General Inquiries: Please contact us at [email protected]

Paul Merryman, Education Director
Conductor, Birmingham String Orchestra & String Academy Faculty

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Paul received his M.A. and B.A. in Music Education from Jacksonville State University. He has worked at the Music Opportunity Program since 1997 teaching string classes and conducting the BSO. In 2012, he became the Education Director.

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Sherry Smith, Business Director
Conductor, Birmingham Prelude Strings & String Academy Faculty

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Sherry Smith received her MME from Jacksonville State University and her BS in Education from University of Alabama at Birmingham.  She has previously taught for Music Opportunity Program and Gadsden City Schools. The Music Opportunity Program is delighted to have her back!

Les Fillmer
Music Director, Alabama Youth Symphony

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Leslie Fillmer, Chairman Emeritus of the Alabama School of Fine Arts Department of Music has been music director and conductor of the Gadsden Symphony Orchestra since 2001. He began his professional career in 1967 as an arranger for Apostolic Recording Studios in New York City. He then served as a staff musician and arranger with the United States Air Force Academy Band. His compositions and arrangements have been performed by Arthur Fiedler and Richard Hayman, both long associated with the Boston Pops Orchestra, as well as orchestras and choirs throughout the country. He has been music director/conductor for Alabama Ballet since 1995. In this capacity he has conducted the San Antonio Symphony, North Carolina Symphony, members of the Atlanta Symphony, and the Alabama Symphony in dozens of full-length dance productions. During the past five years he has also conducted five major productions for UAB Opera. In June 2009 he conducted the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra for the Third Annual World Ballet Competition Gala of the Stars, featuring such dance luminaries as Daniel Ulbricht, Misa Kuranaga, Taras Domitro, Maria Kochetkova and Mary Carmen Catoya. More recently, he composed and conducted the orchestral score for Alice in Wonderland, premiered by Alabama Ballet and the Alabama Symphony in April 2012. Between 1980 and 1993 he was a popular guest host and producer of music programming at FM 90.3, WBHM. He taught music at the Alabama School of Fine Arts for 28 years, serving concurrently as an adjunct instructor of music at the University of Alabama, the University of Montevallo, Birmingham-Southern College, and as music director of both the Alabama Youth Symphony and the Red Mountain Chamber Orchestra. He is a member of the National Society of Arts and Letters, Pi Kappa Lambda, and 1982 recipient of the Silver Bowl Award for his varied contributions to the musical life of Birmingham.

In addition to our core staff, we have an extensive roster of private instructors, coaches, and conductors who help our students achieve to the highest degree. Contact us at [email protected] for more information.


The Music Opportunity Program is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and as such it is governed by a board of directors.

As with any successful endeavor, we recognize that we would not be able to do all that we do without the generous help and support of other like-minded institutions.  Click here to see a list of our educational partners.