Founded in 1982 by Ivan Battle, a local musician and composer, with the help of Joe Flora and Eric Housenecht, the academy has grown in the number of students its serves and in its quality, breadth and focus. From its humble beginnings in Battle's home with 22 students and three teachers, the academy now has 850-900 students a semester and 45 teachers. Students and faculty come from 44 cities and communities of North Carolina and Virginia. Originally, the school was a training ground for aspiring professionals. The academy continues to offer a diverse array of instructional activities for the competitive achiever, but the school also instructs the hopeful musician who enjoys music as a hobby.
Classes are available for infants up to older adults.
You just need to have an interest. Students participate in national and local competitions, and the academy conducts its own national competitions. McIndoe started taking violin lessons at the school about a year and half ago. McIndoe is now able to sight read some, participate in a string quartet at the academy and perform at his church. He says he's not sure he will study the violin in college.