Where Hip hop meets orchestral
Driven by the purpose to bring people of different backgrounds together, we are blending two very different musical worlds to generate social capital through the lens or arts & culture.
Our Approach
Hip Hop Orchestrated is a civic experiment designed to test how arts and culture can function as infrastructure for building social capital at scale. By blending Hip Hop and orchestral music, the project creates shared cultural experiences that attract diverse audiences and intentionally design for connection across differences.
The project is a three-part model:
Our goal is simple and thoughtful.
We expect this project to change how people approach tackling the issue of economic mobility by positioning arts and culture as a viable, scalable tool for expanding access to opportunity.
Hip Hop Orchestrated addresses economic mobility by strengthening social capital while also contributing to workforce development and equity within the arts ecosystem.
The project expands workforce development by directly investing in artists—paying performers for each event and commissioning new musical works—creating tangible income opportunities and professional pathways.
It also works to dismantle systemic barriers to the arts by offering inclusive, accessible programming that invites participation across socioeconomic backgrounds.
At its core, the project prioritizes equity by centering underrepresented artists and audiences, ensuring broader access to networks, resources, and visibility.
Our Mission
Bring musicians and audiences of different socioeconomic backgrounds together through music.
Our Services
Explore our range of services designed to help you connect with others and build social capital with confidence, wherever you're headed next.
We highlight new music from emerging composers—especially women and minority creators. This is for the orchestra fans. It introduces them to fresh voices on the scene while providing the musicality they are used to.
We bring both worlds of Hip Hop and orchestral together at our signature event: BLENDED: Mixer & Concert Series. A Hip Hop producer and an orchestral music composer works together to create new music from specific musical inspirations in the Black music diaspora and orchestral music catalogs.
Before the concert is where the magic happens. People sit in small groups and move through fun, music‑themed prompts that help them open up. The questions start light, then get more personal. By the end, everyone shares their name, what they do, how to reach them, and one thing they need—maybe a job lead, a collaborator, or even just a great playlist.
After the event, everyone gets a shared contact list so the connections don’t end when the music stops.
After the networking event is the concert where people can enjoy hearing Hip Hop meets orchestral music.
High‑energy performances where orchestral musicians play Hip Hop, R&B, Afrobeats, Dancehall, and other music from the Black diaspora. These shows attract younger, diverse audiences who may not feel at home in traditional arts spaces.
Meet the Team
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![A woman (Kia O. Moore) in all black attire wears a large brimmed black hat and black leather coat. She leans up against a painted red wall. She smiles and glances off screen.]()
Kia O. Moore
FOUNDER
With a vision for building something meaningful that brings people together to lift them up, our founder brings a blend of big-picture thinking and hands-on experience. She sets the tone for everything we do. -
![A man with a black leather hat, a salmon-colored shirt, black sweater with white trim on the collar, and dark colored jeans, stands in front of a cream-colored wall.]()
Terrance Shepherd
MUSIC DIRECTOR
A composer, pianist, educator, and creative who believes in bridging gaps through music and culture. As Music Director for Hip Hop Orchestrated, he combines classical music, hip-hop, jazz, and contemporary sounds to create experiences that feel authentic, powerful, and community-driven.
