festival at the Kennedy Ctr;
1999—was incorporated as a music school in Adelphi, Maryland
2000—moved all operations to University Town Center (UTC) in June
2001—recognized as A-grade member of Better Business Bureau
Jazz Band formed by Tom Newman and played for Christmas Holiday Celebrations on Prince George’s Plaza stage.
2002—May–became a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
Camille Lewis, Miss Maryland 2002, and 4th runner-up of the Miss America scholarship pageant visits OMS and plays violin with the OMS Orchestra in concert
OMS presents first of their annual concerts at the Publick Playhouse for the Performing Arts, Cheverly, MD
2003—Began providing music for UTC ground breaking and ribbon cutting ceremonies for its new buildings.
OMS Orchestra becomes University Park Symphony, performing in several sites including southern Maryland.
Performed the Symphonie Concertante by Black composer, Chevalier de Saint George–Preston Hawes and Judelle Campbell, violins,
2004—Began providing music for the Annual National Cancer Society Survivor’s Day Celebration in D.C.
Received a grant from the National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences (Grammys) for orchestra
Began annual operas with Amahl and the Night Visitors
OMS reinstated the annual Kwame Awards, honoring Dr. Nathan Carter of Morgan State University on June 17, 2004
at the Kay Theatre, Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center during their 31st Annual Awards Concert
Re-established annual Summer Camps (3 two-week camps)
2005—Began participating in the Annual Rock Creek Festival at Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church, Washington, DC
Began offering Dance classes
Began offering Drama and Dance in Voice camp
Steel Band students under Carol Wilson played for NBC Channel 4 “Kids for Camps” television program.
2006—Sky One TV of London, recorded UPSOrchestra and Singers for a documentary broadcast May 2007.
Orchestra presented concert at St. Paul’s Rock Creek
OMS vocalists and instrumentalists present Rock Creek Luncheon Concerts, covered by Washington Post
Hosted the “Los Niños Dance Studio” from Marabella, Trinidad for the Voice, Dance and Drama Camp
Performed for the opening of the UTC Towers, government officials attending—Gov. Robert Ehrlich,
former Gov. Parris Glendenning, Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson.
Received Scholarship from F.A.M.E. for student assistance
Nevilla Ottley, Edgar Adjahoe, and Anwar Ottley toured Nairobi Kenya as part of the MetroSingers trip.
Ms. Ottley gave workshops at the University of Kenya and at Central Nairobi SDA Church, Mr. Adjahoe
and Mr. Ottley sang in the choir, and Mr. Ottley was assistant conductor, and assisted with the workshops.
University Park Symphony Orchestra is renamed Hyattsville Symphony.
OMS Hyattsville Orchestra and OMS Chorus listed as some of the ‘best voices’ of Washington, and
broadcast on “Christmas Sounds” program, singing Handel’s “Hallelujah” over W*USA, Channel 9, Washington, D.C.
2007—School and orchestra begins run-outs and tours, Destiny-Ruth Sterling (voice, piano, violin) and Jenine Faith Lycorish
(singer) toured Germany, Gabriela Sotomayor selected to perform in the “Capital Talents” concert presented by the
Laurel Fund for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Theatre in Washington, D.C. She also won the audition to sing the
role of Belle in the Prince George Summer Teen Theatre production of Beauty and the Beast . Gavrielle Sween
enters the Little Princess pagaent in College Park, and goes to the Maryland State competition. And the Ottley
Music School with member of the Hyattsville Symphony took a Trinidad Tour June 2007 and performed
at the University of the Southern Caribbean in Maracas, Saint Joseph, to a crowd of over 400 patrons.
Our Studio
Snapshots from Ottley Music School’s lively classes and performances.
Lee